News Highlights:
- At the National Cybercrimes Summit 2024, NITDA’s DG, Kashifu Inuwa urged both public and private sectors to invest in cybersecurity training.
- Inuwa emphasized the need to offer alternative paths to cybercrime for Nigerian youth, proposing increased digital literacy and skills development.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called on both public and private sectors to increase their investment in training cybersecurity professionals, emphasizing that the benefits of securing organizations and processes far outweigh the risks posed by cyber-attacks.
As the Guest Speaker at the National Cybercrimes Summit 2024, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa and organized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Inuwa presented a paper titled “Alternative to Cybercrime,” and emphasized that this approach would support the ongoing transformative efforts to strengthen national security through a firm commitment to robust cybersecurity measures and the promotion of digital trust.
The summit, with the theme, “Alternatives to Cybercrime: Optimising Cyber Skills for National Development,” is a platform that brought together captains of industries, heads of security agencies, traditional and religious leaders to share ideas, expertise and experiences with a focus on enhancing digital skills as strategy to combat cybercrime.
Inuwa emphasised the urgent need to address the growing menace of cybercrime in Nigeria, while proposing alternative paths for Nigeria’s youth and strategies to fortify national cyber resilience.
Detailing the complexities of cybercrime, he noted that it is no longer restricted to laptops and desktops but extends to mobile devices, smart TVs, cars, and more, as everything becomes interconnected through technology.
He outlined five major categories of cybercrime identified by research which are; technical products or services attacks, attacks and extortion, data or identity theft, Scam and Cashing Out or Money Laundering and stated that the financial sector remains the most vulnerable in Africa, with over 3,300 cyber-attacks reported weekly.
While stressing that cybercrime is a global issue that affects every facet of the digital economy, particularly in Nigeria, he said, “We are confronted with an urgent reality, Nigeria, a nation with a rich culture, talent and limitless potential is unfortunately grappling with the global menace of cybercrime but today, we are going to look at alternatives to cybercrime.”
Enumerating the underlying factors that trigger cybercrimes such as unemployment, financial incentives and lack of awareness of the legal and moral implications, Inuwa called for a more holistic approach to combating cybercrime, not only through law enforcement but also by offering viable alternatives to those tempted by illegal online activities.
“We need to look at alternatives to cybercrime and the government must focus on digital literacy, skills development, and job creation to steer young Nigerians away from cybercriminality,” he averred.
Inuwa reiterated the importance of providing positive alternatives for Nigerian youth and stressed the potential of the digital economy to create millions of jobs and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP.
The highlight of the event witnessed the first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, unveiling and launching the EFCC Rapid Response Centre, a response desk against cybercrime that can be accessed at any time of the day.
Other dignitaries present at the event were the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda; and the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.
Others are the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; the Ooni of Ile Ife who was represented by the Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo; the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Daniel Okoh and many others.
