NCS is the umbrella body for all IT professionals, interest groups, and stakeholders in Nigeria, boasting approximately 20,000 members across the nation’s 36 states.

With specialised groups such as ISPON, ITAN, NiWIIT, ITSSP, AITP, NITPCS, and structural organs including the College of Fellows, Chapters, and NACOS, NCS is dedicated to fostering innovation, professional excellence, and sustainable IT development in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the NCS Cybersecurity Forum is an annual top assembly of policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss collaborative strategies for safeguarding Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Opening the Forum, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, president of NCS, underscored the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s cybersecurity challenges through multilateral cooperation.

The forum combined technical workshops, networking sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms aimed at empowering stakeholders with tools to protect cyberspace and foster local innovation.

In a landmark keynote address, Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, delivered a strategic vision for achieving cyber sovereignty.

He emphasized the need for homegrown digital solutions, robust data protection frameworks, and reduced reliance on foreign infrastructure to secure the nation’s digital independence.

Continuing at the event, Dr. Aliyu outlined critical focus areas for national progress:

• Reinforcing Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Aligning cybersecurity laws with global standards to protect vital digital assets.
• Prioritizing Cyber Talent Development: Expanding training programs, certifications, and academic support to build a resilient cyber workforce.
• Fostering Public-Private Synergy: Creating trusted channels for sharing threat intelligence and responding to cyber incidents swiftly.
• Cultivating a Cybersecurity Culture: Promoting widespread awareness and responsible digital behaviour across all sectors.
• Anticipating Emerging Threats: Evaluating risks associated with rapidly evolving technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud computing.

As the conference drew to a close, NCS announced initiatives to amplify cybersecurity efforts nationwide—through policy advocacy, advanced training, and an upcoming national threat intelligence platform.

These measures, according to Dr. Aliyu, will ensure that Nigeria not only secures its digital assets but also positions itself as a continental leader in cybersecurity resilience.

What Lies Ahead?

According to Dr. Aliyu, the NCS plans to scale its engagement at future forums and workshops nationwide, developing specialized cybersecurity training, advocating policy refinement, and launching an information-sharing platform for industry players.

As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation, Dr. Aliyu believes strategic action and coordinated efforts will position the country as a cybersecurity-ready global hub.

A Pivotal Moment

The 2025 forum represents a shift: from reacting to threats to building a resilient digital foundation.

For Nigeria, it signals a bold step toward digital sovereignty—where data, infrastructure, and security lie firmly in national hands.

Keyword: Digital (Cybersecurity)  sovereignty

Cybersecurity sovereignty refers to a nation’s capacity to autonomously safeguard its digital infrastructure, data, and technologies from cyber threats.

This idea encompasses minimizing reliance on foreign entities for crucial cybersecurity components and services, allowing a nation to defend itself without unduly depending on foreign technological resources and innovations.

The award instituted by the Oyo State Government was presented to Dr Babalola, a chief lecturer who doubles as the Director of Centre for Data and Information Management at the Polytechnic, at the grand finale of the 2024 public service week held in Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi- Ape.

The event was presided over by Engineer Abiodun Oluseyi Makinde, the Oyo State Government.

Dr Babalola’s award falls within the awards in the Management cadre as instituted by the Oyo State Government.

Dr Taiwo Abideen Lasisi, the acting rector of the Institution congratulated the awardee for bringing honour to the Institution and noted that the award to Dr Babalola by the Oyo State Government is in recognition of her hard work and positive contributions to the development of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

The Rector said that this recognition will motivate her to further put in her best to the service of the Institution.

He urged other Staff of the Institution to emulate this hardworking Staff, adding that such Staff’s contribution is being recorded somewhere and they will surely reap the benefits of their hardwork, even at higher level like Dr Mrs Babalola.

The recipient, Dr. Babalola thanked the State Governor, Engr. Makinde for bestowing the award on her and the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, who she described as highly respected, for providing her the platform to showcase her innovation

In her words:

“This recognition means so much to me, and I want to extend my profound gratitude to the Oyo State Governor: His Excellency, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, the 2024 Public Service Week and the 2023 Productivity/Merit Award committee, my esteemed boss and Rector.

“While I am proud to receive this award, I know it reflects the hard work and dedication of many of my senior & junior colleagues and our teaming students. I want to acknowledge my highly respected Rector, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, and Prof Kazeem Adebiyi (our former Rector) for believing in me and giving me the platform to be found worthy of this noble award. I must equally acknowledge my incredible & highly dependable team at Centre for Data and Information Management and Open Distance and Flexible e-learning Center. All your support, innovative creativities, and collaboration made every challenge easier, and this success sweeter.

“I therefore dedicate this award to the management, the entire staff and students of The Polytechnic Ibadan, and my beloved children.

“This recognition humbles me and reminds me that every achievement belongs to God. It highlights the power of His guidance in promoting excellence and shaping the next generation of leaders. Noting it’s a call to perform even better and a call to greater service to my Fatherland”.

Dr. Babalola, a fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), was the former President of the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NiWIIT).

Dr. Babalola with friends and Associates:

Techeconomy gathered that the screening process for the award was highly competitive, demonstrating the integrity of the recognition among the large pool of Oyo State Civil Servants.

The EVC, speaking recently through Nafisa Usman Rugga, the Head, Digital Media Management of the Commission, at the ICT Quiz competition for Girl’s in Senior Secondary Schools organized by Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIIT), said there was an urgent need to equip the girl child with adequate knowledge, access and use of Information Technology programmes and services which will give them the needed skill to compete in the digital space.

Danbatta further stated that the empowerment programme in commemoration of the International Girls in ICT day, aligns with the Commission’s mandate of broadband penetration drive to women in rural and suburban areas for capacity building, employability, increased connectivity, and inclusion for gender equality throughout the Country.

The EVC also highlighted the Commission’s policies, projects and initiatives that show the importance of bridging gender disparity and ensuring that the Internet is a safe space for children.

She laid emphasis on the Child Online Protection (COP) project of the Commission, which is aimed at educating children and their parents/caregivers on measures to safeguard themselves and their wards as they navigate cyberspace.

The CEO of NCC further informed the audience of the Commission’s commitment to re-skilling the girl child and women by collaborating with stakeholders in the ICT sector to create programmes to encourage, empower and expose them to the vast opportunities present in the digital world.

The two-day event which focused on creating awareness programmes for IT related services and products among women in the rural and suburban areas in Nigeria, targets special groups and students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

The event ended with the presentation of gifts to the winners from the quiz competition conducted at the forum.

Members of NIWIIT, the women’s wing of Nigeria Computer Society, re-elected Bamidele Bayo-Osibo as the President.

The new executives are:

• Dele Bayo-Osibo – President
• Mariam Chukwuemeka – Secretary
• Abiola Jide-Abe – PRO
• Abiodun Opeyemi – Financial Secretary
• Funmilola Omojola – Treasurer
• Grace Ateata – Welfare Officer

The inauguration ceremony held today, August 4 2022, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, venue of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) International Conference.

Speaking during the ceremony, Professor Adesina Sodiya, President of NCS thanked them for conducting themselves in a manner that project good image of the profession in the society.

Sodiya urged the executives to double efforts towards galvanizing other women in tech to join the fold to promote IT profession.

The President said the newly inaugurated NiWIIT Executives must strive to build more women in technology and the nation at large.

“You have been elected to pilot the affairs of the group in the next two year. We expect you not only to increase NIWIIT in membership, but in value addition to the profession and the country at large”, he charged them.

Nigeria Women in Information Technology is one of Nigeria’s most respected and active technology industry associations and a peak body for women in the technology industry in Nigeria developing a sustainable and growing network of members, sponsors and supporters.

The organisation aims to support, develop, recognise and promote the achievements of women in the technology industries via relevant events, mentoring, programs, awards and networks.

The DG who was represented by the Deputy Director, Digital Economy Department, Dr. Amina Sambo threw open the challenge at the 10th Year Anniversary of the Nigeria Women in Information Technology, (NIWIIT) National Conference in Lagos.

Inuwa, in his goodwill message on the theme “Unleashing Innovation: Scaling Up Digital Skills for Women and Girls” noted that bringing women to speed in the Nation’s digital economy journey is critical to the country’s long-term prosperity.

“Women and girls account for more than 50% of our population. At this age, building the digital skills of this population is one of the most strategic and wisest things any Government could embark on to unleash innovation in entrepreneurship and other frontiers for social and economic growth”.

The NITDA DG while commending the organizers for bringing the digital gender divide concerns to the front burner at its 7th National Conference, was optimistic that the panel discussion sessions will give great insights into creative approaches toward building the digital skills of the women in the most impactful manner.

He averred that that the ongoing efforts will not only help the country to prepare girls and women for future opportunities but also for global competitiveness.

Inuwa who made reference to the African Developer Ecosystem report, quoted that “Female career growth was heavily impacted as childcare and home responsibilities increased during COVID-19 lockdown.’’

The Director-General observed that women and girls are faced with fewer opportunities to develop and explore the heights of their potential, which are mostly attributed to limited support and placements for them, physiological reasons, and perceived relegation of women folk to home keeping and childbearing; thereby truncating the potentials women carry, long before they can be developed.

“These realities remain more dominant in the developing countries of the world. While women in first-world countries also deal with problems of career resilience, their counterparts in poorer countries have the other hurdles of poverty, poor healthcare, and low standard of living, to deal with on a daily basis, thereby depriving them of a conducive environment to develop their potential”.

The NITDA Boss however expressed confidence in the possibility of changing the  narrative with the growth in digital technology penetration and consumption in Nigeria; stressing that to fully harness the opportunities that abound, however requires reorientation, contemporary training in digital literacy and skills, and training that will equip women and girls with the digital skills they need to participate in the ever-growing global digital economy which Oxford Economics values at $11.5 trillion dollars or approximately 16% of the Global Economy.

“Digital solutions and the requisite digital skills have the potential to create opportunities for women to make a difference in society and earn industry-standard fees for making such services available, further positioning themselves to export their skills internationally as real drivers of change”.

Having understood the potential of the value women can create, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa said has been making significant strides to empower women in developing digital skills through the creation of various capacity building programmes and initiatives to support digital entrepreneurship in women and also accelerate the achievement of the objectives of its digital literacy and skills strategy.

“We give women and girls special consideration in all of our initiatives and programmes. Women should not be discouraged; there are favourable reports about girls and women’s development. Therefore, there is a need to continue creating and strengthening awareness and preparing our women and girls for the challenge of today and preparing them for tomorrow’s opportunities”, the DG stressed.

Inuwa who maintained that the rapid rise of digital consumption in Nigeria has created a gap in the supply chain that highly skilled and trained women and girls in IT can fill, charged NIWIIT to create awareness of the need to continually build the digital skills needed to harness opportunities and create value that never existed before through innovations.

He assured the group that the Agency is happy to be associated with the platform and will do it’s best to support the implementation of the conference’s recommendations in order to unleash spurge digital entrepreneurship innovations for everyone’s social and economic development.

Dele Bayo-Osibo, the President of the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIIT), while asserting that inclusion is the currency of the moment, in general and digital inclusion in particular, affirmed that the urgency to be included in the moving train cannot be overemphasized and must be intentional.

“NIWIIT must take on the baton and contribute her quota to this clarion opportunity for building the Nation of the future”, she added.

The NIWIIT President expressed appreciation to NITDA and other collaborators for identifying with the platform and it’s projections.

Other speakers also added their voices to the dire need of closing the digital gender gap for the collective prosperity of all, irrespective of gender, tribe, or political affiliations.