By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Government has renewed its plans aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s digital economy against cybercrimes, and building of more trust among strategic stakeholders.
Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta on Wednesday, said the Commission is keen on issues that will boost and secure Nigeria’s digital economy.
The CEO stated that trust and confidentiality promote a healthy digital environment, which is enshrined in global best practices that guarantee the privacy and integrity of digital data.
He disclosed this during the Commission’s 2021 Annual Cybersecurity Conference with the theme ‘‘Building Trust in the Digital Economy through Cybersecurity, and Sensitization on the Implementation of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021’’.
The conference, he said was in conjunction with the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), to bring strategic stakeholders together to brainstorm on Cybersecurity issues.
Danbatta, who was represented by Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner (stakeholders management), explained that to improve digital trust and confidentiality, the digital economy should be built on trusted technologies and partnerships, ensuring strong cybersecurity that rides on public’s confidence, security, privacy and safety to bolster responsive regulations, transparency, accountability and digital governance.
He said the pace at which technology advances, acceleration of innovations and enterprise in the digital space amplifies vulnerability opportunities, which malicious parties are quick to exploit, thereby slowing down the gains of digital economy. Notwithstanding, strong cybersecurity will have the advantage of reducing the surface of vulnerabilities in the digital economy that can be exploited.
“NCC is in the forefront of ensuring sound cybersecurity culture that is built on people, process and technology.
“The launching of NCC sectoral CERT is a testament of our resolve to promote a healthy digital environment. Our various cybersecurity awareness initiatives and campaigns are helping the public understand the risks in digital space and how to reduce the vulnerability opportunities that adversaries can benefit from.
“Our collective resolve is to continuously boost trust and confidence in our digital economy by ensuring adherence to sound cybersecurity culture and hygiene, internally and with external partners as well as stakeholders. We call on all cybersecurity stakeholders to key into the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021, and accelerate the adoption of its various components. Cybersecurity is a collective responsibility as no single government, business or individual is immune or can do it alone” he said.
On strengthening the country’s security, Brig. General Samad Akesode, Director of communications, office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), told the participants that the office is building stronger collaboration with major actors in the security sector to guide digital economy and beyond.
He said several workshops being organised are in line with the vision of the present administration to ensure that issue of security is taken more serious at all levels especially at the higher ground.
End.
