– Tasks Telecom Consumers On Cybersecurity Awareness Campaigns
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has assured telecoms subscribers of its irrevocably commitment to boosting the nation’s digital economy through responsively regulations.
Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, gave this assurance in Abuja at the 2021 Annual Cybersecurity conference, organised in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The theme of this year’s conference is “Building Trust in the Digital Economy through Cybersecurity and Sensitization on the Implementation of the National Cybersecurity policy and Strategy (NCPS).”
The EVC who was represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Adewolu Adeleke, said the Commission will continue to be at the forefront of ensuring sound cybersecurity culture built on people, process and technology to bolster digital economy in Nigeria.
He urged telecom consumers and the public to take advantage of NCC’s pervasive communications campaign planned to create awareness and sensitize the public about the wiles of cyber criminals.
“Our various cybersecurity awareness initiatives and campaigns are helping the public to understand the risks in digital space and how to reduce the vulnerabilities that adversaries can benefit from. Our collective resolve is to continuously boost trust and confidence in our digital economy by ensuring adherence to sound cybersecurity culture and hygiene, internally and with external partners as well as stakeholders.
“The growth of digital economies is changing how “trust” is valued by institutions, businesses, and the public. The increase in technological advancement has also resulted in increase in cybercrimes, as well as identity theft and fake news campaigns that have introduced fresh dimensions that affect the notion of trust in the digital era” the EVC said.
The NCC Chief Executive stated that trust and confidentiality promote a healthy digital environment, as gleaned from global best practices in order to guarantee the privacy and integrity of digital data. He said to improve digital trust and confidentiality, the digital economy should be built on trusted technologies and partnerships, ensuring strong cybersecurity that rides on public’s confidence, security, privacy and safety to bolster responsive regulations, transparency, accountability and digital governance.
“Acceleration of innovations and enterprise in the digital space amplify vulnerability opportunities, which malicious parties are quick to exploit, thereby slowing down the gains of digital economy. Notwithstanding, strong cybersecurity will have the advantage of reducing the surface of vulnerabilities in the digital economy that can be exploited. Thus, sound cybersecurity is a stimulus for secure and prosperous digital economy,” he said.
Speaking further, Danbatta affirmed that the launching of NCC Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC CSIRT), which is the telecoms sector’s version of the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ng. CERT) is a testament of the Commission’s resolve to promote a healthy digital environment in the telecom sector.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), who was represented by the Director, Communications at ONSA, Brigadier General Samad Akesode, recognises the commitment of the Commission in creating awareness on the implementation of national cybersecurity policy and promised even greater collaboration of ONSA with the NCC on the nation’s cybersecurity drive.
The event was attended by people from the academia, including the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Chairman and other members of NCC Board of Commissioners, representatives of Chairman EFCC, and representatives of Directors General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Other attendees and participants include Directors and top management staff from many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, key players in the telecom ecosystem (including ALTON and ATCON), telecom companies, ICT firms, cyber security experts as well as representatives of institutions and agencies in the security governance sector, development enthusiasts, journalists and other communication professionals.