With the evolving cyber threat landscape, a Senior Security Operations Analyst, Daniel Jeremiah has said that the harm demands a proactive response, coupled with a developed skilled cybersecurity workforce to protect the nation’s infrastructure and economy.
The analyst argued that despite some progress made by the government, challenges of poor infrastructure, including limited access to electricity and the internet, as well as low awareness among youth about the inherent opportunities still hamper digital training efforts.
In a paper presentation on “Bridging the AI and Cybersecurity Gap: Empowering Nigerian Youth with Artificial Intelligence’, Jeremiah recommended a stronger public-private partnership with policy reforms prioritising digital literacy.
He believed that equipping the country’s youth with skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity was vital for national security and sustainable economic development.
According to him, empowerment not only helps address growing cyber threats but also provides pathways out of poverty, fostering long-term economic growth and stability.
Quoting some statistics, according to the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), in the first quarter of 2025, Nigeria recorded over 119, 000 data breaches, placing it 13th on the Global Threat Index.
He said organisations in the country face an average of 3,759 cyberattacks per week, which is 73 per cent above the global average, with threats ranging from ransomware to sophisticated AI-driven attacks.
He also mentioned that many educational institutions lacked updated curricula in AI and cybersecurity.
To further address the challenge, Jeremiah advised that integrating AI and cybersecurity into Nigeria’s education system from an early stage was essential, with programmes like NaijaCoder, which introduces secondary students to programming, should be scaled nationwide.
Noting that Nigeria’s demographic profile presents both a challenge and an opportunity, the analyst said with a median age of 18.1 years and about 43 per cent of its population under 15, the country has a youthful population poised to drive innovation.
However, he lamented that youth unemployment remained high, thereby contributing to social unrest and economic stagnation.
He mentioned several initiatives that are underway to address these skills gaps.
For instance, he said Microsoft has pledged to train one million Nigerians in AI and digital skills over the next two years, while the Digital Bridge Institute aims to train five million workers in AI within three years.
Additionally, he said the Halogen Group, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, offers free cybersecurity training and certification programmes.
The efforts, Jeremiah said are already opening doors to careers in cybersecurity roles such as information security analyst, penetration tester, and security consultant, as well as AI-related positions including machine learning engineer and AI consultant.
He maintained that employers like Source Microfinance Bank, INFINION Technologies, and Sproxil are also actively recruiting skilled professionals.
He said: “Developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce is crucial to protect our national infrastructure and economy, as well as integrating AI and cybersecurity into Nigeria’s education system from an early stage is essential.
“Investing in AI and cybersecurity training can unlock economic opportunities for young Nigerians. These sectors offer well-paying jobs and entrepreneurial pathways that can help reduce poverty, which currently affects over 70 per cent of the population.”
