WorldStage– The Cybersecurity Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), and First Bank have urged stronger protection of Nigeria’s critical digital infrastructure against escalating cyber threats, artificial intelligence risks and growing dependence on digital platforms.
Mr Olabode Agboola, the President of CSEAN, made the call during the association’s 11th Annual Conference held in Abuja on Friday.
The conference, themed “Building Resilience: Securing Critical Infrastructure and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for a Trusted Digital Economy”, attracted global cybersecurity professionals, policymakers and technology innovators.
Agboola said the conference was designed to address emerging cyber threats confronting governments, businesses, financial institutions and digital users globally amid growing technological advancement and increasing dependence on interconnected digital platforms.
He said that the world’s rapidly expanding digital economy had intensified cyber vulnerabilities, stressing that increasing deployment of digital applications require stronger cybersecurity frameworks, improved policies and proactive protection strategies across critical sectors globally.
“Globally, economies are becoming increasingly digital and cyber threats thrive where vulnerabilities exist.
“Last year alone, about 1.6 million mobile applications were launched globally, each potentially possessing inherent security vulnerabilities.
“In 2025, global cyber breaches reached approximately 425 million and are projected to rise to about 450 million in 2026, increasing risks confronting governments, organisations, businesses and individuals globally,” he said.
Agboola said that the estimated global cost of managing cyber breaches currently stood at 10.5 trillion dollars, while worldwide cybersecurity budgets remained significantly low at approximately 245 billion dollars annually.
He said that cybersecurity budgets globally are measured in billions of dollars, while cyber breach mitigation costs had risen into trillions, thereby creating serious funding gaps requiring urgent attention and strategic collaboration.
He identified a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals as another critical challenge, noting that the global cybersecurity skills deficit had reached approximately 4.8 million experts worldwide across public and private institutions.
“Organisations are unable to recruit sufficient cybersecurity professionals despite increasing cyber threats, thereby worsening vulnerabilities affecting critical national infrastructure, financial institutions and digital service platforms globally,” he said.
The expert expressed concern over cross-border data transfers involving foreign-owned digital platforms operating within Nigeria.
He questioned their compliance with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act and related due diligence requirements protecting citizens’ information.
“Most applications used by Nigerians are foreign-owned platforms, meaning citizens’ data are often stored outside Nigeria.
“Questions must be asked regarding compliance with cross-border data transfer provisions contained within our laws,” he said.
Agboola described artificial intelligence as a double-edged sword capable of supporting cyber defence and cyber attacks.
He warned particularly against deployment of agentic artificial intelligence within sensitive military and kinetic operations globally.
“I am comfortable with agentic AI supporting business automation and process efficiency, but when military institutions begin deploying agentic AI for kinetic operations, that becomes deeply concerning,” he said.
Mrs Oluwatoni Falade, the Vice- President of CSEAN and Conference Chairperson, said the conference aimed at strengthening cybersecurity capacity locally and internationally through knowledge-sharing, innovation and professional collaboration.
Falade said the conference attracted both physical and virtual participants, including professionals from the diaspora, thereby promoting broader knowledge exchange, collaboration and stronger partnerships within the global cybersecurity ecosystem.
“We deliberately selected keywords within the conference theme to capture contemporary cybersecurity realities.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, and people must understand both its opportunities and associated risks,” she said.
Falade called for increased awareness on information security, data privacy and cyber risks.
She urged for the empowerment of government institutions, private investors and professionals through continuous cybersecurity education and capacity-building initiatives.
“The conference is specialised for cybersecurity and information security professionals.
“We expect participants to return home, build awareness, strengthen organisational practices and create positive ripple effects across society,” she said.
The CSEAN vice-president added that international speakers were invited to provide participants broader global perspectives.
She said it was also to expose Nigeria professionals to cybersecurity practices, innovations and experiences from other countries, institutions and digital economies worldwide.
Mr Harrison Nnaji, Group Chief, Information Security Officer of First Bank Nigeria, said cybersecurity remained a strategic organisational priority requiring continuous investment in people, technology, processes and customer awareness initiatives.
Nnaji said the bank had adopted top-down and bottom-up cybersecurity approaches to ensure sustained protection of customers’ information, digital services and operational infrastructure against constantly evolving cyber threats and attacks globally.
“Cybersecurity is not limited to regulatory obligations or specific departments.
“It is a strategic component of the bank’s operations, requiring continuous investment in people, processes and advanced technological systems,” he said.
Nnaji said the bank has strengthened its cybersecurity maturity through targeted recruitment, staff capacity-building programmes, specialised operational centres and continuous awareness initiatives designed for employees and customers alike across operations.
He added that the bank regularly conducts awareness sessions for customers and distributes educational materials aimed at helping customers recognise evolving cyber threats while making informed digital banking decisions safely.
Nnaji assured customers that the bank would continue prioritising secure, reliable and user-friendly services while strengthening trust, operational efficiency and digital protection across its banking ecosystem and customer service operations nationwide.
The highlight of the conference was the adoption of cybersecurity modules by representatives of various paramilitary organisations, including the Nigeria Police Force, aimed at strengthening institutional cybersecurity awareness and digital resilience
