At its AI and Cybersecurity Conference held on January 21, AstroSec, the cybersecurity organisation founded by Austin Orumwense alongside Adejoke Ogundare, warned that Nigeria’s digital expansion is increasingly vulnerable to artificial intelligence–driven cyber threats. The conference, which gathered industry leaders, academics and community representatives here in Lagos, called for stronger national frameworks and broader collaboration to protect both businesses and democratic institutions.

In his keynote address, Orumwense stressed that Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy remains vulnerable to persistent threats. “Cyber risk is not abstract; it touches payments, elections and day-to-day operations. AI can materially improve detection and response, but it also accelerates challenges such as deepfakes and automated fraud,” he said, urging stronger national frameworks to counter both state and criminal actors.

Delivering a second keynote, Ogundare highlighted the importance of investing in people as well as technology. “Technology alone will not close the skills gap. Our focus is on creating pathways for students and early-career analysts to gain real project experience so organisations can hire people who are ready on day one,” she said. She added that building human capacity across universities and communities is essential if Nigeria is to sustain resilience in the long term.

Astrosec has coupled professional capacity-building with practical support for smaller organisations often left out of security planning. Since its establishment, the organisation has mentored over forty aspiring cybersecurity professionals, delivered specialist training with cybersecurity departments at universities in Nigeria, and helped small businesses implement affordable protections such as phishing defences, secure backup practices and incident response procedures.

Convention sessions explored the pressures facing small and medium-sized enterprises, with demonstrations of how artificial intelligence can be applied to fraud monitoring, email filtering and endpoint protection at costs accessible to smaller firms. Other discussions highlighted the dangers of disinformation, including manipulated video, audio and images, and the risks posed to election integrity and brand reputation.

The programme also addressed election security, with AstroSec citing Nigerian Communications Commission reports that more than seven million attempted cyberattacks were recorded during the 2023 polls and calling for the creation of an Electoral Cybersecurity Operations Centre within INEC.

AstroSec’s training programmes have introduced students to advanced threat detection workflows and incident documentation, while its direct support for small businesses has enabled owners to strengthen their defences without prohibitive costs. Organisers said the goal is to make cybersecurity practices accessible beyond large enterprises, raising standards across the wider economy.

The conference concluded with a commitment to publish a public brief summarising the sessions and providing practical checklists for SMEs, newsrooms and civic groups, alongside continued collaboration with universities and employers to expand mentorship and early-career opportunities.