NITDA, CPN, ISSA set to Storm Titans of Tech Conference this Week

Barring any unforeseen, the quartet of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN),Information Security Society of Africa (ISSA), the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG)

would all be among the list of high profile organizations that would participate in the Titans of Tech 2011 conference cum exhibition.

The forum now in its sixth year is billed as the biggest gathering of Information Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in West Africa and is schedule for the Golden Gate Restaurant in Lagos March 17-18, 2011.

NITDA, Nigeria’s IT regulatory body, will be led by its Director General, Professor Cleopas Angaye, who is also the Chief Host of the event. According to Professor Angaye, “the theme of the conference, Promoting Economic Development through Effective Cyber Security is timely and relevant as it lends weight to existing efforts to increase awareness of the issues, challenges, opportunities in cyber security in Nigeria.

The DG noted that in this year of digital revolution and widespread adoption and use of ICTs, security and issues around has become more and more pertinent. He argued that trend is not likely to slow down particularly as Information and Communication Technology would be more vigorously used as a tool of accomplishing the vision

20:20:20.

Ibrahim Tizhe, President, CPN explained that a better understanding of the concept will enhance the quality of government’s policy, enable the National Assembly legislate appropriately, help service providers see opportunities for business development and jumpstart economic activities generally.

President of ISSA-Nigeria, David Isiavwe added that on the global front where governments across the world were moving towards an electronic based or e-governance direction, the organized private sector and governments across Africa must come together to ensure that adequate attention was paid to the issue of security of systems wherever they might be

Mr. Don Pedro Aganbi, Managing Consultant, Technology Africa, organiser of the Titans of Tech conference, explained that the attendance of ICT regulatory bodies and associations will add depth to the discussions and boost the profile of attendees. CPN is the legal entity charged with the control and supervision of the Computing Profession in the country.

ALTON is the industry body for all telecommunications companies, and those providing subsidiary services to telecommunications service providers in Nigeria, while NIG, founded in 1995, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, promoting the Internet in Nigeria. The IT enthusiast observed that information communications technology (ICT) has indeed transformed the global economy and connected people and markets in ways never imagined.

He said that to realize the full benefits of the digital revolution, users must have confidence that sensitive information is secure, commerce is not compromised, and the infrastructure is not infiltrated. This is why a forum on cyber security is imperative at this time, he added.

According to him, “Cyber security is about building confidence and security in the use of ICTs. It is about protecting personal information by responding, detecting and preventing attacks. Cyber security is about decreasing cyber crimes”.

Mr. Aganbi posited that Nigeria clearly needs a comprehensive framework to ensure coordinated response and recovery by the government, the private sector, and individual users to a significant incident or threat.

To do this effectively, Nigeria needs to conduct a national dialogue on

cybersecurity to develop more public awareness of the threat and risks and to ensure an integrated approach toward the Nation’s need for security and the national commitment to privacy rights and civil liberties. This is the purpose of Titans of Tech 2011 – to create opportunity for dialogue. The Nigerian ICT Youth Summit is designed to bring together under one roof youths and ICT professionals for intelligent discourse and to chart a course for the future of Nigerian youth.

Over 5,000 visitors, 200 delegates 24 exhibitors and 10 ten speakers from Nigeria,Ghana and Liberia are expected to grace the two-day Titans of Tech 2011 edition.