The Federal Government has said its strategic initiatives to curb cybercrime and unethical digital behaviour in Nigeria are beginning to show promising outcomes.
This was disclosed by Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), during a news conference in Abuja on Monday ahead of the upcoming National Cybersecurity Conference.
Inuwa noted that the conference, scheduled to hold from July 7 to 10, is themed “Building a Resilient Digital Future”, and will be jointly hosted by NITDA, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and QNA—a Dubai-based event company—among other partners.
He said the conference is aimed at reinforcing the progress already made in cleansing Nigeria’s digital space, while promoting cybersecurity consciousness among citizens and institutions.
“The digital age has brought incredible opportunities for innovation and economic growth. However, it has also created serious cybersecurity challenges,” Inuwa warned. “Global cybercrime damages are projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, a massive leap from $3 trillion in 2015.”
He emphasized that Nigeria is not immune to these threats, especially as cybercriminals increasingly deploy advanced tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to carry out sophisticated attacks.
Inuwa urged Nigerian youth to take advantage of digital empowerment programmes offered by the government and redirect their talents toward positive use of technology. He stressed the need to equip the younger generation with relevant digital skills, saying it would help in building a cyber-resilient nation.
A key highlight of the conference, he said, would be the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, designed to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals and institutions in safeguarding Nigeria’s cyber space.
Speaking at the briefing, Mr. Saad Abubakar, National Cybersecurity Coordinator at ONSA, underscored the importance of public-private collaboration in enhancing online safety.
“Our children and elders are not adequately protected online. Over 50 per cent of cases we track relate to cyberbullying, cyber sextortion, and other forms of online abuse,” he said. “If we can build services online, we must also invest equal energy in securing those platforms.”
Earlier, Mr. Mohammed Lawal, Director of the Cybersecurity Department at NITDA, pointed out that embracing digital transformation must go hand-in-hand with strengthening the resilience of the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The conference is expected to attract cybersecurity experts, government officials, private sector stakeholders, youth innovators, and international partners.
