As part of efforts to fortify Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and promote national cyber resilience, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered into a strategic partnership with SecDojo SAS, a cybersecurity training and upskilling firm based in France.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed during the GITEX Africa 2025 event held in Marrakech, Morocco. Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, and Chief Executive Officer of SecDojo, Mr Younes Benzagmout, represented their respective organisations at the signing.
The collaboration is designed to advance Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape through comprehensive capacity-building programmes. Key areas of focus include the establishment of a Cybersecurity Academy, delivery of advanced training and simulation exercises, development of customised curricula, and promotion of research, knowledge sharing, and professional exchange initiatives.
Speaking at the event, Inuwa described the agreement as a critical step in securing Nigeria’s digital future.
“We just signed an MoU with SecDojo, a cybersecurity capacity-building provider. This is one of our efforts to strengthen national cybersecurity and enhance our cyber resilience,” he said.
Inuwa stressed that human capital remains a vital component of any innovation ecosystem, especially as Nigeria continues on its digital transformation path. He noted the increasing global demand for cybersecurity professionals and identified Nigeria’s youthful population as a valuable asset in addressing the talent gap.
“Globally, we have a gap, and in Nigeria, we have a young population. If we harness this demographic well, we can train and connect them to the global value chain for cybersecurity services,” he added.
The DG also advocated for the integration of digital skills, including cybersecurity, into Nigeria’s formal education system. He called for closer collaboration between technology stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Education to institutionalise digital literacy across all educational levels.
“This goes beyond NITDA. I see a national opportunity involving the Ministry of Education to embed digital literacy into formal education from primary to tertiary levels,” he noted.
He cited Cisco’s dual-track learning model where students in Nigerian universities earn academic degrees alongside professional certifications as a successful example that should be expanded through partnerships with other tech firms aligned with Nigeria’s National Digital Literacy Framework.
“We don’t want to limit this to a single vendor. The opportunity is open to all. Google has shown interest, and we welcome more partners,” Inuwa concluded.
In his remarks, Mr Younes Benzagmout expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and reaffirmed SecDojo’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s cybersecurity growth.
“We sincerely thank NITDA for their trust and partnership. We are excited to begin this journey and look forward to building a successful and impactful collaboration,” he said.
The partnership is expected to play a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s cyber defence strategy and equipping the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with world-class skills.
