Gartner predicts that by 2025—the year we’re in now—lack of talent or human failure will be responsible for over half of significant cyber incidents.
The number of cyber and social engineering attacks against people is spiking as threat actors increasingly see humans as the most vulnerable point of exploitation. That’s you, me, and everyone else who clicks a link or misses a red flag.
This makes your role in cybersecurity even more critical—not just to master tools, but to understand how to protect against attacks that target human mistakes. Training that skips real-world scenarios isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a risk to Nigeria’s digital safety.
As a student in Nigeria, you’re likely drawn to cybersecurity because it’s exciting—a field where you can outsmart digital villains and protect the growing online world. With Nigeria’s tech scene booming and cyber threats like phishing scams BEC (Business Email Compromise) and ransomware hitting closer to home, the demand for skilled defenders is skyrocketing.
But here’s the reality check: many three-month cybersecurity training programs in Nigeria, often centred on tools like Wireshark and Kali Linux, aren’t setting you up for success the way they should. They’re heavy on “hacking” demos and light on the practical skills you need to land a job. Let’s talk about why that’s a problem and how training can better prepare you for real-world roles—plus why the government needs to step in to make it happen.
Picture yourself in one of these programs. You’re learning Wireshark, capturing network packets, and maybe using Kali Linux to crack a password in a test environment. It feels thrilling, like you’re one step away from being a cyber superhero. But three months later, the course ends / ended, and you’re left scratching your head: “What do I do with this?” Sure, you can analyse a packet or run a script, but what happens when you’re facing a real alert / scenerio—like a flood of suspicious traffic that might mean a hacker’s already inside the network? Would you know how to investigate it? Probably not, because most programs don’t teach you the tools and scenarios that actual security analysts deal with every day.
In a real cybersecurity job, you’d likely encounter tools beyond Wireshark and Kali. For example, you might use SIEM (Security Information & Event Management) tools like Splunk to dig through logs and spot unusual login attempts, or CrowdStrike to detect malware on a company’s computers. You’d be watching for alerts from firewalls or intrusion detection systems (IDS), like a warning about a device sending data to a strange IP address. These are the kinds of tasks that fill a security analyst’s day to do day—triage, investigation, and quick decisions—not just hacking into systems for fun (Ethical hacking). Yet, many training programs skip these practical skills, leaving you unprepared for the moment you’re handed a SIEM dashboard and told to find the threat.
It’s not just about tools, though—it’s about understanding what you’re training for. When you finish a course, do you know what jobs you can apply for? Terms like “security analyst,” “Threat intelligence,” “vulnerability analyst,” “incident responder,” “SOC operator” or “GRC (Governance Risk and Compliance) analyst” might sound vague or intimidating if no one explains them.
A security analyst, for instance, monitors alerts and investigates potential attacks. An incident responder jumps in when a breach happens, figuring out how to stop it and prevent it next time. These roles are in high demand at banks, telecoms, and even government agencies across Nigeria, but if your training focuses on hacking demos instead of real-world workflows, you might not realize you’re qualified—or how to get started.
This gap isn’t your fault—it’s a flaw in the system. Three months is enough time to learn valuable skills, like how to use Wireshark to spot a malicious connection, analyse a phishing email in an end point detection and response (EDR) tool like Microsoft Defender, or escalate a critical alert to a senior team member.
You could practice responding to a ransomware alert or setting up basic rules in a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system. These are the moments that make cybersecurity rewarding—not just cracking codes, but stopping real harm. Imagine the confidence you’d feel walking into a job interview knowing you’ve handled scenarios straight out of a security operations centre (SOC).
Here’s where the government can make a difference. Cybersecurity isn’t just a career path—it’s critical to Nigeria’s safety, from protecting personal data, online banking to securing elections. The government could champion training programs that focus on practical skills and clear career paths, partnering with tech companies and schools to make it happen.
Agencies like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) could push for curriculums that include real tools—Wireshark, yes, but also SIEMs, endpoint protection, and incident response playbooks. They could even tie training to certifications like CompTIA Security+ that employers love, giving you a direct line to jobs.
To really land those jobs, though, you’ll need to go beyond the classroom. Leverage personal study—dive into free resources like YouTube tutorials or TryHackMe labs to practice real scenarios. Find a mentor, someone who’s been in the field, to guide you through the chaos of alerts and tools. With that combo—solid training, self-study, and mentorship—you can aim for roles like Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst, IT Security Support, Junior Cybersecurity Analyst, Vulnerability Management Assistant, or even Compliance or Risk Analyst. These paths have been tested; students who blend practical training with hustle and guidance are landing these gigs in Nigeria and beyond.
You deserve training that doesn’t just teach you tools but shows you how to use them in real scenarios—and tells you exactly where you fit in the fight against cybercrime. Three months could transform you from a curious student to someone ready to monitor networks, investigate threats, or defend Nigeria’s digital future and to proactively identify and assess potential risks to any organization’s infrastructure.
With the government’s support, that’s not just a dream—it’s a goal within reach. At FabsecureIT, this is exactly what we do—we train on real, live scenarios, bridging the gap between tools and jobs so you’re ready to step into the cybersecurity world with confidence. Add your own effort and a mentor, and you’re not just dreaming of a career—you’re building to achieve it.
Foluso is a seasoned security consultant with experience at Bloomberg and EasyJet, specializing in risk management and cybersecurity. With an MSc in Embedded Systems and Wireless Networks, he currently works at a top UK firm, bringing expertise in securing critical infrastructures
