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THE National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has begun an awareness summit to ensure citizens’ safety and security online in commemoration of October as Cyber Security Awareness Month. Kashifu Inuwa, director-general, NITDA, said the awareness summit was necessary because of the growing rate of dependence on technology and increasing rates of cyber-attacks.
Speaking at a virtual summit, in Abuja, Inuwa said developing a digital economy hinged on trust and safer cyberspace. He said at NITDA, they embarked on this annual campaign to build trust in the journey to a digital Nigeria. “The summit is in commemoration with the global Cyber Security Awareness Month, which targets four strata of the society, including public organisations, parents and children, youth, and corporate organisations. The contents are focused on sensitising Nigerians to stay safe and avoid criminality while online,” he said.
Inuwa listed other activities lined up to mark the month to include cybersecurity campaign, capacity building for legislative officers, sensitisation summit, nationwide cybersecurity awareness campaign and a webinar series. He said the campaign would focus on sub-topics such as Securing information assets in the digital economy, Cybersecurity Career Opportunities as well as encourage youth participation in cyberspace.
According to him, other topics are Child Online Protection: Creating a Cyber-Secure Home for Children and Parents, as well as Protecting Your Online Presence while executing your mandate in the Digital Economy Era. He said that the agency was sharing simple, easy-to-understand resources and tips to help people ensure safety and security online through its cybersecurity campaign.
The NITDA boss said the campaign involves sharing resources to help you with the skills you need to make more informed decisions when using the internet. He said citizens connected to the internet had the responsibility to protect it, adding that the summit would empower Nigerians to own their role in protecting their cyberspace.
“If we all do our part, implementing stronger security practices, raising community awareness, educating vulnerable ones, or training employees, our interconnected world will be safer and more resilient for all of us. Our growing dependence on technology, coupled with the increasing threat of cyber-attacks demands greater security in our online world,’’ he said.
Inuwa reiterated that cybercriminals were counterproductive to the efforts to create national economic prosperity and that also limits the drive to achieving a digital economy.
– Oct. 24 2020 @ 7:45 GMT |
Tags: NITDA embarks cyber security awareness campaign
