From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin.
Professor Oluwakemi Christiana Abikoye of the Department of Computer Science, University of Ilorin, has called on individuals, organisations, and the government to embrace proactive strategies to address the increasing threats of cyberattacks in Nigeria.
Delivering the university’s 270th inaugural lecture titled “Invisible Bouncers in the World of Information Security,” Professor Abikoye outlined critical measures needed to protect the nation’s data and infrastructure from cyber risks.
“Passwords must be changed every three months, and consistent training and retraining programs should be organised to raise cybersecurity awareness, particularly to combat social engineering targeting governments, organizations, and individuals,” she emphasised.
The cybersecurity expert stressed the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral analytics to detect and mitigate security risks.
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She also advocated for regular security audits, incident response plans, and fostering a security-conscious culture within organizations.
Highlighting the potential of biometric technologies for national identification, Professor Abikoye, recommended integrating human iris recognition with liveliness detection to enhance biometric systems.
She proposed combining biometrics with cryptography to address vulnerabilities more effectively.
On personal data security, the professor urged public awareness campaigns about the risks of sharing personal information online and strict adherence to data protection regulations.
She also suggested watermarking intellectual property in critical sectors like finance, healthcare, and national security to prevent unauthorised use.
For pension verification, she advocated implementing voice recognition systems under the “Am Alive” program and called for robust privacy regulations, data governance, and compliance frameworks to ensure the responsible handling of sensitive information.
Professor Abikoye’s lecture serves as a wake-up call for Nigeria to strengthen its cybersecurity frameworks, emphasising that preparedness and innovation are vital in mitigating rising global cyber threats.
