By Adedapo Adesanya
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is set to organise cybersecurity workshops across seven sectors from September to December 2021.
The three-month workshop will cut across telecommunications, defence and security, education, finance and capital market, energy, professional organisations, the private sector and the judiciary.
This was disclosed by the Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, Mr Z. M. Usman, in a press release. He noted that the decision to organise the seminars was reached after deliberations at the 7th Meeting of the Cybercrime Advisory Council, convened by the National Security Adviser, Mr Babagana Monguno on Monday.
He said that as part of ongoing initiatives to achieve the strategic objectives of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021, the workshop series will provide information, strengthen cybersecurity governance and coordination, and build the capacity of relevant stakeholders on their responsibilities under the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.
In addition, “The workshops will also sensitise stakeholders on the expected deliverables, projected timelines and key performance indicators as required in the Action Plan for the Strategy Implementation.
“The National Cybersecurity Sensitization Programme will commence with the Defence and Security Sector on 15 and 16 September 2021. The workshops for other sectors will be conducted every fortnight till the first week of December 2021.”
The meeting of the Cybercrime Advisory Council discussed the modalities for the implementation of the new National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.
The ONSA said the deliberation was pursuant to its mandate under the Cybercrime Act 2015.
According to the body, “The council deliberated on the development of a protection plan for Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and updated the modalities for the upcoming Cybersecurity Sensitization Programme.
“Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari launched the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy on February 23, 2021, following the implementation and review of the maiden National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.
“Following the launch, the policy document was widely disseminated to Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, private organizations and relevant stakeholders for implementation.
“The 7th Meeting of the National Advisory Council reviewed emerging risks in cyberspace and discussed modalities to facilitate and strengthen ongoing initiatives towards the Implementation of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser updated the Council on the identification, designation and protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure as specified in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Protection etc) Act 2015. Consequently, the Council deliberated on the development of a protection plan and guidelines for the already identified Critical National Information Infrastructure.”
Modupe Gbadeyanka