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General News

Securex Develops Security Approaches -Tori

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Tori Abiola, MD, Montgomery West Africa
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Tori Abiola, is the managing director, Montgomery West Africa. She joined Montgomery in 2012 and has over 16 years experience working in a variety of marketing, sales and management roles for organisations such as Euromoney Training, Terrapin, IQPC, WBR, First Conferences, Pfizer and the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales. In August 2013 Forbes Africa listed Tori as one of 5 Women to know when doing business in West Africa.
 Tori is a volunteer for Youth Technology Foundation, an NGO dedicated to bridging the digital divide for young people in developing countries and marginalised communities in developed countries.
 In this interview with peter ugwu, she shared Montgomery’s vision to educate the government and the public in approaches to tackle security threats through Security Exhibition and conference (Securex).

Montgomery West Africa
Montgomery West Africa was registered in Nigeria in 2009, but is part of a 100 year old plus British Events company, which has operations globally, and runs the some of the world’s foremost exhibitions, expos, events in sectors such as Mining, Packaging, Printing, Oil & Gas, Hospitality, Food, Art, Building and Construction.
The company has been operating in Africa since 1968 and the South African operation is the leading organiser of events and exhibitions in South Africa, and is a regular award recipient as the Event Organiser of the year.
Montgomery is an independent exhibition and events company at the forefront of trade and consumer shows in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
We run over fifty events in over fifteen countries , and our events span the fields of art, photography and design, food, drink and hospitality, homes and building, technology, security, mining and industrial as well as automotive. These events cover both trade and consumer shows as well as specialist events.
Montgomery has its own specialist consultancy firm, 15 wholly owned and joint venture companies all over the world, and owns the largest exhibition venue in Africa.
We love special and innovative projects, and are always on the lookout to expand and forge new alliances and partnerships.Our shows are exciting and varied, and we pride ourselves on our integrity, our family heritage, our inventiveness, our global experience, and our ability to deliver market-leading results, every time.

Organization Of Securex
The need for a platform for all key players in Security to meet, network, learn and showcase the latest technology, training and development in this area.
So, Securex is the only show in the region that brings together the entire security supply chain by incorporating Cyber Security, Commercial & Homeland Security, Fire & Safety Security all under one roof.

 Results/Significance
Securex has really helped to shape and define best practice in Security in the region – the event is one which key players in the Industry see as the main platform to engage with their customers once a year.
Securex West Africa 2014 provides a unique platform for all in the security supply chain to engage, educate and showcase the latest trends and solutions.
The shifting security landscape and newly emerging threats requires West African countries to formulate national security strategies and frameworks that share common approaches and address security concerns.
 Packed to the brim with products, services, networking opportunities and educational content, it is such event that both the government and corporate organizations cannot afford to miss.
The 2013 show attracted over 1700 visitors from the government, trade and end-user market, all eager to seek innovative products and meet new suppliers.

 Managing and Tackling Security
I think the key steps around tackling this issue is to look at education, training, advocacy and keeping the public, security professionals in public and private sector aware of the latest trends, technologies and advancements in security. Security is everybody’s concern.
 However, in Securex we are looking at experts, critically, interrogating current security challenges and then designing appropriate national, sub-national and private sector responses to them; and, more particularly, in driving specialization across the broad spectrum of possible responses both human and technological.
Now, Nigeria as a leading African economy and there are key indicators to that. At the same time, security challenges cannot be eliminated totally.
If other advanced economies still face security challenges, what we need to do is to continue to educate our people on security tips.

Appeal of Securex
Securex primarily appeals to security experts, so our visitors are typically security professionals in Public and private sector organizations.
The trend in security breaches has become enormous in the industrial arena.
Therefore, the conference will appeal to group head of security in different organizations, group security directors, head of global security, principal security advisors, chief safety advisers, global security managers, global threat analysts, head of security in different organizations, crisis and security managers, director of energy security, among others.

 Government Buy In
The Government has been very supportive of Securex and we have always had representation from the key security agencies in Nigeria in endorsing, attending and supporting the event.
The time we are in now demands that all hands must be on deck to tackle issues concerning insecurity.
During the event, we shall be looking at terrorism: how do we develop security systems that are proactive and creative in combating security breaches; mobilizing national power to secure a new national security paradigm and introducing the use of surveillance cameras in public and government offices to tackle threats.
We cannot be talking about national security without surveillance development through integrated security collaboration.
It is high time our people get informed that fighting insecurity is everybody’s concern.
We may have all the gadgets, but how about the nooks and crannies yet to be covered with surveillance equipment? We need to collaborate.
The beauty of this conference is that we are looking at security from the wholistic point of view. For instance, border, port and airport security are paramount, especially in the contemporary society where theaters cross borders to perpetuate one crime or the other.

Issues on Cyber Threats
Obviously, you cannot discuss security matters today without looking at the computers, mobile and the internet.
To this end, Engineer Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) will present a paper on cyber security skill improvement and information security investment.
Under that area, he will be address challenges presented with modern technology introduction into African market and developing sustainable innovative techniques and skills for advancement and resilience.
Additionally, he will dwell on critical infrastructure adoption and overcoming the lack of clear communication technology and future developments of information system security standards.
And we shall be looking at telecommunication operators’ services and what security initiatives they have to protect the subscribers and their own end of the network.
The essence is to identify the best approaches to enhance consumers’ trust, even in the world of mobile devices.

 

 


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General News

Burna Boy Distances Himself from Meme Coin, Labels Crypto as Fraud

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Burna Boy, Grammy-winning Nigerian artist, has publicly distanced himself from a meme coin circulating online that falsely uses his name and image for promotion.

Burna Boy Distances Himself from Meme Coin, Labels Crypto as Fraud

Burna Boy

In a statement shared via Instagram, the Afrobeats star made it clear that he has no involvement in any cryptocurrency ventures, describing such schemes as fraudulent.

His comments come amid growing traction of a meme coin allegedly linked to him, which has been circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

“I don’t do any internet ‘coin’ business. I see it as fraud and I have no interest in any of that,” Burna Boy wrote. “So if you see anyone using my name for such, please disregard or report them.”

The singer urged fans to remain vigilant and to report anyone promoting the crypto project under false pretenses.


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AM Best Reaffirms Stable Outlook for Cyber Insurance Market

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AM Best has reaffirmed its stable outlook for the global cyber insurance market. The rating agency notes that strong demand for cyber insurance coverage is expected to continue, supporting profitability across the sector despite intensifying competition.

Atlas Magazine reports that the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) segment presents a key growth opportunity, as many SMEs remain underinsured or lack sufficient cyber coverage.

Rising awareness of cyber threats has also led policyholders to enhance their IT security measures, helping reduce potential losses in the event of a claim.

AM Best’s outlook is further supported by several factors, including sustained capital inflows from reinsurers and alternative capital providers, the use of artificial intelligence for more effective risk selection, and favorable regulatory developments.

According to Munich Re, global cyber insurance premiums reached $15.3 billion in 2024, climbing seven per cent year-on-year.

The market is projected to grow at an average annual rate exceeding 10 per cent through 2030.

However, the industry continues to grapple with challenges such as a rise in ransomware attacks, business email compromise, and payment fraud. The growing use of AI by cybercriminals is also amplifying the scale and sophistication of such attacks.

 


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Woodhall Capital and Partners Launch ₦1.5Bn Fund

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L-R- Abimbola Ozomah, Executive Director, Polaris Bank; Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, Founder/CEO, Woodhall Capital; Sola Carrena, MD/CEO, Helios Investment; Onyinyechi Aderigbigbe, Head, Brands & Marketing, Woodhall Capital; Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner at the signing ceremony of the N1.5bn Creative Sector Fund & Launch of the Creative Currency Podcast at the weekend, Lagos
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Woodhall Capital in partnership with Polaris Bank, Lagos and UK governments have announced the launch of a ₦1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund aimed at expanding access to structured financing for creative entrepreneurs meant to scale their output across fashion, film, music, and digital content.

L-R- Abimbola Ozomah, Executive Director, Polaris Bank; Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, Founder/CEO, Woodhall Capital; Sola Carrena, MD/CEO, Helios Investment; Onyinyechi Aderigbigbe, Head, Brands & Marketing, Woodhall Capital; Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner at the signing ceremony of the N1.5bn Creative Sector Fund & Launch of the Creative Currency Podcast at the weekend, Lagos

The fund was unveiled during the launch of the Creative Currency Podcast, an initiative designed to foster collaboration between creatives, financiers, policymakers, and global stakeholders.

The platform will serve as both a podcast and policy engagement forum, tackling long-standing challenges such as limited access to finance, weak Intellectual Property(IP) enforcement, and the absence of scalable business infrastructure within the creative ecosystem.

In May 2022, Polaris Bank partnered with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to establish a ₦1 billion funding initiative targeted at artisans in Lagos State.

The objective of the partnership was to deliver critical financial support to empower skilled artisans and entrepreneurs within the MSME sector who had maintained active business operations for at least one year ultimately fostering wealth creation and economic inclusion across the state.

At the launch event held on Thursday evening at the Ikoyi residence of the British Deputy High Commissioner, Polaris Bank’s Executive Director, Abimbola Ozomah, who sat on a panel at the launch, emphasized that the fund is a long-overdue response to the structural exclusion of creatives from formal financing systems. She described the initiative as a deliberate attempt to recognize creative endeavours, intellectual property as a bankable asset and to build a framework where creatives are treated as serious entrepreneurs capable of generating significant economic value.

“This fund represents more than capital, it reflects our belief in Nigerian creativity as a global force,” said Polaris Bank’s Executive Director, Abimbola Ozomah. “We’re not just exporting talent. We’re exporting ownership, structure, and long-term value.”

Founder and CEO of Woodhall Capital, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, reiterated the urgent need to redefine how the financial system engages with the creative sector. She committed to providing bespoke financial products, advisory services, and investor-matching support tailored specifically for the needs of creative MSMEs.

The UK Government, through the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, highlighted its longstanding commitment to Nigeria’s creative economy. The UK-Nigeria Creative Industries Partnership signed in 2024 was cited as a milestone in unlocking trade, investment, and collaborative opportunities between both countries. The Deputy High Commissioner praised the initiative as a blueprint for global creative cooperation.

The Lagos State Government, a key driver of the initiative, reaffirmed its ambition to cement Lagos as Africa’s creative capital. According to the Governor’s representative, Representing the Governor, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, highlighted the state’s efforts in supporting the sector through progressive policy reforms, infrastructure development, and the provision of zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million via the Lagos Creative Fund. These measures are designed to empower creatives to scale operations, access markets, and formalize their business practices.

The newly launched Creative Currency Podcast is positioned to be more than a media channel. It is a knowledge-sharing ecosystem that brings together local talents, international investors, legal experts, and cultural stakeholders to explore opportunities, identify risks, and share solutions that will elevate Nigeria’s creative industries to global standards.

Throughout the panel sessions, panelists emphasized the need for deeper structure, transparency, and professionalism in the sector. Creators were encouraged to develop clear business plans, maintain accurate financial records, formalize their operations, and assert their rights to royalties and IP protection.

As conversations deepened, financial institutions acknowledged the need for a mindset shift. Traditional risk models, they agreed, must be reimagined to reflect the unique nature of creative enterprises many of which are driven by intangible assets, flexible revenue models, and export potential.

The event concluded with a call to action: invest in the systems, not just the stories. Stakeholders were unanimous in their belief that a more structured, collaborative, and well-capitalized creative economy will deliver jobs, exports, and global relevance for Nigeria.

Polaris Bank has built a strong footprint in financing MSME by committing billions of naira in loans to support MSME operations in Nigeria, with huge lending portfolio dedicated to empower micro, small, and medium businesses meant to grow businesses, create jobs, and build wealth.


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