From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
To fortify cybersecurity within the public sector, the Federal Government is intensifying its efforts through the August edition of the DevsinGovt programme. The initiative, which commenced in January, is designed to unite IT professionals across various government institutions, fostering collaboration that enhances service delivery through the strategic application of technology.
Speaking at the event in Abuja at the weekend, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwah, explained the critical focus on cybersecurity, describing it as the backbone of the ICT infrastructure in Nigeria. Represented by Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of Standard Guidelines and Frameworks at NITDA, Inuwah highlighted that the latest installment of the DevsinGovt programme was a strategic effort to equip government technology experts with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the escalating demand for robust cybersecurity measures.
“The DevsinGovt initiative is a collaborative platform that brings together developers from federal government agencies, creating a community of tech-savvy professionals dedicated to enhancing government services through technology,” Inuwah stated.
Continuing, he said: “Each month, we convene to explore specific themes, exchange best practices, and collectively push the boundaries of our technological capabilities.”
He emphasised that the programme’s focus was not on policy development but on empowering the government’s tech ecosystem to generate practical solutions that address the unique challenges of the public sector.
By targeting all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) within the federal government, the initiative aims to safeguard critical public data against the growing threat of cyber attacks.
Chinenye Chizea, Technical Lead and Security Architect for the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, also shared her insights during the event, stressing the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between technology, people, and processes to ensure data integrity and protection. Drawing an analogy to the banking industry, Chizea remarked that just as customers trust financial institutions due to their stringent security protocols, citizens must be able to trust that their data is secure within government systems.
“Our mission is to uphold the integrity of our institutions’ systems by ensuring robust access controls and recognizing that cybersecurity extends beyond technology—it encompasses the human element as well,” Chizea explained.
“Though the details of data breaches may not always be disclosed, we must remain vigilant and proactive in our defense strategies”, she added.
She summarized that as the Federal Government continues to prioritise cybersecurity, the DevsinGovt programme emerges as a cornerstone of its strategy, dedicated to safeguarding public data and reinforcing trust in government services.