In a bold move to advance Nigeria’s cybersecurity readiness and strengthen national infrastructure, renowned cybersecurity governance researcher Temilade O. Adesokan-Imran has introduced a groundbreaking framework that merges IT auditing, risk management, and policy to curb cyber threats. Her 2025 publication, “The Impact of Cybersecurity Governance on National Security by Strengthening Critical Infrastructure through IT Auditing and Risk Management,” is already making waves among government and private sector leaders.
Focusing on vital sectors such as energy, healthcare, telecommunications, transportation, and finance, Imran’s research underscores the urgency of protecting national assets from escalating cyberattacks. Her model draws upon global data and empirical tools to deliver practical and measurable solutions.
“Cybersecurity must move beyond being a compartmentalized IT issue and become a central strategic concern at the executive and national levels,” Imran stated, emphasizing a shift from reactive to proactive defense strategies.
A major highlight of her study is the use of logistic regression modeling, revealing that organizations adhering to both NIST and ISO 27001 frameworks recorded a 75.8% reduction in cyber incidents. Her analysis outlines governance adoption, sector funding, and breach history as the primary predictors of cyber resilience.
Imran further introduced Kaplan-Meier survival models, showing that firms with strong risk management strategies stayed breach-free for an average of 266.7 days, compared to only 71.9 days for those with weak defenses. These findings, she notes, provide “a quantifiable path for policymakers to enhance national defense through smart governance decisions.”
Using audit data from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Imran’s paired t-tests demonstrated that formal IT audits lead to a 38–45% drop in vulnerabilities. Through data visualization tools such as violin plots and slope graphs, she ensures that even non-technical executives can grasp critical insights.
Her research also identifies key challenges—including regulatory inconsistencies and a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals—via Principal Component Analysis (PCA). “We need harmonized regulatory standards and mandatory audits across critical sectors,” Imran urged. “Only then can we build scalable and resilient cybersecurity systems for both advanced and developing nations.”
With recommendations tailored to real-world operational conditions, her report advocates for mandatory IT audits, cybersecurity training programs, and intelligence-driven risk assessments. These, she argues, are essential steps in fortifying Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and aligning with global cybersecurity standards.
“My work is about moving from diagnosis to action—from reactive compliance to sustained resilience,” she said. “Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue; it is national defense.”
Temilade Imran’s model has been praised for its practical applications and adaptability across industries and regions. Her work is expected to guide national policies, corporate strategies, and international governance standards in the coming years.
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, Nigeria and other nations are looking to thought leaders like Temilade Imran to steer the course. Her research offers not just a response to the challenges but a roadmap to a safer digital future.