By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for greater inclusion of women in cybersecurity, stressing that the field will remain relevant as digital technologies continue to evolve.
The Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at a one-day Cyber for Women Training on Empowering Women in Cybersecurity, organised by NITDA in collaboration Women in Cybersecurity Nigeria (WiCyS) in Abuja.
The training, supported by the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), was part of the activities to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrated globally every March 8.
Represented by Dr Ayodele Bakare, Assistant Director, Cybersecurity Department of NITDA, Inuwa noted that women remained significantly underrepresented in the cybersecurity workforce in spite of the growing importance of digital security.
“Women’s representation in cybersecurity is less than 25 per cent globally and even in Nigeria it is really very low.”
According to him, cybersecurity affects everyone regardless of gender, making it necessary to equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to stay safe online.
“The reality is that cybersecurity is genderless and that is why it is important that we bring women up to speed.
“As far as cybersecurity is concerned, women in Nigeria should be able to protect themselves whenever they are playing, working, communicating, collaborating or having financial transactions online.
“Cybersecurity is one area within the IT ecosystem that will never be obsolete and for every invention or innovation in the area of digital technologies; there will always be cyber insecurity.
“What that means is that cybersecurity will always be valid, will always be relevant and, as such, it is a very good career path, in fact a great career path for women,” he said.
The President of WiCyS, Ms Patricia Eromosele, said the global demand for cybersecurity professionals was projected to grow significantly in the coming years.
“According to the latest statistics, the number of cybersecurity professionals we will need in the next five to 10 years will rise by 32 to 40 per cent,” she said.
Eromosele noted that the anticipated growth in job opportunities, education and awareness required greater participation of women in the sector.
“We need the other half of the population, which are women, to come on board, we need them to be educated, to be aware and also to take leadership and decision-making roles in cybersecurity,” she said.
The Vice President of CSEAN, Mrs Oluwatoni Falade, said the cybersecurity profession remained male-dominated, with women accounting for only a small fraction of practitioners.
“Cybersecurity it is a male-dominated profession, the percentage of men outweighs women and some people say women make up about 20 per cent, but in real time I doubt if we have up to that,” she said.
She stressed that increasing women’s participation would bring diverse perspectives needed to address cybersecurity challenges.
“The way women handle things is different from men and we need both genders on the table in order to see the solutions properly.
“We think in different ways and directions and that is why it is important that women are on the table so they can see what men may not see.”
Amina Abdulrasheed, a participant, said she chose to participate in the training because online spaces both for personnel and organisations required security.
Abdlurasheed also said that transitioning from the health sector to tech, she learnt that there were different domains in cybersecurity.
Another participant, Saraniya Maki, while commending the organisers, said she had been inspired to build a career in cybersecurity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 55 women were trained in the Cyber for Women programme.(NAN)http://www.nannews.ng
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
