Nigeria Partners UK On Resilient National Cybersecurity Architecture

Plans are underway towards building a United Kingdom/Nigeria National Cybersecurity Architecture as both countries have agreed on actionable insights for strategic collaborations.

Indications to this development emerged recently when the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) successfully concluded its Cybersecurity Inward Trade Mission to Nigeria, marking a significant step towards strengthening cybersecurity ties between both countries.

The mission, which took place in Abuja and Lagos, brought together 13 UK cybersecurity experts and key stakeholders from the Nigerian public and private sectors, including Office of the National Security Adviser, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Nigeria Data Protection Commission among others.

Director-General of NITDA Kashifu Inuwa during a  meeting with some UK delegates in Abuja recently said that President Bola Tinubu is committed to economic reforms and transformation, which digitisation could drive.

Inuwa noted that NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0 would enhance the digitisation of the country by ensuring digitally literate populace who were abreast with cybersecurity concerns. He said the federal government was working towards embedding cybersecurity in every aspect of general activities, adding that 95 per cent of cyber breaches were as a result of human errors.

“We need to educate both the users and operators on cybersecurity, which is part of what we do and we have a target of achieving 95 percent digital literacy level now.

“We are looking at building the expertise and we are working on training our people on how to safeguard our digital space,” he said.

He added that they were conducting some research on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain, robotics and additive manufacturing.

The NITDA boss further explained that as emerging technologies evolved, there was a need for cyber security to evolve. “We need to evolve in the way we talk about cybersecurity and the way we secure the system we are building,” he said.

Mr Mark Smithson, Country Director, Department of Business and Trade (DBT), UK, in his response revealed that the relationship between Nigeria and the UK was valued at 7.5 billion Pounds and they were committed to continue strengthening it through building safe cyber spaces.

“The UK remains firmly committed to supporting Nigeria in tackling cyber security challenges and harnessing the opportunities of the digital age as global threads evolve.

“Our partnership is more crucial than ever in ensuring a safe and resilient cyberspace for businesses, governments and citizens alike.

“The UK is proud to bring world class expertise in cyber security to Nigeria, from cutting-edge technology, to capacity building initiatives because our strong track record in cyber resilience, threat intelligence and innovation presents valuable opportunities.

“We look forward to expanding our cooperation, sharing knowledge, deepening our bilateral trade and building a secure digital future together,” Smithson said.

Key Highlights from the Trade Mission included meaningful discussions and engagements between UK and Nigerian stakeholders to strengthen Cybersecurity Partnerships, and pave the way for potential collaborations; showcasing their cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.