Information technology experts have emphasised that cybersecurity is vital for Nigeria’s economic advancement and digital progress, cautioning that insufficient cyber defences could hinder the nation’s position in the global digital marketplace.
The technology expert made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja during the inaugural Annual Summit of the Professor Ademola Ojo Emmanuel Foundation (PAOEF), which also included the public launch of the book Leading the Digital Future.
The gathering drew policymakers, IT experts, educators, youth leaders, and private-sector representatives, all of whom explored strategies for enhancing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
In his keynote address, Africa’s first Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management, Professor Ademola Ojo Emmanuel, urged Nigeria to shift from merely consuming digital technologies to becoming a global innovator and competitor.
Professor Emmanuel, who also leads the Institute of Enterprise Management and Analytics (IEMA), emphasised that digital policy is now foundational to national policy, highlighting that data has become a critical infrastructure and cybersecurity a vital aspect of national security.
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During the event, Emmanuel introduced the “Abuja Compact,” a seven-pillar framework aimed at steering Nigeria’s digital transformation. The pillars encompass trusted digital identity and national data infrastructure; dependable and affordable broadband access; AI-driven public service delivery; cybersecurity as a national defence strategy; innovation and startup support; human capital and readiness for the future of work; and ethics and public trust.
Additionally, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Kashifu Inuwa, characterised Leading the Digital Future as a pragmatic framework for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Represented by NITDA’s Assistant Director of Cybersecurity, Dr Ayodele Bakare, Inuwa emphasised that although digital technologies provide vast opportunities, they also pose considerable risks that need to be managed effectively.
”Effectively managing cybersecurity risks is essential for realising Nigeria’s digital goals. Technology should enhance human dignity, not undermine it,” he stated.
