THE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Joseph Fuwape, has stressed the importance of cybersecurity in research and educational development of the country.
Speaking during the inauguration of a cyber-security lab equipped with state-of-the-art technologies in Akure, Prof. Fuwape said the laboratory would provide a platform for cutting-edge research in cyber-security.
The Cybersecurity lab which was launched by Esentry Systems Limited, a leading cybersecurity firm, in partnership with the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) is in response to the threat against information security and the need to train homegrown talents to rise up to meet the challenge.
Prof. Fuwape added that the laboratory would also provide an opportunity for FUTA students to have their industrial work experience and provide a platform for them to be able to relate and do exploits in cyber-security.
On her part, the Head of Department of FUTA’s Cyber-security Sciences Department, Dr. (Mrs.) Aderonke Thompson, emphasized that the lab would provide a lot of hands-on experience for students, making it possible for experts from the industry to be able to relate with researchers in cybersecurity science .
Dr. Aderonke maintained that the initiative would foster the state-of-the art techniques at conducting research that could meet up with the demands of the nation at large.
Also, speaking on the significance of the lab, Funmipe Olofinade, the Head, Security Operations and Intelligence, Esentry Systems Limited and Researcher at FUTA pointed out that with the establishment of the lab, professionals that are fully aware of the cyber-security threats and equipped with the expertise to mitigate and combat them can be groomed.
The cyber-security lab would also provide a platform for researchers to conduct research on inherent cyber security problems and proffer innovative solutions as well.
The initiative of the lab is in line with Esentry’s effort to bridge the gap between the industry and academia in developing solutions for the information security industry.
The organization hopes to extend this initiative to other institutions from the private and public sectors.
Among other eminent personalities who graced the event was Professor B.K. Alese, a Professor of Information Security, Department of Cyber-security Sciences, FUTA who said the lab will allow academics to know the demand of the industry and be able to tune their research towards industrial and societal needs.
