Technology
ISSAN Advocates Campaign to Tackle Rising Cybercrimes
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need for a national campaign to address rising cybercrimes has been called by the Information Security Society of Africa Nigeria (ISSAN).
The president of the group, Mr David Isiavwe, who doubles as an executive director at NOVA Bank, noted that the awareness should also involve the inclusion of cyber security in the curricula of schools and strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs).
According to him, there must be a deliberate effort by critical stakeholders to focus on talent development and capacity building to address these challenges.
“In today’s interconnected world, cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it is a fundamental pillar of our national security, economic stability, and societal well-being.
“Nigeria, like many nations, faces significant cybersecurity challenges that demand our immediate and sustained attention.
“While we have made remarkable progress in digital transformation, the increase in internet access and digital technologies brings heightened cybersecurity risks.
“Cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, and data breaches are becoming more sophisticated and frequent, posing serious risks to financial institutions, government agencies, and private enterprises,” Mr Isiavwe said at the 2024 Cybersecurity Conference in Lagos.
He disclosed that between January and June 2024, Nigeria experienced millions of cyber attacks, with a staggering 64 per cent increase in data breaches reported nationally.
“We need to invest in cybersecurity education and training to nurture a new generation of experts equipped to protect our digital infrastructure. This requires collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector to create comprehensive training programs and career pathways in cybersecurity,” he cybersecurity expert stated.
He advocated educational partnerships with universities and technical institutions to develop specialized cybersecurity curricula and degree programs, also highlighting the need for continuous learning opportunities for current IT professionals to transition into cybersecurity roles, alongside public awareness campaigns, to educate citizens about cybersecurity threats and safe online practices.
Additionally, he called for the creation of incentives to retain talent in the country, such as competitive salaries, career advancement opportunities, and supportive working environments.
Mr Isiavwe reiterated ISSAN’s long-standing commitment to promoting information security in Nigeria and across Africa.
“Our efforts to organize this conference and bring together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders are commendable. It is through such collaborative platforms that we can share knowledge, exchange best practices, and develop innovative solutions to our cybersecurity challenges.
“Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility; the entire ecosystem is as strong as its weakest link. By working together, we can build a secure digital future for Nigeria and Africa. Let us commit to developing the talent and resources necessary to bridge the cybersecurity gap and protect our world,” he submitted.
The conference included discussions on various sub-topics, such as building a cybersecurity workforce in Nigeria, future trends and challenges, and the role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and policy in addressing the cybersecurity gap.
Panellists featured industry experts like Richard Amanfoye, Gbolabo Awolewa, Mr Harrison Nnaji, Oluseyi Akindeinde, Mr Obadare Adewale and Basil Udotai, with sessions moderated by Bode Oguntoke.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Aminu Maida, has reemphasised the need to protect the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure, especially fibre networks, noting that damage to fibre networks carries significant economic consequences.
Speaking virtually at the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Critical Conversation Forum on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) in Lagos recently, he described FTTH as a critical enabler of Nigeria’s digital future.
“FTTH is uniquely positioned to meet Nigerians' next phase of data demand. The quality of our broadband will increasingly shape the competitiveness of our businesses, the growth of our digital industry and the opportunities available to our citizens,” the NCC chief stated.
“We must uphold deployment standards. Nigeria needs fibre that is properly installed, properly documented, and properly protected,” Mr Maida further said at the event themed Fibre to the Home in Nigeria: Addressing Challenges, Strengthening Standards and Ensuring Sustainable Deployment.
During a panel discussion titled Policy, Governance and Regulatory Alignment, the Deputy Director of Strategic Business Initiatives at ipNX, Mr Segun Okuneye, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration across the telecommunications ecosystem to unlock the full potential of fibre broadband in Nigeria.
According to him, sustainable fibre deployment extends beyond technology and investment to include policy consistency, stakeholder alignment, infrastructure protection, and shared responsibility.
“Achieving universal fibre connectivity requires more than deploying infrastructure; it requires sustained collaboration between operators, regulators, government agencies and host communities.
“When policies are aligned, deployment standards are consistently enforced, and critical infrastructure is protected, we create an environment where investment thrives and more Nigerians can enjoy reliable, high-speed broadband.
“At ipNX, we remain committed to working with all stakeholders to build resilient digital infrastructure that will support Nigeria’s economic growth for generations to come.”
Earlier in his welcome address, ATCON President, Mr Tony Emoekpere, underscored the strategic importance of FTTH in achieving the country’s broadband penetration targets while calling for greater public awareness around protecting communications infrastructure.
“This forum is critical because Fibre-to-the-Home is the technology that will enable the country to achieve full broadband penetration. We all depend on communication infrastructure, and it must be protected,” he declared.
Drawing a comparison with power infrastructure in the country, he added, “If somebody comes to your neighbourhood to tamper with your transformer or power cables, everybody will come out. The same thing needs to apply for communications infrastructure. When we see people damaging fibre cables, we should raise an alarm.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Thursday, July 23, 2026, provided an opportunity for financial services professionals to converge on Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, to brainstorm on ways to meet the rising customers’ expectations.
The platform used for this purpose was Core by Interswitch. It is part of the company’s broader commitment to strengthening Africa’s digital payments ecosystem by fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing and operational excellence across the financial services value chain.
At the event, participants, numbering over 400, also highlighted the growing importance of operational excellence in sustaining resilient payment infrastructure.
As digital financial services continue to expand across Africa, closer collaboration among financial institutions, fintechs and payment service providers will be essential to improving responsiveness, resolving operational challenges more effectively and delivering consistently reliable customer experiences.
The Executive Vice President for Operations and Technology at Interswitch, Mr Babafemi Ogungbamila, said the forum reflects the company’s belief that exceptional customer experiences are built not only on innovative technology but also on the expertise, collaboration and commitment of the professionals who keep payment systems running every day.
“Every successful digital transaction is powered by professionals whose work often goes unseen but is fundamental to building trust in digital payments. Core by Interswitch was created to recognise their contribution, strengthen collaboration across the industry and create opportunities for shared learning that ultimately benefit financial institutions and the customers they serve.
“As digital payments continue to evolve, investing in the people and processes that power the technology is just as important as investing in the technology itself,” Mr Ogungbamila said.
Beyond recognising the professionals whose work often goes unnoticed, the programme underscored the value of creating stronger connections across the payments ecosystem.
By creating a dedicated platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration and professional development, Core by Interswitch aims to build a more connected community of payments operations professionals equipped to respond to the evolving demands of the digital economy.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
WhatsApp has been updated with a web calling feature, allowing users to now make and receive audio and video calls, both one-on-one and group, directly from WhatsApp Web.
A notice from the Meta-owned messaging platform disclosed that this feature works without the need to download any app.
It was disclosed that this update was made to WhatsApp to make it easier for users to make calls wherever they are and on whatever device, phone or laptop.
Users will have access to features available on their other devices, including screen sharing, reactions, and a dedicated Calls tab with full call history and favourites, all from their browsers.
WhatsApp noted that calls from this feature are end-to-end encrypted, with no time limits and at no cost, as it is the same private experience they expect from the platform.
WhatsApp has also been embedded with easy call transfer, enabling the movement of an active group call from one device to another without hanging up. Users can seamlessly transfer calls to WhatsApp Web or Desktop when they arrive home to collaborate on a larger screen – or vice versa.
The platform further said it now has QuickHD, which allows for an improved video experience at the beginning of a call. With QuickHD, users can now enjoy high-definition video immediately in the very first few seconds of the call.
In addition, it has launched noise suppression to remove the background noise around callers so their voices come through clearly to the person on the other end, even in loud or busy environments. This can be managed at any time in in-call settings.
WhatsApp said these features are rolling out gradually and will be available to everyone soon, expressing its desire to make WhatsApp calling simpler to use.
