E-Business
Experts Push for Ethical Hacking to Thwart Cybercrime
Information technology security experts have put forth a number of recommendations including the employment of so-called ethical hackers to thwart cybercriminals, who hide under the anonymity of the internet to wreak havoc to individuals and organizations, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.
An ethical hacker is a computer and network expert who attacks a security system on behalf of its owners, seeking vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker could exploit.
According to the experts at this year’s conference on IT security tagged “Hackcess Technology Security” in Lagos, to test a security system, ethical hackers use the same methods as their less principled counterparts, but report problems instead of taking advantage of them.
Oluseyi Akindeinde, chief technical officer, Digital Encode, said that ethical hacking is all about helping to make the Internet safer.
This prevents identity theft and the leaking of vital information. When a company learns where security in their system is lacking, it allows them to implement stronger security measures.
Akindeinde said that “Hacker doesn’t break into networks one day, while they are attempting there are signs if you don’t understand how they work you won’t see those signs. Good people need to learn these skills to be able to use it to protect their organizations.
Apart from companies, ethical hacking is also beneficial to help government entities to protect major computer systems from being compromised in a way that national security would be an issue.
Tobechi Ndubuaku, chief operating officer, Tobeit Consulting, the organizers of the conference, however said that information security and identity management has been a challenge on the African IT community over the years.
“Globally today, we have continually been evaluating innovative protects on information security. There is no stop to this, as we go even further by deploying sophisticated ciphers and technology to check hackers’ intent to infiltrate our domain but the frequency and severity of these threats continue to be on the rise,” he said.
He stated that for IT security to be alive security managers need to be aware of the talents of hackers.
Adeola Kukoyi, Enterprise System Engineer- Security, Cisco corroborated Ndubuaku but added that organizations have acknowledged that its security policies are difficult to enforce because of changing business models.
According to him 60% of data are stolen in hours, 54% of breaches remains undiscovered for months and that 100% of companies connect to domains that host malicious files or services.
Elsewhere, Symantec internet security threat report 2014 released by ITU over the weekend says that 2013 was the year of mega breach our Internet Security Threat Report 17 reported 2011 as the Year of the Data Breach.
The year according to the report was extraordinary because in addition to increased cybercrime-driven breaches, Anonymous in acts of hactivism breached dozens of companies. With Anonymous less active, breach numbers returned to more predictable growth in 2012.
And then came 2013. If 2011 was the year of the breach, then 2013 can best be described as the Year of the Mega Breach.
Nigerian government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity and clean up the nation’s cyberspace.
Recognizing that cybercrime knows no borders, Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering stronger global partnerships within the cybersecurity ecosystem.
This announcement was made during a press conference before the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja from July 9th to 11th, 2025.
Sa’ad Abubakar, national cybersecurity coordinator from the Office of National Security Advisor, said fighting cybercrime must take the whole of society and the whole of the government approach.
According to him, “Apart from the deterrent approach whereby government agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest individuals, take them to court and prosecute them, the youth can be nurtured into better citizens who can showcase their capacity in better ways and be useful to the country.”
Similarly, Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, NITDA, also stressed the need for collaborative efforts in fighting cybercrimes.
According to him “Then, in addition to that, we also want to build a stronger global collaboration with the global cyber security ecosystem, because when you look at cybercrime in general, it doesn’t respect the borders.
“Someone can commit a crime from Ghana using a Nigerian ID in the US. So you can look at him physically in a different jurisdiction, pretending to be in another jurisdiction, committing the crime in another jurisdiction.
“So without that kind of synergy and working together, it will be difficult to address these challenges. The third one is challenge. The third one is getting an alternative to cybercrime for our kids in Nigeria. We have this as a major challenge.”
Inuwa further highlighted the upcoming conference’s importance, noting that it would tackle key issues through workshops, discussions on emerging threats, cross-border cybersecurity collaboration strategies, and training programmes.
He also announced that the National Cybersecurity Conference 2025 would feature the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, recognising top contributions in the field.
The DG extended an invitation to global partners to collaborate with Nigeria in building a safer digital future.
The press conference was attended by notable figures, including Ahmad Sa’ad Abubakar, National Coordinator of, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC); Hanniel Jafar, Representative of the President, of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN); Ankit Shukla, Managing Director, QNA Marketing Management LLC and members of the press and other stakeholders.
XIAN Telecom has acquired an 8% stake in pan-African e-commerce company Jumia Technologies, citing the platform’s fintech and logistics strengths as key drivers of its backing.
This marks the first major telecom investment in Jumia since MTN Group’s exit in 2020.
AXIAN, a fast-growing telecom and digital services provider with operations across Africa, disclosed the purchase in a Schedule 13D filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
While the financial terms were not disclosed, AXIAN Telecom CEO, Hassan Jaber, described the move as a strategic alignment with Jumia’s growth trajectory and digital ecosystem.
“Jumia’s achievements in digital retail and fintech, particularly through JumiaPay and its logistics network, make it a very attractive investment for us. We believe in Jumia’s potential to promote financial and economic inclusion, which aligns with our core values,” said Jaber.
Once dubbed the “Amazon of Africa,” Jumia became the first African-founded tech company to list on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019.
But years of underperformance, leadership changes, and competitive pressures dented investor confidence.
In October 2020, South Africa’s MTN Group offloaded its 18.9% stake for $138 million, well below the $698 million value it once held post-IPO.
Since then, Jumia has undergone a significant transformation. Under CEO Francis Dufay, appointed in 2022, the company exited low-performing markets like South Africa and Tunisia, cut costs, and doubled down on core markets – Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.
The firm is now focused on high-growth verticals, including everyday essentials and digital financial services.
Jumia’s regional CEO for East Africa, Vinod Goel, recently revealed plans to scale up international brand offerings and open its logistics network to third-party businesses.
Jaber underscored that AXIAN Telecom’s investment signals renewed confidence in Jumia’s long-term potential.
The telecom firm’s CEO said the company views Jumia as a key player in advancing Africa’s digital economy, aligning with AXIAN’s mission through its fintech and digital infrastructure brands such as Yas and Mixx by Yas.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general, National Identity management commission (NIMC) has said that the commission is set to register 95 percent of Nigerians into the National Identity Database before December 2025.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote,, DG, NIMC
She made this statement at a press briefing to highlight the commissions goal aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on digital governance and inclusive development.
The mass enrollment drive will be powered by a combination of improved infrastructure, expanded registration centres, and robust public sensitization campaigns.
As of May 2025, NIMC reports over 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled, and about 100 million more would be captured by December.
Telcos Threaten to Disconnect Banks over Misinformation on New USSD Charges
MTN Nigeria Plans N900Bn in Service Upgrade
NDIC Calls for Inputs to IADI Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance
Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”
DSO: STBMAN Accuses NBC of Contempt, Seeks Presidential Intervention
E-Business2 days agoNIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December
News2 days agoJAMB Waxes Worriedly over Rising Digital Exam Fraud
Telecom2 days ago9mobile Nigeria Inks Agreement to Roam with MTN
Telecom2 days agoIHS Nigeria Moves to Enhance G4S Secure Solutions Site Patrols and Increase Operational Efficiency with Patrol Vehicles
Telecom2 days agoBanks, Telcos to Start Deducting USSD Charges from Airtime Today
E-Business1 day agoAXIAN Telecom Invests in Jumia Post-MTN Era
Telecom2 days agoKonga Launches 3rd Edition of Mid-Year Shopping Festival with Unbeatable Discounts
E-Financial2 days agoFitch Upgrades Fidelity Bank’s National Rating to ‘A+(nga)’, Affirms Long-Term IDR at ‘B’