As the fastest growing sector in Africa, Nigeria’s digital economy is growing at an unprecedented rate with millions moving in and out of the West African nation through smartphones, digital wallets, and dollar-backed crypto assets. With an expanding digital footprint and tech-enabled businesses, even the malicious activities are undergoing their own evolution pushing all sectors to rethink cybersecurity. As a direct consequence, Nigeria’s cybersecurity and cloud protection market has reached the colossal mark of $1.2 billion.
At a time when the country is losing as much as $500 million annually to cybercrime, strengthening cyber resilience has become the topmost priority. Acknowledging the dire need for focused dialogue on the most pressing issues, Tradepass — the World’s No. 1 Events company — is set to host Nigeria’s leading cybersecurity platform, CyFrica, on 8 October 2026 at the Eko Convention Center, Lagos.
Committed to making data privacy a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sustainable digital economy, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has stepped forward as the summit’s Supporting Partner. The Commission’s presence lends significant regulatory gravitas to the platform, elevating discussions around cybersecurity, privacy, and digital trust with a renewed focus on enforcement and compliance.
Speaking on the paramount urgency of collective action and highlighting the Commission’s decision to support the summit, Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, shared: “As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, cybersecurity and data protection must remain at the heart of innovation and public trust. CyFrica 2026 is an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and inspire practical solutions for a safer digital future across Africa.”
The summit is set to bring together the region’s most coveted thought leaders, welcoming more than 30 subject-matter experts, among them a distinguished mix of global and regional leaders, policymakers, and industry practitioners. Some of the top names include:
- Dr. Ayodele Bakare, Assistant Director – Cybersecurity, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
- Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)
- Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, Chairperson, African Union Cyber Security Expert Group (AUCSEG)
- Dr. Muktar Bello, Head, Quality Control and Assurance Unit, Forensics & Crime Laboratory Services Department, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
- Folarunso Aliu, Group Chief Information Officer, Dangote
- Favour Femi-Oyewole, Group Chief Information Security Officer/ Data Protection Officer, Access Bank Plc
Aligned with cybersecurity’s most relevant themes, the speakers will adhere to a thoughtfully curated agenda designed to feature insightful panel sessions and keynote presentations focused on the policies, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of cyber resilience in Nigeria and the wider African market. Attendees can expect cutting-edge intel on cloud security, cyber warfare, zero trust, digital forensics, IoT security, enterprise defence and more.
Following the pragmatic spirit of cross-industry engagement and dialogue, the summit will also feature an exclusive, invite-only CISO Lounge, designed to facilitate the most substantive conversations among leading Chief Information Security Officers shaping national digital resilience.
Among the voices expected to shape those discussions, Obiora Awogu, Chief Information Security Officer at MoMo PSB, shared his optimistic view on the evolution of Nigeria’s digital landscape: “What encourages me about Nigeria’s cybersecurity journey is the growing recognition that security is everyone’s responsibility. We have moved from asking whether cyber-attacks will happen to focusing on how quickly we can detect, respond, recover, and continue serving our customers. I believe if we get cybersecurity right, we can unlock greater financial inclusion, economic growth, and confidence in our digital future.”
Expressing a similar sentiment for greater digital ownership across both country and continent, Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, Chairperson at African Union Cyber Security Expert Group, shared: “Africa must stop being merely a market for digital systems and start becoming a rule shaper in the digital age.”
The focused gathering will include over 350 attendees from 150+ leading organizations alongside 20+ global solution providers — bringing together a concentrated mix from cybersecurity and digital economy ecosystem. Across expert-led sessions, closed-door engagements, and strategic discussions, participants will be able to engage directly with the forces shaping digital trust, operational resilience, and security architecture across Africa.
The summit will conclude with the industry’s most anticipated awards segment, CyFrica Awards 2026, honouring exceptional contributors for their pioneering work and lasting impact in reshaping the future of digital security. As the celebrations continue, the evening will culminate in an exclusive cocktail networking reception, offering industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers the perfect setting to forge meaningful connections, exchange ideas, and celebrate the achievements of the cybersecurity community in an elegant and engaging atmosphere.
Commenting on the upcoming summit, Sudhir Ranjan Jena, CEO of Tradepass, expressed a strong sense of conviction about the continued relevance of CyFrica, emphasizing that the summit was born out of a clear and growing need for a platform where cybersecurity challenges in the African market could be addressed collectively and with intent, “CyFrica was created to reflect the realities of a rapidly evolving digital environment. It builds on that foundation and is gearing up to bring together the leaders and experts actively shaping it across the region.”
For more information about the event, log on to: https://www.cyfricasummit.com/
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