…As The Service Shines at ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon
The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) , Adewale Adeniyi has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Service to advancing education by investing additional resources into the Service’s schools nationwide.
CGC Adeniyi made this declaration while serving as the Chairman of the occasion during the official launch of the book Business Geek: Innovative Incubator From Concept to Reality, authored by the wife of one of a high-ranking officer of NCS, Asma’u Isah Maibasirah, at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
In his address, CGC Adeniyi emphasised that providing quality education remains a top priority for the Nigeria Customs Service, as it plays a critical role in the nation’s development—by building and renovating primary and secondary schools in various states.
He highlighted the importance of ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to an excellent educational experience. He added that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to deploy resources to address this issue.
The Comptroller-General, who pointed out that the book offers valuable insights into entrepreneurship and innovation, which are critical for addressing the country’s unemployment challenges, also stated, “There must be something in this book that we must pay serious attention to.”
He added, “It is a very timely intervention because we have a high unemployment rate, especially among the youth, and I believe this is the time we must all grab this book.
“The Business Geek book, authored by Asma’u, aims to foster a culture of creativity and business acumen among Nigerians, particularly the youth, by providing practical guidance on transforming innovative concepts into viable enterprises.”
The CGC commended the author’s initiative and noted that the book aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda of empowering small-scale businesses to revitalise the economy.
CGC Adeniyi, however, pledged the support of the Nigeria Customs Service in collaborating with the author to ensure the book reaches a wider audience, adding, “We are committed to supporting the author in providing adequate printed copies whenever the need arises.”
In his review of the book, Professor Muhammad Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna, Niger State, described the publication as insightful and robust research material for intellectuals and students alike.
He lauded the author for her thorough research and compelling presentation of ideas relevant to academic and professional audiences.
Addressing the gathering, the author of the book, Dr Maibasirah, expressed her profound gratitude to Mrs Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi, who represented the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her unwavering support towards the success of the publication.
Dr Maibasirah acknowledged the critical role the First Lady played in providing encouragement and assistance that ensured the book’s successful launch.
In a similar development , the Customs has demonstrated exceptional performance at the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024, emerging as a top contender in the competition. The event, organised by ECOWAS in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), brought together cybersecurity professionals across West Africa.
According to DCG, ICT/Modernization Kikelomo Adeola, the event is being held in two phases. The competition, she explained, aims to identify the top cybersecurity teams in the region. In Phase 1, participants engaged in an online Capture the Flag (CTF) competition via the Sec-Dojo platform, with labs released from August 6 to August 31, 2024. Phase 2, scheduled for October 14-16, 2024, will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, featuring an in-person CTF competition designed to foster cross-border collaboration and assess advanced cybersecurity skills.
“The NCS teams’ performance reflects their strategic thinking and resilience in tackling complex cybersecurity challenges,” she stated.
CSC Abubakar Mustapha Jauro, who led the NCS team competing against 340 teams from ECOWAS member states, added that the NCS secured an impressive 1,100 points, displaying notable expertise in cryptography, steganography, reverse engineering, web exploitation, and binary analysis.
Despite using lower-spec hardware, such as Intel Core i5 processors with 8GB RAM, the NCS teams excelled with tools like Kali Linux, BurpSuite, and Metasploit. Their success underscores the need for better resources to further enhance their technical capabilities.
“The ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon has not only sharpened the skills of NCS officers but also emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening our cybersecurity framework,” Jauro noted. With continued investment and support, the NCS is poised to play a crucial role in protecting Nigeria’s cyberspace.
As the second phase approaches, anticipation builds for the final leg of the competition, where the best teams will be identified and recognized for their cybersecurity prowess.
