The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it will host an International Cybersecurity Conference to strengthen Nigeria’s cyber resilience amid growing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled threats.
NITDA Director-General, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the event, scheduled to hold from Oct. 27 to Oct. 28, would have as its theme: “Cyber Resilience in the Age of AI: Defending Minds, Networks, and Nations.”
Inuwa said the event would be organised in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) among other partners.
According to him, it will examine how AI is transforming cyberattacks and defence mechanisms.
“The first conference last year held at the national level, but we are upgrading to an international event following increased interest from other African countries and beyond.
“The international dimension became necessary because cyber threats are not confined by national borders, and attacks originating in Nigeria can spread globally within seconds.
“AI is offering opportunities for innovation, economic growth and improved service delivery but it is also enabling cybercriminals to launch more sophisticated attacks, scams and disinformation campaigns.
“There is the growing use of AI-generated deepfakes, fake audio, videos and misleading political content especially now that is the election season, to manipulate opinions,” he said.
He said cybercriminals increasingly exploited human vulnerabilities through social engineering rather than attempting to breach technological systems directly.
“In the age of AI, many things we see online are not real, they are AI-generated content and it is important Nigerians verify information before believing or sharing it,” he said.
Inuwa said the conference would focus on how to protect individuals against cognitive manipulation, securing technological and social networks, and strengthening national cybersecurity through international cooperation.
The conference, he said, would attract government agencies, private sector organisations, cybersecurity professionals, academia, civil society and international stakeholders to share knowledge and develop practical responses to emerging threats.
He said that strengthening cybersecurity was essential to building public confidence in digital services, including online shopping, banking and other technology-driven transactions.
According to him, organisations must prioritise security when designing and deploying digital infrastructure rather than reacting after an attack has occurred.
Inuwa said the conference would feature 13 keynotes, 16 panel discussions, cybersecurity awards and a hackathon designed to deepen practical cybersecurity knowledge among participants.
He said about 1,946 participants drawn from secondary schools, tertiary institutions, professional bodies and Ministries, Departments and Agencies were expected to take part in the hackathon.
He further said the competition would challenge participants to examine different cybersecurity threat scenarios and develop solutions to strengthen the country’s digital defences.
The D-G added that the conference was expected to strengthen partnerships among government, industry, academia, civil society and international stakeholders, while improving knowledge sharing and the development of local cybersecurity expertise.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to making cybersecurity an integral part of Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda. (NAN)
