Cybersecurity Experts Push For Stronger Collaboration Amid Rising Digital Threat

The call was made at a two-day cybersecurity workshop organized by the Babcock University Information Technology Department in collaboration with GXT International.

 Themed “Building a Resilient Cybersecurity Ecosystem: Bridging Academia, Industry, and Organizational Practices,” the event gathered leading experts to discuss critical security challenges and proffer solutions.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Honourable Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, emphasized that Nigeria must not miss out on the ongoing digital revolution.

“Nigeria may have missed the first and second industrial revolutions, but we have an opportunity to make a significant impact in the digital age,” he said.

Salisu stressed the need for tripartite collaboration between academia, industry, and government, proposing that university professors engage in industrial sabbaticals while students focus on real-world cybersecurity challenges in their research.

Adding to the discussion, Sycom CEO, Abdulraman Akanbi, underscored the importance of practical skills in the cybersecurity space, stating that employers prioritize hands-on experience over theoretical knowledge.

“Cybersecurity is not just a profession; it’s a mission to save the digital world,” Akanbi asserted.

Similarly, Oluwafemi Aminu, Executive Director of Momo PSB, highlighted the necessity of cyber resilience, which extends beyond traditional cybersecurity.

“While cybersecurity focuses on preventing attacks, cyber resilience ensures organizations can continue operations during and after an attack. We cannot afford to operate in silos; a unified, ecosystem-driven approach is the only way forward in today’s threat landscape,” Aminu stated.

Speaking at the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Honourable Tunbosun Alake, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a global technology hub.

“Your focus becomes your reality. If you see Nigeria as a jungle, that’s all you’ll see. But if you see its potential, you will work to realize it. We need to collaborate to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams,” Alake said.

Babcock University’s President/Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and crucial given the increasing risks posed by cybercrime.

“This program could not have come at a better time to address this very germane issue for our national growth and development,” he said.

As part of the workshop, the  State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and Honourable Alake, among others, were honoured with the Excellence in Cybersecurity Leadership Award for their contributions to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

Senator Salisu, who received an Advocacy Excellence Award, accepted the governor’s award on his behalf, while Delta State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr. Odinigwe Daniel Odigie, represented the Delta State Governor in receiving his award.

The workshop underscored the urgency of a collaborative cybersecurity approach, urging all stakeholders to work together to build a resilient and sustainable digital security framework for Nigeria.