“Let?us not wait for the next major cyber attack” — FG, NITDA pledge robust cybersecurity at maiden NCSC

Abuja, Nigeria — July 10, 2025 — The Federal Government, through NITDA and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), officially launched the first-ever National Cybersecurity Conference (NCSC 2025) on July?9–10 at the Abuja Continental Hotel. With the rallying cry, “Let us not wait for the next major cyber attack,” officials underscored cybersecurity as a cornerstone of national security and economic stability .

Cybersecurity Takes Centre Stage

• National focus: Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s NSA, announced the imminent rollout of a National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre to deliver real-time threat responses. He emphasised that safeguarding digital infrastructure via Executive Order and updates to the Cybercrime Act is now imperative, not optional
• NITDA estimates strong market growth: With the local cybersecurity industry valued at $207.8 million in 2024 and projected to reach $345.4 million by 2029, Dr. Kashifu Inuwa highlighted this as an economic opportunity as well as a security imperative. Experts expect a 20% rise in cyber roles, with entry-level salaries from ?4–6 million annually

Building Talent & Partnerships

• Youth empowerment: The NCSC centres on Nigeria's youthful digital population (60?% under age?25; 90?% online), targeting the cybersecurity workforce gap—68,000+ positions currently unfilled across Africa
• Training initiatives: NITDA’s recent MoU with French cybersecurity firm SecDojo aims to establish a Cybersecurity Academy, offering advanced training, simulations, research, and curricula development
• Global and domestic collaboration: With participation from the UK’s Department of Business & Trade, ONSA, NCC, EFCC, QNA, and CSEAN, the event fosters shared responsibility among government, private sector, civil society, and international partners

Conference Highlights

• Theme: “Building a Resilient Digital Future”: structured to align policy, innovation, and public-private cooperation
• Agenda features: Multi-track expert panels, workshops on AI-enabled cyber threats, and a Capture-The-Flag hackathon spotlight training and early-stage innovation
• Recognition & awards: The conference closes with Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, celebrating national contributions to digital safety

Government’s Strategic Call

• Mallam Ribadu reinforced that Nigeria is now “safe and inviting for tech company partnerships”, urging global firms to invest in its growing digital economy
• NITDA DG Inuwa affirmed that efforts like the 3 Million Tech Talents and Digital Literacy for All programmes are equipping youth for global cybersecurity roles

What to Watch

Bottom Line

With rising cybercrime (global losses are estimated at $10.5 trillion annually by 2025), Nigeria is taking bold, forward-thinking steps to protect its fast-growing digital sector—an economy that contributed 17.68% of GDP in 2024 . The NCSC 2025 reflects a national shift toward proactive resilience—prioritising pre-attack readiness, public-private partnerships, and youth-led innovation.

Though many initiatives remain nascent, the bold vision from Abuja signals a determined leap toward securing Nigeria’s digital frontier.