General News
Nigeria Cyberspace Neglected, Unprotected Territory- Onifade
![Opeyemi Onifade, president, Information Systems Audit and Control Association [ISACA] Abuja chapter,](https://www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Opeyemi Onifade_0.jpg)
As the use of IT becomes pervasive, government, large corporations and private organizations are daily combating cyber security.
In this encounter with Opeyemi Onifade, president, Information Systems Audit and Control Association [ISACA] Abuja chapter, examine the trend. Excerpts.
How Big is Cyber Security Threats in Nigeria
Nigeria as a member of the global society and the country cannot be insulated from the opportunities and threats of globalization. Now, the use of IT is pervasive.
Many organizations in Nigeria are leveraging on the Internet to transact and interact with customers, employees, suppliers and partners. The internet has become imperative to address our collective capacity to respond to the inevitability of cyber threats, especially Advanced Persistent Threats [APT].
Primarily, the purpose of the majority of APTs is to extract information from systems—this could be critical research, enterprise intellectual property or government information, among other things.
Talking about the shift in the motive for hacking (i.e. compromising the security profile of information systems), you will find that there is an evolution in the motivation for attacks.
Motivation for attacks can be explained as being attacked because you are on the Internet and you have vulnerabilities. Or because you are on the Internet and you have information of value; or because your former or current employee seeks financial gain from selling your intellectual property (IP) or because of who you are, what you do or the value of your IP.
And these include state-sponsored attacks and corporate espionage. According to recent research, Cybersecurity is a top global concern. 82% of enterprises are expected to experience a cyber incident in 2015.
Businesses and Government Preparing for the Current Threat
Financial industry players like banks have strengthened their cyber resilience through implementation of adequate technology, adoption of process-oriented good practices and standards, and engagement of right skills and competencies.
However, our government needs to consider a special vehicle to establish the framework to address cybersecurity issues strategically, tactically and operationally.
This is because cybesecurity is a security issue, in fact a national security concern.
We need to understand that we cannot succeed by accident. The cyberspace is now recognized as the fifth domain of warfare in addition to land, air, sea and space.
Unfortunately, in Nigeria, our cyberspace domain is still a neglected and unprotected territory.
Yet, we have come to depend so much on mobile telecommunications, electronic banking and e-commerce for our socioeconomic survival.
In specific terms, there is a need for the government to declare an emergency in the cybersecurity education domain of the country in order to promote cyber security expertise and create a formidable “army” that will be able to ensure effective national cyber defense.
The University Commission needs to update curricula development and accredit information security courses in our tertiary institutions.
Standards Organization of Nigeria needs to domesticate the information security related international standards. NITDA needs to wake up to her responsibilities as the governing body for IT-related security issues in the country.
This is an unfamiliar territory to government bureaucracy and the bureaucrats need to have the humility to collaborate with the professional bodies like ISACA with over 2000 credentialed Nigerian members in the interest of security of the country and wellbeing of her citizens.
Where Does ISACA Fit into all of These?
ISACA provides practical guidance, benchmarks and other effective tools for all enterprises that use information systems.
Through its comprehensive guidance and services, ISACA defines the roles of information systems governance, security, audit and assurance professionals worldwide.
The COBIT framework and the CSX, CISA, CISM, CGEIT and CRISC certifications are ISACA brands respected and used by these professionals for the benefit of their enterprises.
Nigerian banks depend on our members to man their audit, risk, e-business, operations and strategy department. CBN guidelines to the banks require them to use ISACA’s framework to align IT with Business strategy.
To become a member, you are required to register as a professional or student member.
Membership gives you access to vast educational opportunities and international networks.
Members are supported to earn professional credentials upon passing relevant exam and demonstrating verifiable work experience.
ISACA operates three chapters in Nigeria- Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan. There are over 2000 members resident in Nigeria at the last count.
How can ISACA Enable Proven Best Practices to Reduce the Attack Surface, and Mitigate Risks?
For over 40 years, ISACA has promoted trust in, and value from information systems. ISACA has published frameworks and standards related to information assurance, information security, risk management, and corporate governance of IT.
We have been a global thought-leader on these issues.
In 2015, ISACA commenced a skill-based credentialing programme, Cybersecurity nexus CSX to develop and validate cybersecurity competencies.
This programme is in recognition that the most advanced of cyber attacks are done by people and the defense side needs to have adequate competencies to reduce or eliminate opportunities for successful attacks.
ISACA provides access to the knowledge and competencies for cybersecurity in over 180 countries of the world.
ISACA Abuja chapter will be 10 years this year. What are your plans to commemorate this? What are the preparations for the up-coming annual conference?
As part of our contribution to promoting the right use of information technology in the country, ISACA Abuja Nigeria has been hosting annual international conferences. The seventh edition coincides with our 10th anniversary.
This conference theme is “CYBERSECURITY: Aligning Nigeria with the rest of the World”. The Chief Information Security Officer of the City of Atlanta,
USA has accepted our invitation to be the keynote speaker. We are also drawing speakers from other parts of the world and from within the country.
As a social responsible professional body, we shall be donating IT-related books to tertiary institutions and libraries in Abuja.
We have also planned a free seminar for students of tertiary institutions interested in cybersecurity profession.
The platform is meant to provide mentorship to future cybersecurity professionals. To commemorate our 10th anniversary, we will be signing MOU with organizations that believe in our cause to make our cyberspace safe across the country and region.
Nigeria Security Professionals and Requisite Training to Build Strong Core Infrastructure, to Combat Digital Security Threats
According to CISCO, there are over one million unfilled jobs for information security roles worldwide. Another research estimates that more than 35% of enterprises are unable to fill open cyber security positions.
I believe security professionals in Nigeria have not been able to gain the recognition they deserve and so they have not been able to express themselves through hands-on contributions to the economy and national security. Sadly, there is currently an incessant loss of our cyber security professionals to opportunities in the Middle-East economies.
The brain drain will continue until we create an atmosphere to retain these skills. It happened to nursing and medical professionals in the 80’s, it is happening again to our cyber security professionals.
I think there are numerous opportunities for self-development for our professionals, but businesses and all tiers of government must begin to look to our citizens for cyber protection in order to fully engage and truncate the brain drain in the cyber security industry.
I wish to suggest that government agencies and businesses should be involved in sponsoring cybersecurity events for professionals and students.
An example is the cyberlympics organized by ISACA International. President Buhari will need to find a means to drive the cybersecurity agenda for the nation.
Recently the US President issued an executive order on cyber security earlier in the year and the UK government recently made public her National Cyber Security Strategy.
Legislation and Fight Against Security Threats and Cybercrime
Thankfully, the cybercrime bill was passed into law this year and there are attempts by the Office of National Security Adviser to promote a national strategic framework for cybersecurity.
While that is a good step forward, we are still very unserious in providing a legal framework for governing our cyberspace.
I mentioned earlier that our cyberspace is a neglected territory. Our laws should attempt to make Nigeria one of the most secure places to do business.
Until recently, Amazon.com would not ship to Nigeria. Paypal would not do business with Nigeria at all. While these organizations have modified their business models for Nigeria, their service package for Nigeria is still limited.
This means that Nigerians are unable to take full advantage of international e-commerce. For instance, while a Nigerian can pay using the global payment platform, paypal, she cannot receive payment using the same platform.
We need laws that will enable e-business not just punish cyber misdemeanor.
We are hoping that the members of the eight National Assembly will be open to working with experts in non-profit organizations like ISACA to help with research and case studies to make our laws appropriate and relevant to 21st century realities.
What can CISO do to Become very Prominent in Organisations?
The role of a CIO is to create value from the information asset of the organization while a CISO’s role is to preserve the value of the organization’s information asset. Information has become the most important factor of production over land, labour and capital.
Therefore, information security is really about business security. The CEO is the one who will be held accountable for the protection of the most important productive asset of the organization, i.e. the information assets.
He can delegate this responsibility to a CISO but he cannot delegate the accountability. A CISO therefore needs to recognize his role as someone responsible for business resilience and performance. His role is not just to implement controls but also to ingrain the enablers of business strategic outcomes.
General News
Court Orders Lawyer to Produce “Bail-Jumping” Client in MTN Cyber Fraud Case

Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Mr Nnamdi Kalu, a legal practitioner, to appear before the court on July 9, 2025, to provide explanations regarding the whereabouts of Richard Ironbar Edemadem, his client, who is accused of cyber-related fraud and has allegedly jumped bail.
The judge issued the directive during the ongoing trial of Edemadem and four others, namely: Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, and ISD Technology Limited, who are standing trial on charges of tampering with the critical mobile telecommunications infrastructure of MTN Nigeria and illegally profiting from unsolicited messages sent to subscribers.
The prosecution, led by Mr Nnemeka Omewa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that Edemadem, the first defendant, had jumped bail and ceased communication with both his counsel and the court.
He further revealed that Mr Kalu, who represented the defendant at the early stage of the trial, had stopped appearing in court and was unreachable.
During the trial proceedings, Justice Alagoa queried the continued absence of the first defendant, especially as his name had come up repeatedly during the testimony of the EFCC’s witness.
Upon receiving the explanation from the prosecutor, the judge expressed concern that no attempt had been made to bring the sureties to account, as required when a defendant absconds.
Responding to the judge’s query, Omewa said the prosecution had made efforts to trace the sureties and review the bail bond documents.
However, they discovered that no valid documentation about the sureties or their contact addresses could be found in the court file.
Disturbed by the absence of such critical records, Justice Alagoa directed the absentee defendant’s counsel, Mr Kalu, to appear before the court on the next adjourned date to provide clarity on his client’s disappearance and explain his failure to participate further in the trial.
In the meantime, the trial resumed with the testimony of Mr Olamide Sadiq, the fourth prosecution witness and an investigating officer with the EFCC.
Sadiq detailed how the defendants fraudulently manipulated MTN’s telecom systems to send unsolicited messages to thousands of unsuspecting subscribers.
According to his testimony, the defendants, who were employed as IT professionals for various telecom value-added service providers, compromised MTN’s Critical Mobile Telecommunications Network System between 2017 and 2018, adding that by exploiting the system’s vulnerabilities, they deployed mass unsolicited messages that led to unauthorised deductions from subscribers’ airtime balances.
Sadiq explained that these illegal deductions were routed into multiple accounts linked to the defendants and their affiliated entities, notably ISD Technology Limited.
The stolen proceeds, totalling N36,837,438.20, were subsequently distributed among the conspirators, he said.
Following the witness’s testimony, the court adjourned the matter to July 9, 2025, for the continuation of the trial and to enable Mr Kalu to appear and address the court on the issue of his absconding client.
The EFCC had filed a three-count charge against the defendants, detailing their alleged roles in the multimillion-naira fraud.
On count one of the charges, the defendants, Richard Ironbar Edemadem, Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, ISD Technology Limited, and a fugitive known only as “Sola”, were accused of conspiring to tamper with a critical mobile telecommunications network system.
This, the EFCC said, is contrary to Sections 27(6)(b) and 10 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same law.
The second charge stated that the defendants were charged with unauthorised tampering with MTN’s network infrastructure, an offence also contrary to Section 10 of the Cybercrimes Act, punishable under the same provision.
Counts three of the charges posited that the defendants allegedly took possession of N36,837,438.20, which they reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of an unlawful act, namely, stealing, contrary to Sections 15(2)(d) and (6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and punishable under the same.
Source: Tribune
General News
Airtel Concludes Nationwide Environment Week with Market Clean-Up by Employees

Telecommunications provider, Airtel Nigeria, has wrapped up its 2025 World Environment Week campaign, themed ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, with an employee-driven market clean-up exercise at Elegushi Model Market, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos.
The activity was supported by the Ecobarter Company, a social enterprise focused on the promotion of a circular economy. Branded #UnPlasticAfrica, the events spanned six states and mobilised Airtel employees, community leaders, government partners, and market communities in a united effort to combat plastic pollution.
With the Lagos Market Cleanup, Airtel staff and community members joined forces to remove plastic waste and sensitize the locals on individual contributions towards a plastic-free environment.
To support sustainability and align with Lagos State’s ban on single-use plastic, large bins for refuse sorting as well as parasols, and reusable tote with #UnPlasticAfrica messaging were distributed to traders and their customers in the market to encourage behavioural change.
Speaking on behalf of Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh at the clean-up exercise, Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, highlighted the critical importance of community participation in safeguarding the environment and commended the market leadership for their openness and commitment to such impactful initiatives.
“True environmental care starts with action: keeping our gutters and surroundings clean and ensuring that plastic waste never finds its way into our canals and waterways.
The Elegushi market community has shown remarkable leadership by welcoming this initiative, and we are proud to have partnered with them to make a tangible difference as we commemorate World Environment Day 2025. We believe that this effort will spark a ripple effect, inspiring communities across the nation to take bold steps towards a cleaner, healthier Nigeria,” he said.
In her response on behalf of the President of the Elegushi Model Market traders’ association Iyaloja Simbiat Ronke Lawal, the Secretary of the trade association Elizabeth Afolabi, conveyed the group’s appreciation to the volunteers and Airtel Nigeria as an organisation. She commended the company for the clean-up initiative which she noted would leave a positive impact on the market.
“We want to thank Airtel Nigeria and all the volunteers for coming to our market to help clean and support us. This has really helped us and made our market a better place. We are incredibly happy and promise to sustain what you have started here today,” she said.
Recall that the Airtel Nigeria World Environment Week campaign began on June 4 with an employee seminar led by Mr Balsingh, followed by market clean-up exercises at Bodija Market, Oyo State; Oba Market, Benin City, Edo State; Wuse Market, Abuja; Artisan Market, Enugu State; Yankaba Market, Kano State; and finally, Elegushi Model Market, Jakande, Lagos.
General News
Verraki to Host Groundbreaking Webinar on Scaling AI for African Enterprises

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) redefines competitive advantage across industries, African businesses are being challenged to evolve from passive observers to active implementers. Verraki, a leading African business and technology solutions firm and member of Andersen Consulting, is answering this call with a virtual event aimed at demystifying the AI journey for African enterprises.
Verraki will host a free webinar titled “From Idea to Action: How African Businesses Can Start and Scale AI Initiatives.” On Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 3:30 PM WAT, the session is designed to give business leaders a clear, executable path for embedding AI into their strategy and operations.
“We’ve moved past the point where AI is a buzzword; it is now a boardroom priority,” said Niyi Yusuf, Managing Partner at Verraki. “This webinar brings together African and global experts to provide actionable insight for businesses seeking to make that transition deliberately and profitably.”
Elevating Africa’s AI Readiness
Despite growing interest in AI, many African organizations struggle with where to begin, lacking both the technical know-how and the internal strategy to move forward. This webinar bridges that gap with both global case studies and local context, tailored to Africa’s unique business realities.
Featured Speakers include, keynote address by Randy McGraw, Chief Commercial Officer at Sertis, a Bangkok-based AI consultancy also a member of Andersen Consulting. Randy will unveil a playbook for implementing Private LLMs.
Fireside Chat with Kehinde Banasko, CEO of Skilladder AI, on how AI is revolutionizing workforce transformation and skills verification across Africa. The conversation will be moderated by Verraki’s Maanging Partner, Niyi Yusuf.
This event is ideal for CEOs, founders, product managers, innovation leads, and C-suite executives looking to implement AI tools that align with their business goals and drive sustainable results.
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