The Committee of e-Business Industry Heads, led by its Chairman, Ajibade Laolu-Adewale, embarked on a strategic mission to Dubai in a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity and digital trust within the financial services ecosystem and expand its global reach.
In a statement to The PUNCH, Adewale said the 24-member delegation featured executives from major financial service providers across West Africa and formed a key part of CeBIH’s 2025 strategic engagement plan.
According to him, CeBIH’s presence at GISEC 2025 marked a significant moment for Nigeria’s financial services sector on the global stage, noting that the delegation engaged with international cybersecurity experts and regulators on pressing topics such as financial infrastructure protection, AI governance, regulatory harmonisation, and the role of digital trust in enabling secure financial ecosystems.
Adewale noted that through its participation in the Africa Programme, CeBIH demonstrated Nigeria’s readiness to engage globally and contribute to shaping international cyber policy, particularly as it relates to banking, payments, and fintech resilience.
“As part of the visit, CeBIH participated in an exclusive executive strategy session hosted by Techinnovate Group, a leading cybersecurity and digital trust advisory firm. The session was facilitated by the CEO of Techinnovate Group, Samuel Ubido, in collaboration with key partners, including AWS, Redington, and Darktrace.
The roundtable brought together regional cybersecurity leaders and global tech solution providers to explore:
“Strengthening cybersecurity frameworks across African financial institutions,” he stated.
He said the mission included a high-level executive roundtable hosted by Techinnovate Group, a diplomatic courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Consulate in Dubai, and participation in GISEC 2025, unarguably the largest cybersecurity conference in the Middle East and Africa.
“Our goal is to enable strategic access, collaboration, and innovation between African institutions and global partners. CeBIH’s leadership in this space reflects the kind of proactive engagement that will drive long-term impact across the continent,” said Samuel Ubido, CEO of Techinnovate Group.
He noted that the delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Consulate in Dubai, where they held meaningful discussions with consular officials on ways to support diaspora banking, enhance cross-border digital engagement, e-governance solutions, and promote Nigeria’s growing influence in the global fintech and cybersecurity space.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of policy alignment, government support, and international representation in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking after the visit, Adewale noted, “We are committed to continuous engagement with global partners and proactive steps that position Nigeria as a leader in secure, inclusive, and technology-driven financial services.”
The Dubai engagement highlights CeBIH’s proactive approach to international collaboration and reinforces its role as a trusted voice for Nigeria’s digital financial sector.
With strategic support from Techinnovate Group, CeBIH is actively exploring further programmes and partnerships to enhance cybersecurity maturity, promote regional collaboration, and unlock new opportunities across Africa’s financial ecosystem.
