By Ayo Onikoyi

In a world where cybercrime continues to evolve faster than the laws meant to stop it, one Nigerian researcher is stepping up with bold solutions—and global attention is beginning to follow.

Meet Olumide Akinsanmi, a brilliant computer scientist and data analyst based in the United States, whose research is shedding new light on the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tackling Nigeria’s growing cybercrime problem.

Born and raised in Akure, Ondo State, Olumide’s journey began with a degree in Computer Information Systems from Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, where he graduated with second-class honors. Following his national youth service (NYSC), he landed a role at Courteville Business Solutions, the company behind Nigeria’s AutoReg(Automated Registration) vehicle license registration system. For six years, he played a pivotal role in operations and innovation at one of the country’s top e-business firms.

But Olumide’s hunger for knowledge didn’t stop there. He left to the United States to pursue his master’s in Computer Science at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He graduated with an impressive 3.6 GPA. While in school, he earned a number of awards given to top students and he is a member of prestigious organizations like the National Institute of Science, Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honors Society, the United Nations Foundation, and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) amongst others

While in the U.S., Olumide authored a couple of impactful research papers, but one in particular has captured attention both at home and abroad. Titled “The Efficacy of Artificial Intelligence in Cyber-Crime Prevention in Nigeria: The Case of the Financial Sector,” his study explores how AI is being used by Nigerian banks—like First Bank of Nigeria—to detect and prevent fraud.

“Technology can be dangerous, but it can also be our greatest defense,” he told Punch in a phone interview. “AI is giving us the tools to fight back.”

Using a blend of field surveys and data analysis, his study uncovered some eye-opening statistics:

95% of respondents believe Nigeria’s weak cybercrime laws are fueling online fraud.

80% agree that AI has already helped reduce cyberattacks in financial institutions.

However, 78% say agencies like the EFCC and ICPC have failed to effectively stop cybercriminals.

Even more concerning is his finding that cybercriminals themselves are starting to use AI, making their attacks more precise and harder to trace.

Olumide’s recommendations? He calls for an overhaul of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws, investment in digital training for law enforcement, and collaboration between government and tech experts to stay ahead of AI-driven crime.

“We can’t keep using 20th-century tools to fight 21st-century threats,” he added.

Olumide Akinsanmi’s work is not only a wake-up call, it’s a roadmap for action. In an era where digital threats are becoming more sophisticated by the day, his voice is a timely reminder that Nigeria has the talent, tools, and tenacity to lead the fight—if we choose to act.