Telecom
Prof. Adewale Obadare Shares Key Insights on Breaking into Cybersecurity
Professor Adewale Obadare, a renowned cybersecurity expert and the first Professor of Practice in Cybersecurity in Nigeria, shared his valuable insights on how to break into the cybersecurity industry. With over 58 professional certifications and numerous awards, including the Outstanding Digital Trust Leader Award, Obadare’s expertise is unparalleled.
Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale
Speaking at FirstBank’s Cybersecurity Career Webinar that was held over the weekend, Prof. Obadare emphasized that cybersecurity is a field with numerous opportunities, including job security, competitive salaries, and global recognition.
However, he noted that many individuals struggle to break into the industry due to a lack of understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
To succeed in cybersecurity, Obadare advised individuals to identify their cognitive strengths and choose a career path that aligns with their skills.
He emphasized that there are two primary paths in cybersecurity: technical and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).
Obadare debunked the myth that certifications are unnecessary, stating that they provide a structured way of learning and are essential for building cognitive competence.
He defined cognitive competence as the acquisition of knowledge and theoretical understanding, which is synonymous with knowledge and mastery of concepts and theoretical knowledge.
Obadare shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the importance of cognitive competence. He recalled a situation where a colleague, who was practically skilled but lacked cognitive competence, deleted a critical system file (NTLDR) while backing up a critical system.
Obadare, who had acquired cognitive competence through certification, knew that deleting the file would prevent the system from booting up. He intervened, recovered the file, and restored the system.
He further emphasized that cognitive competence is essential for making informed decisions and taking effective actions in cybersecurity.
He encouraged individuals to acquire certifications, such as CompTIA Security+, to build their cognitive competence and provide a structured way of learning.
In addition to cognitive competence, Obadare highlighted the importance of functional competence, which is the ability to translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills.
He emphasized that individuals need to strike a balance between cognitive and functional competence to succeed in cybersecurity.
While advising prospective Nigerians seeking to take up career in cybersecurity, Obadare advised them to be humble, open-minded, and willing to learn from others.
According to him, “My advice to individuals seeking to break into cybersecurity is to acquire certifications to build cognitive competence. Cultivate behavioral competence by being humble, open-minded, and willing to learn from others. Continuously learn and self-improve, as cybersecurity education and career is a journey, not a destination”.
In conclusion, Obadare’s insights provided a valuable roadmap for individuals seeking to break into the cybersecurity industry. By acquiring certifications, developing practical skills, and cultivating a positive attitude, individuals can set themselves up for success in this rapidly evolving field.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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