(Ecofin Agency) - The Centre is a timely response to both immediate threats and long-term digital development needs, enabling Nigeria to build a safer, more resilient digital ecosystem.

The Federal Government has commissioned a Cybersecurity Centre at Bayero University (BUK) in Kano State, Nigeria. The facility, built by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and announced on May 20, underscores the government's commitment to securing the nation’s digital space and building a robust, inclusive knowledge economy.

The Centre is envisioned as a knowledge-driven hub for cybersecurity education, research, and innovation. It is equipped to empower the next generation of Nigerian cybersecurity professionals with tools, infrastructure, and training. Speaking at the handover, government officials emphasized the importance of the initiative in bolstering Nigeria’s digital resilience amid growing cyber threats globally.

This intervention by NITDA aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on youth empowerment, digital innovation, and economic development. The Centre will support capacity building, foster research and development, and drive innovation in cybersecurity—key components in securing Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Nigeria has been classified as a Tier 3 "Establishing" nation in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with a score ranging from 55 to 85. The GCI evaluates countries based on five key pillars: legal measures, technical capabilities, organizational capacity, capacity building, and cooperation. Despite this classification, the Tier 3 ranking underscores deficiencies in technical capabilities, organizational capacity, and cooperation, exposing vulnerabilities in the nation's cybersecurity framework. This underscores the critical need for investments like the newly commissioned Cybersecurity Centre at Bayero University, Kano.

The move comes at a time when cybersecurity has become a national priority, with increased reliance on digital infrastructure across sectors such as finance, health, education, and public services. By investing in homegrown talent and institutional capacity, Nigeria is positioning itself to tackle emerging cyber threats while nurturing a new wave of tech leaders.

Hikmatu Bilali