The future of cybersecurity education in Nigeria and entire Africa

With the advent of dangerous malicious codes like Flame and Stuxnet, it has become evident that cybersecurity poses existential threats to institutions if not properly managed. As the risks of traditional wars abate, Internet has since evolved as the 21^st century battleground where malware, not rockets, can be used to launch attacks on infrastructures like power, telecoms, capital market and financial institutions. Also, through espionage and hacking, organized crimes by nations, corporate institutions and individuals can steal vital intellectual properties (IPs) that drive innovations in any economy.

When a country or an organization loses its competitive advantage, its market-winning capability will be weakened. Besides the malwares and worms, there is also the human element which poses risks to intellectual properties and business trade secrets owing to the ease to move digital wares. Our training programs are designed to equip learners with 21st century cybersecurity and digital forensics skills that will help them advance their careers and master major ways to Prepare, Detect, Defend, Defeat, and Harden their organizations’ critical digital and information assets.

Cybersecurity is not a game of choice – it is the new normal. Unlike in the past, modern hackers are coordinated, well-funded and operate like corporations. The Central Bank of Nigeria has noted that Nigerian financial institutions are losing millions of dollars to cybersecurity related frauds and threats. The 21st century will be a century of cyber warfare and will require strategic readiness for organizations. These institutions have to plan beyond dependence on state institutions for cybersecurity protections. Across Nigeria, the level of that preparation to secure and protect assets like power systems, telecoms, financial infrastructures, water systems, and more are still evolving.

Furthermore, the world has nuclear non- proliferation treaty, but none exists for cyberwar despite the potential economic dangers the latter poses to world commerce. Accordingly, many nations have started to deploy strategic commands to protect, defend and necessarily retaliate when their systems are attacked through cyber-means. The United States Pentagon has the Cyber Command inside the National Security Agency, the British has a similar unit inside the GCHQ. China, Iran, Russia, Israel, and many other nations have developed cyber-army to protect their economies. Our programs are designed to also help develop cybersecurity manpower for state institutions and governments. These institutions could be law enforcements, military, and industry regulators.

Our Firm, First Atlantic Cybersecurity Institute, works with organizations to deepen their internal cybersecurity and digital forensics capabilities by training their workforce. We also provide cybersecurity research and consultancy. Our programs cut across Cybersecurity Policy, Cybersecurity Management, Cybersecurity Technology and Cybersecurity Intelligence / Digital Forensics structured along Certificate, Diploma and Nanodegree programs. We have operated via Milioncs Analytics, an IBM PartnerWorld, and worked for government agencies like National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in addition to banks and insurance companies. Recently, we unveiled a portal (www.facyber.com) dedicated to cybersecurity/digital forensics education and training.