Cyber Market is Nigeria’s Immediate Future Beyond Oil, Says Olawepo-Hashim

By Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Chuks Okocha

Global energy executive and former presidential candidate in 2019, Mr.Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has stressed the importance of cyber security in the Nigeria’s competitive cyber market, insisting that the country could play a more strategic role in the cyber space within the next 10 years.

In a keynote address he delivered during a book launch titled: ‘Nigeria: Cyberpower and National Security’, written by Professor Dare Ogunlana of the University of Texas, United States of America, at the weekend, Olawepo-Hashim said the book would not have come at a better time than now, as Nigeria faces multifarious problems of insecurity.

According to him, “I am delighted to present the keynote address at the presentation of this very important book titled: ‘Nigeria: Cyberpower and National Security’.

“Nigeria may have quietly emerged as a cyber-power unsung, unknown and unnoticed by many.”

He explained that the country is now home to the sixth largest users of the internet in the world.

The energy executive said: “According to some verified data from the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Nigeria internet users rose to 104.4million in 2021. 19million users were added between 2020 and 2021 alone.”

The business mogul said Nigeria would yet play a more strategic role in the cyber space within the next 10 years.

“As it transits to a producer of content for global consumption as well as a key participant in the global market for outsource services alongside India and Brazil, Nigeria has an advantage-the mastery of English language by a sizable percentage of its population.

“Cyber security, therefore, becomes an important question of her competitiveness in the cyber market. The cyber market is the immediate future of Nigeria beyond oil, and the Lekki Peninsula would be the world ‘Silicon Island’.

“Professor Dare Ogunlana’s book: ‘Nigeria: Cyberpower and National Security’ would not have come at a better time. This giant, Nigeria, is embroiled in its most ever crucial security issues, where different strains of insecurity is at their highest points, no less cyber terrorism,” he said.

He congratulated the author for doing a good job, saying he “has presented his work in a form, format and style ‘decision makers’ would like, it is something you can breeze through in 24 hours.”

“I therefore recommend this work to important Nigeria and Africa decision makers in business, civil service, state institutions and government. It will be useful also as a resource material for counter-insurgency specialists worldwide.”