Nigeria has taken a bold step to secure its digital future as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global cybersecurity leader Kaspersky during the GTIEX Nigeria event in Lagos.
The partnership focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, training cybersecurity talent, and boosting public awareness, in line with pillar five of NITDA’s SRAP 2.0: Strengthening Cybersecurity and Enhancing Digital Trust, and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on national security.
“For us, this is not just paperwork,” said Kashifu Inuwa, DG of NITDA. “Cybersecurity begins with people. More than 95% of breaches are caused by human error, so we must build talent and awareness. We’ve already started work with Kaspersky before this signing, and we want Nigerians to hold us accountable for results.”
Chris Norton, General Manager of Kaspersky Africa, highlighted the importance of partnerships in unlocking Africa’s potential. “Africa doesn’t need charity, it needs skills. By working with NITDA, we are investing in capacity, innovation, and resilience that will benefit both people and government,” he said, noting that Kaspersky is also joining the Nigerian Computer Society as a supporting member.
The MoU covers areas such as capacity building, cybersecurity education, intelligence sharing, and frameworks to safeguard critical systems. Both organizations also pledged immediate action, beginning with training and awareness initiatives to counter emerging threats.
This collaboration follows groundwork laid at GITEX Africa in Morocco earlier this year and adds to Kaspersky’s growing list of partnerships in Nigeria, including with SMEDAN.
With this alliance, Nigeria is positioning itself to create a safer, digitally trusted environment for citizens, businesses, and institutions alike.
