A Senior Network Security Analyst and Engineer, Giwa Olajumoke Sherifat, has called for a more proactive approach to cybersecurity in Nigeria’s financial sector, warning that failure to strengthen digital defences could expose institutions and citizens to devastating cyberattacks.
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Speaking on the rising threats to financial network infrastructure, Sherifat identified uneven cybersecurity maturity among financial institutions and a reactive stance to cyber incidents as key weaknesses fueling breaches across the sector.
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She stressed that building resilience requires embedding cybersecurity into operational frameworks, adopting zero-trust architecture, and deploying artificial intelligence (AI)-powered anomaly detection systems.
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“AI is a game-changer in cybersecurity,” Sherifat said. “It provides predictive insights into abnormal behaviour before attacks happen.”
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The security analyst further emphasized the importance of talent development, regulatory modernization, and stronger public-private collaboration to effectively combat cybercrime. According to her, strengthening capacity and coordination will be critical in ensuring that Nigeria’s financial ecosystem remains secure.
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Sherifat’s research highlights the need for Nigeria’s financial institutions to shift from reactive measures to a preventive, intelligence-driven approach. She believes her predictive models and tools can support real-time risk management, infrastructure design, and resource allocation, thereby enhancing the sector’s preparedness against future threats.
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As Nigeria’s financial system continues to expand digitally, Sherifat maintained that prioritizing cybersecurity and fostering collaboration across stakeholders will be key to safeguarding the economy and protecting citizens from the disruptive consequences of cyber breaches.