The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waheed Shaibu, has declared open the 2026 Cybersecurity Seminar of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School (NACWS), underscoring the need for sustained investment in cyber defence to safeguard Nigeria’s critical national infrastructure against emerging cyber threats.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Lieutenant Adebowale Adejimi, the seminar was declared open on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Abuja.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Major General Jeremiah Manjang, the Chief of Army Staff said the increasing sophistication of cyber threats requires sustained investment in human capacity development, technological innovation, and inter-agency collaboration to effectively protect the nation’s critical infrastructure and other strategic assets.
He emphasised that cybersecurity has become a vital component of contemporary national security and commended the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School for its proactive efforts in developing the expertise required to confront evolving cyber threats and secure Nigeria’s digital environment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to building a resilient cyberspace and strengthening the protection of Nigeria’s National Critical Infrastructure.
The seminar, organised in line with the mandate of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School to enhance capacity in cyber operations and critical infrastructure protection, is themed, “Cybersecurity and National Stability: Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure Against Disruption, Sabotage and Cyberattacks.”
In his welcome address, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School, Brigadier General Jacob Bawa, expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for his continued support toward advancing cyber capacity development within the Nigerian Army.
He said the seminar reflects the institution’s commitment to promoting knowledge sharing, professional engagement, and collaboration among stakeholders in addressing the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Brigadier General Bawa urged participants to leverage the discussions and technical engagements to develop practical solutions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s cyber resilience.
Delivering the keynote address, renowned global cybersecurity expert, Mr. Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, stressed the importance of collective action in securing cyberspace, noting that protecting critical infrastructure requires strong partnerships among government institutions, the military, the private sector, academia, and international stakeholders.
He called for greater innovation, intelligence sharing, and adaptive cybersecurity strategies to enable Nigeria stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
According to the statement, the Cybersecurity Seminar 2026 is designed to expose participants to the evolving and complex nature of cyber warfare threats targeting Nigeria’s National Critical Infrastructure while promoting joint and multi-agency collaboration in safeguarding critical national assets against disruption, sabotage, and cyberattacks.
The event attracted participants from government ministries, departments and agencies, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, security and intelligence agencies, academia, the private sector, and the broader cybersecurity community.
Through lectures, panel discussions, and technical sessions, participants are expected to examine contemporary cybersecurity challenges and develop practical strategies for strengthening national resilience in cyberspace.
The Nigerian Army said the seminar further demonstrates its commitment to remaining at the forefront of cyber defence through innovation, strategic partnerships, and continuous professional development in support of national security and stability.
