Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has applauded Dr. Fene Osakwe, Chairman of the Lagos State Cybersecurity Advisory Board, for becoming the First African to be nominated for the Cyber Personality of the Year award in the United Kingdom.
The Cyber Security Awards, established in 2014, recognises outstanding individuals, teams, and organisations within the global cybersecurity sector. This independent event operates without affiliations to magazines, organisations, or products, thus allowing judges to base their decisions solely on merit.
The Cyber Personality of the Year Award acknowledges an individual who has exhibited exemplary leadership, advocacy, and expertise in cybersecurity. It celebrates those who have established themselves as thought leaders and made substantial contributions to the industry, enhancing its visibility and fostering the development of others.
Sanwo-Olu said: “I congratulate Dr. Fene Osakwe, whose exploits have shown the great potential of our youths in the tech space. We in Lagos are proud of him and will continue to encourage our youths to become the best so that Lagos will be known as the home of experts in the tech and innovation space.”
Osakwe is the sole African nominee in this category, competing alongside distinguished leaders from 11 other countries. Over the past decade, his leadership, ambition, and innovative strategies in cybersecurity have earned him international acclaim.
He has authored several influential articles on platforms such as Forbes and has been a leading figure in cybersecurity research and publications.
Earlier in 2024, Osakwe was invited to join the Global Advisory Board for Penetration Testing by EC-Council, recognized as the world’s largest certification body for information security professionals. He also became a member of the Forbes Technology Council in 2021.
In 2024, he was a keynote speaker at major cybersecurity conferences in Europe and Africa, and his presentations received commendations for their insight and educational value.
Osakwe mentors graduate, master’s, and doctoral students at four universities in the United Kingdom, Nigeria, the United States, and Canada.
His accolades include being recognised by the New York City Journal as one of the top 20 coaches to watch in 2023 and by CIOLOOK in March 2023 as one of the top global cyber leaders under 40.
In 2022, he was honoured as the Cyber Youth Mentor of the Year in Dubai, received the Exceptional Leadership Award at Internet 2.0 in Dubai, and won a global book award for his Amazon best-selling publication in August 2023.
Furthermore, he was named one of the top 100 inspiring personalities of 2022, among numerous other distinctions.
Under his leadership, Lagos State conducted its inaugural cybersecurity awareness month for citizens in October 2024 to educate the public on protective measures against cybercrime.
Osakwe is also leading other innovative initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology to enhance cybersecurity within the state.
This nomination highlights the exceptional talent emerging from Lagos State and Nigeria and serves as a testament to Osakwe’s dedication and intellectual prowess.
Reacting to his nomination, Osakwe remarked that the honour illustrates that excellence transcends colour, emphasising that the global audience continually observes Africa’s achievements.
“I find it inspiring to receive recognition on an international scale, and being the sole African candidate in this category which represents a significant honour,” he stated.
Osakwe has consistently believed that Nigeria possesses the potential to address the global tech talent shortage effectively.
