The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has called for a holistic approach to cyber-security in government and private organisations.
This is to ensure better preparation in the widening cyber-security picture.
Mr Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) made the call at the ICSAN 44th Annual Conference on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was themed:” Entrenching the Right Governance Framework for Economic Development and Sustainability”.
Abdullahi said technology had integrated the world into a global village, with its attendant tremendous risk of cyber-crime with increased incidence of cyber-attacks and threats.
He said that the new normal in the COVID-19 pandemic where digital technologies played major roles had aggravated the threats of cyber-security for all business organisations.
To this end, Abdullahi sought the creation of a culture of security consciousness in all dealings in the cyberspace.
He encouraged youths to set up more cyber-security response firms to assist organisations in safeguarding their infrastructure and software for cyber incident management.
“Online services has created an avenue for cyber criminals to take advantage of the current situation by manipulating people to generate revenue for them.
“The older population with less technical know-how now restricted to online purchases are also a vulnerable part of the population that would be more susceptible to fall victim of cybercrimes.
“Working from home, some employees use their personal computers which are less secured than their office-issued equipment, which are more easily breached than office secured networks.
“Nigerians are advised to make sure their passwords are involved; it should contain a mixture of words, memorable characters, and even numbers.
“For financial transactions, always cross-check the website address of the bank before submitting your banking details,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Olatunji Ope, Managing Partner, Whitewall and Lysi and Greendoor Africa, called for collective action by government and private organisations on corporate governance principles, to motivate economic growth.
Ope, advocating the set up of an agenda for an economically, socially and politically strong and viable Nigeria, said this could be achieved through the right governance framework.
“If Corporate Governance is about
effective supervision and affecting the way a corporation is directed,
administered or controlled, it is logical to infer that the economic development and sustainability of Nigeria will be determined and impacted by the quality of Corporate Governance, oversight and control of the powers/authority of the “managers” of the country,” he said.