Nigeria Computer Society Seeks Financial Sector Collaboration
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) called for partnerships with financial institutions on Tuesday to combat cyber attacks.
The President of NCS, Dr Sirajo Aliyu, made this observation at a news conference in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria
Aliyu said that the recent surge in cyber attacks targeting financial institutions underscored the urgency of collaboration between the NCS and the financial sector.
“We call upon financial institutions to partner with us in implementing robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard against cyber threats and protect the interests of all stakeholders.
“Also, the collaboration between the NCS and various states in advancing e-government and digital economy initiatives is commendable.
“We must continue to foster partnerships that leverage technology to improve governance, service delivery, and economic empowerment at the grassroots level,’’ he said.
Commending the Federal Government’s efforts in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, Aliyu, however, expressed concerns about the non-inclusion of the NCS in the Cybersecurity Council.
He said that the non-inclusion of the NCS in the Cybersecurity Council, as stated in the amended Cybercrime Act 2024, was a matter of concern.
According to the NCS president, as a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem, the NCS is committed to contributing its expertise and resources towards enhancing national cybersecurity.
He urged relevant authorities to reconsider this decision and ensure that all relevant stakeholders are adequately represented in decision-making processes concerning cybersecurity.
The NCS, Aliyu said, acknowledged the recent withdrawal of the proposed cybersecurity levy.
He said that while the intentions were noble, it was evident that further discussions and evaluations were necessary to ensure that any future initiatives in this regard aligned with the broader interests of the nation’s digital landscape.
The NCS president noted that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the Federal Government of Nigeria was a significant step towards harnessing technology for national development.
“However, there is a need for comprehensive strategies and frameworks to ensure that AI deployment is inclusive, ethical, and beneficial to all sectors of society.”
According to him, the widespread adoption of AI across various domains of life presents both opportunities and challenges.
He said that as the nation embraced AI technologies, it was crucial to prioritise education, skills development, and ethical considerations to maximise the benefits while mitigating potential risks.
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Adesina Shodiya, the immediate past President, of NCS, emphasised the need for the inclusion of experts in policy making concerning the sector and involvement of experts in the Cybersecurity Council.
Shodiya said that any crime perpetuated on the nation’s critical infrastructure would affect the economy.
He said that cybercrime was a crime against critical infrastructure and could have been addressed with the cybersecurity levy if it had been properly coordinated.
Sodiya stressed the need for collaboration, sensitization, and awareness of the cybersecurity law.
In his address, the vice president of NCS, Dr. Charles Onyeukwu, called on the government to reach out to professional bodies and count them as partners to make their contribution to policy-making.
NCS is the foremost and number one Information Technology (IT) professional association in Nigeria and Africa’s largest IT Society.
NAN
