By correspondent in Ilorin.
Professor Oluwakemi Christiana Abikoye of the Department of Computer Science, University of Ilorin, has urged individuals, organizations, and the government to adopt proactive strategies to combat the rising threat of cyber attacks in Nigeria.
Delivering the university’s 270th inaugural lecture, titled “Invisible Bouncers in the World of Information Security,” Professor Abikoye outlined key measures to safeguard the nation’s data and infrastructure from cyber risks. She emphasized the importance of changing passwords every three months and implementing consistent training programs to raise cybersecurity awareness, particularly against social engineering attacks.
The professor stressed the need to adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral analytics to detect and mitigate security threats.
She also emphasized the importance of regular security audits, incident response plans, and fostering a culture of security consciousness within organizations.
To enhance national identification systems, Professor Abikoye recommended integrating human iris recognition with liveliness detection and combining biometric technologies with cryptography to address vulnerabilities. She also called for public awareness campaigns on the dangers of sharing personal information online and urged strict adherence to data protection regulations.
In the financial and healthcare sectors, she proposed watermarking intellectual property to prevent unauthorized use. For pension verification, she advocated implementing voice recognition systems under the “Am Alive” programme to ensure secure and efficient verification processes.
Professor Abikoye’s lecture serves as a critical wake-up call, emphasizing that preparedness, innovation, and robust cybersecurity frameworks are essential to protecting Nigeria against the growing global threat of cyber attacks.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
