Nigeria urgently requires more than 68,000 cybersecurity professionals to secure its digital landscape, according to Rick Huijbregts, Chief Growth and Operating Officer of Protexxa and Programme Director for Cyber Nations.
Huijbregts stated this on Tuesday during the graduation ceremony of the over 100 Bauchi State Cyber Nations participants, held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi.
“We promised to deliver a programme that meets international standards and to hold our students to the same high benchmarks expected of professionals anywhere in the world”, Huijbregts said.
“We also promised that if they met those standards, we would help transform what was possible for them.”
More than 100 students completed the demanding six-month hybrid programme, which combined online instruction with in-person collaboration. Heibrecht highlighted that each student invested over 800 hours of intensive study.
He urged guests at the occasion to reflect on that commitment. “It represents early mornings, late nights, and sacrificed weekends studying alongside work, family responsibilities, and, for some, caring for young children while dealing with power outages and connectivity challenges.
“Any of these circumstances could have provided a reasonable excuse to give up, but they did not; they persevered. That persistence is a remarkable achievement. Their certifications are evidence of their dedication, which is why I can say this cohort ranks among the most impressive groups we have worked with globally”, he noted.
Huijbregts emphasised that cybersecurity is the cornerstone of modern advancement.
“Cybersecurity skills are not merely an accessory to digital transformation; they are its foundation. Every system a government digitises depends on whether people can trust it. Without skilled professionals to secure these systems, progress remains fragile”, he stated.
He revealed that over 45% of the graduates had already pursued additional professional credentials independently.
Some have expanded their freelance practices globally, working with companies from the United States to South Korea, while others have established their own cybersecurity businesses.
“The industry gap of 68,000 professionals is not theoretical, and it will not be closed by waiting. It will be closed by organisations that take action today,” Heibrecht added.
Also speaking at the event, Abubakar Y. Suleiman, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, lauded Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir for his commitment to youth empowerment and technological innovation.
He praised the State’s partnership with the Canada-based organisation to deliver the training.
“This initiative demonstrates a clear commitment to equipping our young people with relevant digital skills that can open doors to employment, entrepreneurship, and meaningful participation in the growing digital economy,” Suleiman said.
Addressing the graduates, the Speaker noted that their new skills would significantly contribute to protecting public and private information, promoting safer digital transactions, and building public confidence in online services.
He added that developing a strong digital framework would drive innovation, attract foreign investment, and foster technology-driven enterprises capable of boosting the state’s economic growth.
Suleiman concluded by congratulating the 100 graduates, praising their dedication and perseverance in reaching this vital professional milestone.
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