Mastercard, in collaboration with the Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads for Nigeria (CeBIH), recently hosted the second edition of its annual Fraud Forum in Lagos, Nigeria. Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2023, this year’s forum convened key industry players ranging from financial institutions, payment service banks, and fintech companies, to discuss critical issues such as threats and vulnerability, intel-sharing, and best practices in combating industry risks.

The cybersecurity event, attended by key public and private sector actors, also covered the regional threat landscape based on Mastercard’s strategic threat intelligence data. This timely intervention is crucial in a region where cyberattacks remain prevalent, especially amidst Nigeria’s rapid economic expansion and widespread adoption of digital financial services.

Recent data from the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) revealed a staggering 276% increase in fraud-related losses within Nigeria’s deposit banks, underscoring the need for continuous vigilance and proactive cybersecurity strategies within the financial sector. In response to the escalating threats amid Nigeria’s bourgeoning financial landscape, key government bodies have called for enhanced collaboration within the payment systems’ ecosystem to curtail the rise in E-Fraud in the country.

“We are excited to continue the Fraud Forum in Nigeria,” said Kari Tukur, Vice President, Customer and Solutions Center, West & East Africa, Mastercard. “With cyberattacks posing serious challenges within the Nigerian financial ecosystem, we take pride in establishing a platform where key stakeholders can convene, network, and exchange best practices to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities. Mastercard remains committed to creating unique and essential solutions to help business owners protect themselves and their customers against vulnerabilities, and this platform provides us with an opportunity to drive knowledge regarding these solutions as we aim to elevate cybersecurity standards and ensure the resilience of the Nigerian financial ecosystem.”

The forum delved into various aspects of cybersecurity, including common attack methods used by cyber criminals, their motivations, the assets they target, and the best practices to safeguard against attacks. Attendees gained valuable insights into the regional cyber threat landscape, with a focus on the financial services sector, which has become a prime target for cybercriminals in recent years. It also presented an avenue for Mastercard to showcase its latest fraud prevention techniques and tools, including the Mastercard Decision Intelligence, a real-time authorization decisioning solution that empowers issuers to approve more genuine transactions while effectively managing risk.

“We are delighted to partner with Mastercard on another edition of the Mastercard Fraud Forum in Nigeria. This event continues to serve as a pivotal platform for industry leaders, stakeholders, and experts to convene and address the evolving landscape of fraud and cybersecurity challenges, especially in a period marked by increased sophistication. With this year’s edition, we continue to deepen our commitment to fostering collaboration and implementing effective strategies to combat fraud and safeguard the integrity of the financial ecosystem.” Temitope Onibaniyi, Secretary, Emerging Payments of CeBIH, representing Celestina Appeal, the CeBIH Chairman, added.

The forum aligns with Mastercard’s goal of providing clarity to the complex cybersecurity landscape, in a bid to foster an ecosystem where digital transactions are built on trust. As part of its commitment to combating fraud, Mastercard also announced that it will be sponsoring the CeBIH Quarterly Sessions for the second consecutive year, bringing together industry experts to discuss the latest trends in fraud prevention and share best practices for protecting customers.

In almost every circle, you will find a tech-bro, tech-sis, or tech enthusiast diligently refining their skills, aspiring to secure dream tech jobs that promise financial success and elevated social status.

What was once considered a niche has now evolved into a revered profession, capturing the interest of today’s youth.

The growing interest in the tech industry has prompted enthusiasts to look for the best methods and resources to acquire the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic field. Are you among those eager to acquire these sought-after tech skills? Here are four ways to do it.

1. Join networks and communities: Tech enthusiasts are encouraged to join communities, attend meetups, or participate in hackathons. These activities provide valuable networking opportunities with other tech enthusiasts and industry experts. You can gain insights, guidance, and support to advance your tech skills by engaging in these events. Additionally, networking can open doors to job opportunities and collaborative projects.

1. Engage in Hands-On Projects: Creating projects is an excellent way to strengthen your tech skills. You can build a website, develop a mobile app, or work on a data analysis project, leveraging open-source projects. The more you practice, the more your knowledge expands, allowing you to gain expertise even with initial setbacks or roadblocks.

1. Get an Industry Mentor: Another way to garner tech skills is to learn directly from an expert. A mentor can offer personalised advice, share industry insights, and provide support as you navigate your career path. Look for mentors who align with your career goals and values, and actively engage with them to maximise the benefits of mentorship.

1. Enroll in Tech Academy Programs: Whether physical or virtual, institutions and reputable platforms offer In-demand tech courses one of which is the Zarttalent Academy. The Zarttalent Academy provides diverse tech courses in Frontend Engineering, Backend Engineering, Project Management, and Product Design. In addition to a comprehensive learning experience, the academy awards students who complete the programs with globally recognised certificates. Graduates enjoy additional benefits such as international internship opportunities, access to global mentors, international job opportunities, and dedicated career support services.

Technology has become an essential part of our daily lives and no one can do without it. Acquiring in-demand tech skills can help you stay ahead of the curve and give you a competitive edge in the job market.

If you are a tech enthusiast looking to hone your skills, consider joining the next cohort at Zarttalent Academy. For more information, visit  https://zarttalent.org/ today.

Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) has announced that its OSIA specification, has been recognized as international standard by the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

This milestone establishes OSIA as official ITU standard (ITU-T Recommendation) for the global infrastructure of information and communication technologies (ICT).

The specification that is now an ITU-T Recommendation is: ITU-T X.1281 – APIs for interoperability of identity management systems.

ITU-T is the standardization arm of ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for ICT.

The Secure Identity Alliance specifications were approved as official ITU-T Recommendations by ITU members including 193 countries and the world’s front-running ICT companies on 1st March 2024.

The new ITU-T Recommendation is under the responsibility of ITU’s standardization expert group for security, ITU-T Study Group 17.

“We are very proud that the OSIA specification is recognized as an international standard by ITU-T. This milestone demonstrates the maturity of OSIA and its potential to foster interoperability and promote fairness in the identity management systems market,” said Debora Comparin, chair of the OSIA Initiative.

Prof. Heung Youl Youm, chairman of ITU-T Study Group 17, said, “The recognition of the OSIA specification as an official ITU-T Recommendation underscores its critical contribution to the advancement of global ICT infrastructure. We are thrilled about the ongoing collaboration between ITU-T SG17 and the SIA, aimed at developing standards for secure identity management.”

“As Editor of the OSIA standard in the ITU-T Study Group 17 Q10, I am pleased to have contributed to this successful recommendation by the ITU,” said Abbie Barbir, rapporteur for ITU-T’s working group on ‘Identity management and telebiometrics architecture and mechanisms’ (Q10/17).

“The collaboration with the SIA continues on OSIA and other structuring initiatives and standards development.”

Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria and chair of the OSIA Advisory Committee, said, “As the Chair of the OSIA Advisory Committee, comprised exclusively of government representatives, we take great pride in our five years of collaboration guiding the working group in the development of the OSIA specification. OSIA establishes equal marketplace conditions, fosters collaboration, and ensures product compatibility post-mergers and acquisitions.

The OSIA standardized interfaces drive innovation, enabling new local market models and reducing fraud within multiple ID systems.

Additionally, OSIA addresses integrator/vendor lock-in, allowing governments to maintain control over their identity systems and pursue national development agendas seamlessly.”