Renowned technology consultant and CEO of 9NL, Mr. Akinniyi Samuel has emphasized the importance of cybersecurity to the growth and survival of businesses in the 21st century, urging players to strengthen their Digital guard against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Samuel averred that traditional safeguards like firewalls and antivirus were no longer sufficient, calling on organisations to invest in advanced solutions such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR) to proactively identify and mitigate risks.”

The IT expert, during an interview recently, also underscored the need for continuous employee training and well-structured incident response plans as part of a broader cybersecurity strategy.

“Technology alone is not enough. Human error remains one of the biggest threats. Building a cyber-aware culture is crucial to organizational resilience,” he noted.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, Akinniyi highlighted the challenges posed by outdated infrastructure and legacy systems, recommending strategic modernisation.

“Organizations must adopt methods like automated migration and code refactoring to strike a balance between operational continuity and technological advancement,” he said.

Akinniyi also discussed the potential of emerging technologies like cloud computing, unified communications, and embedded finance as the pathway to future success.

Stressing cross-functional collaboration, he said, “Successful implementation of these technologies requires synergy between IT departments and business units. It’s no longer just about deploying tools; it’s about aligning technology with strategy.”

He also addressed artificial Intelligence as a game changer and a transformative force for industries.

“From fraud detection to personalized customer experiences, AI is reshaping how businesses operate. Machine learning and natural language processing are at the forefront of this shift”, he said.

The Tech expert also advised on letting innovation must go hand-in-hand with responsibility, urging ethical AI practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI-driven systems.

He urged both private organizations and government institutions to adopt a holistic approach to digital innovation. “To remain competitive in today’s lightning-paced digital world, businesses must integrate cybersecurity, system modernization, and artificial intelligence into their core strategies,” he said.

As one of Nigeria’s most prominent voices in the tech industry, Samuel continues to drive the nation’s digital transformation, offering strategic insights and leading innovations in cybersecurity and emerging technologies.