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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for stronger cyber resilience and sustained investment in digital talent development across Africa.
Abdullahi made the call while speaking at a panel session on cyber resilience during the GITEX Africa 2026, where global stakeholders gathered to discuss emerging digital risks and opportunities.
He said the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has significantly reshaped the global threat landscape, stressing that countries must adopt more proactive and adaptive cybersecurity strategies to address evolving risks.
According to him, the world is currently at a critical inflection point, making it necessary for governments and institutions to rethink their approach to cybersecurity beyond traditional systems.
The NITDA boss highlighted Nigeria’s holistic cybersecurity framework, which integrates people, processes, policies, and technology. He noted that human factors account for over 95 per cent of cyber breaches, underscoring the need for widespread digital literacy and responsible technology use.
He added that capacity building must be prioritised as the first line of defence, in line with NITDA’s target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy across Nigeria by 2030.
Abdullahi also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to developing cybersecurity talent and promoting digital inclusion, noting that continuous investment in skills development would enable citizens to contribute meaningfully to innovation and economic growth.
He further called for stronger collaboration across African countries, urging a continental approach to building a resilient digital ecosystem.
According to him, Africa must position itself as a global hub for digital talent while leveraging its growing youth population to become a net exporter of technology skills.
He concluded by emphasising the importance of sustained investment, policy alignment, and cross-border cooperation in securing the continent’s digital future.
