• Nigeria plans to retrain ex-cybercriminals for careers in digital security and tech.

• A new academy will launch with 500 trainees, expanding later to 2,500.

• The initiative aims to cut cybercrime and support the digital economy.

Nigeria is preparing to launch a new academy aimed at transforming former cybercriminals into professionals in digital fields, particularly cybersecurity. The plan was announced by Ola Olukoyede, head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), during the National Cybersecurity Conference held in Abuja on July 9–10.

According to Olukoyede, many of the individuals the program targets already have strong technical skills. The goal is to redirect those abilities toward legal, productive work that supports Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

The first training cycle will cover 500 participants, with plans to scale up to 2,500. Each trainee will receive a monthly stipend to support their transition. They will be trained in areas like software development and cybersecurity, helping them reintegrate into the workforce. This effort is part of a broader strategy to reduce cybercrime, which has grown alongside Nigeria’s digital transformation.

In April 2025, Nigeria signed a cybersecurity cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom. This followed a major Interpol-led operation in November 2024, which resulted in 306 arrests across several African countries, including 130 in Nigeria alone. Over the course of 2024, Nigerian police reported a total of 751 arrests related to cybercrime.

Cybercrime has become a major economic threat. In 2022, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimated annual losses at about $500 million. In response, the EFCC launched a 24/7 cybercrime rapid response center in October 2024, allowing citizens to report incidents more efficiently. The agency continues to call for stronger cooperation among regulators, law enforcement, banks, and civil society, as well as sustained investment in cybersecurity infrastructure and local talent development.

This is not the first time the issue of reintegrating cyber offenders has been discussed in Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had made similar promises during his campaign, pledging to convert cybercriminals into legal digital experts. Until now, however, no concrete steps had been taken.

The full impact of the upcoming academy remains to be seen. Beyond technical training, its success will depend on strong professional and moral support to ensure lasting reintegration into society.