In order to properly drive the cyber security agenda of the federal government, the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to urgently appoint a Special Adviser (SA) on Cyber Security in the country.
CSEAN President, Mr. Remi Afon, made this call in commemoration of the 2017 CSAM adding “The time is ripe for President Mohammadu Buhari to appoint a special adviser on cybersecurity who will be driving the cybersecurity agenda of the government.”
Afon explained that October every year has been set aside globally as cyber security awareness month, stressing that it was started 14 years ago by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is now being embraced by many countries around the world with added expansive international adoption this year under the umbrella of Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM).
CSEAN, he said, being a cyber security awareness advocate and the curator of STOP. THINK. CONNECT. in Nigeria, the global online safety education and awareness campaign, will be at the forefront this month of October to educate all consumers and businesses about the importance of cybersecurity and how to protect their personal information.
CSEAN is a non-profit organisation made up of Information security professionals, centred on a collective purpose and vision of championing the cause and awareness of Information security best practices, acting as an agent of change to address Cyber Crime phenomena through engaging intellectual minds, business and political leaders.
CSEAN, he also said, will kick off this year’s Cyber Security Awareness month with series of cyber security awareness lectures and symposium across the country starting from Abuja and Lagos.
“The association has selected some private and public organisations, secondary schools and tertiary institutions for the awareness campaign.
As part of the activities during the month, we will be having cyber security awareness walk during which our members will be giving out tips to people on the street on how stay safe online,” he added.
Afon posited that parallel to all the lined up activities will be social media campaign on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #CyberAware #NoFallMaga and interviews with expert speakers on Facebook and YouTube.
He noted that throughout the month of October, CSEAN’s campaign will focus on cybersecurity in the workplace, governance, social media security, cyberbullying, fake news, phishing, identity theft, privacy and data protection, cybersecurity at home, and skills in cybersecurity.
CSEAN, he said, is using this occasion to again call on all arms of governments Executive, Judiciary and Legislative to set aside and adopt October as National Cyber Security Awareness month.
“We have for a very long time observed with great concern the apathy of the present government towards cybersecurity development in the country.
The lack of leadership from the government, inadequate regulation and lack of public private partnership in the area of cybersecurity could potentially hunt the country very soon,” he warned.
