The president of Nigeria lately delivered a blistering speech condemning the widespread “Nigerian Prince” stereotype that the nation is stuffed with scamming cybercriminals.
Cybercrime stays a giant problem in Nigeria, with the financial affect being $500 million yearly. Talking at Nigeria’s Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee final week, President Bola Tinubu defined that cybercrime had broken the nation’s worldwide repute, however he careworn that it is not only a Nigeria downside. Fairly, fraud and different varieties of cyberattacks are a “world phenomenon that have to be tackled in any respect prices,” he stated.
“As we speak’s world is run actual time on the Web. Governance, companies, establishments and even particular person home affairs are dependent on the web,” he stated. “Cybercriminals are, subsequently, a menace to the remainder of the world. That is why no effort or expense ought to be spared in confronting the evil. I need to guarantee the EFCC that the federal government will proceed to supply its assist in its quest to kill the dragon that web offences have develop into.”
In opposition to that backdrop, it is necessary to struggle the notion that the African nation is “a nation of fraudsters,” a characterization he stated was “unfair, untenable, and unacceptable.”
Youth’s Position in Cybercrime
Additionally on the occasion, Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the EFCC, voiced concern over younger individuals enjoying an more and more higher position in cybercrime. He warned of “the hazard of getting a tribe of future leaders whose outlook in life is that fraud and corruption are the stairways to fame and fortune.”
Olukoyede stated he believes that the easiest way to deal with this problem is by encouraging younger individuals to pursue fulfilling careers that use the identical expertise.
He stated: “It’s our view that academia can contribute extra to the anti-corruption struggle by mentorship, as youths in as we speak’s fast-paced world want shut supervision to navigate their path to success and purposeful dwelling.”
In a unique latest tackle to the EFCC, Chidiebere Ihediwa, a Nigerian cybersecurity specialist, echoed that theme, noting that on-line scammers and fraudsters ought to be retrained as info expertise specialists.
