By Ogaga Ariemu
In efforts to combat emerging challenges in the cyberspace, Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), has advocated for strong cybersecurity measures built on public trust, confidence, security, privacy and safety to foster Nigeria’s Digital Economy gains.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC Prof Umar Danbatta made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the Commission’s Annual Cybersecurity Conference themed, “Building Trust in the Digital Economy Through Cybersecurity and Sensitization Implementation of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.”
Danbatta represented by the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Barr Adeleke Adewolu said that a formidable cybersecurity architecture in Nigeria is a stimuli for secure and prosperous digital Economy.
Danbatta called for a concerted effort from all stakeholders in tackling emergence of cybersecurity challenges such as Identity theft, internet fraud, fake news among other vulnerabilities occassioned by the digital era.
According to him, “strong cybersecurity will have the advantage of reducing the surface of vulnerabilities in the digital economy that can be exploited. Thus, sound cybersecurity is a stimuli for secure and prosperous digital economy.
“Therefore, the NCC is in the forefront of ensuring sound cybersecurity culture that is built on people, process and technology. The launching of NCC sectoral CERT is a testament of our resolve to promote a healthy digital environment. Our various cybersecurity awareness initiatives and campaigns are helping the public understand the risks in digital space and how to reduce the vulnerability opportunities that adversaries can benefit from.
“Our collective resolve is to continuously boost trust and confidence in our digital economy by ensuring adherence to sound cybersecurity culture and hygiene, internally and with external partners as well as stakeholders. We call on all cybersecurity stakeholders to key into the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021, and accelerate the adoption of its various components. Cybersecurity is a collective responsibility as no single government, business or individual is immune or can do it alone”, the EVC said.
In his goodwill message, the representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), Director Communications ONSA, Brig.-Gen. Samad Akesode reinterated that trust is fundamental in all spheres of human endeavour.
He disclosed that one the successful methods of fighting cybercrime is on trust, between supply chain, private individuals, government agencies and the people.
He urged stakeholders to imbide trust as key enabler in the digital economy.
Earlier, the Director General/CEO of National Identity Management Commission(NIMC), Engr Aliyu Aziz in his goodwill remarks, stressed the importance of the Conference stating that no part of the world is immune from the threat of cybercrime.
Aliyu, represented by the Director Legal Regulatory and Compliance Services NIMC, Barr Hadiza Dangabana, assured that the Commission is committed to securing the data of Nigerians.
The conference organised by NCC in conjunction with ONSA is an annual gathering of stakeholders from the telecommunications sector, ICT, security, University with the sole goal of providing solutions to emerging cybersecurity challenges.