AERMP champions enterprise security risk management amid evolving threats

The Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals (AERMP) has called for a fundamental repositioning of Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) as a strategic business and governance priority amid rising global security threats and digital vulnerabilities.

The call was made at Nigeria’s inaugural Enterprise Security Risk Management Conference held at James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos, under the theme, “Repositioning Enterprise Security Risk Management in an Evolving Global Threat Landscape: A Multi-Stakeholder Imperative.”

The conference brought together policymakers, regulators, security experts, academics, corporate executives and risk professionals to discuss emerging threats and strategies for strengthening institutional resilience.

A key takeaway from the event was the need for organisations to move beyond reactive and compliance-driven security models and adopt ESRM as a board-level discipline integrating cybersecurity, physical security, operational resilience, governance and enterprise-wide risk management.

Delivering the opening address, Rear Admiral Kenneth Bolanle Ati-John (Rtd), Chairman of the Occasion and CEO of Advantec Marine Service, said modern threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, kidnapping, disinformation, supply chain disruptions and climate-related risks are interconnected and require a coordinated approach.

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He urged organisations to shift from reaction to anticipation and embed risk awareness into their culture and operations.

A major highlight was the keynote address by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who stressed the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to Nigeria’s digital economy and national security.

Maida disclosed that Nigeria has more than 185 million active mobile connections and over 153 million internet subscriptions, while facing more than 4,000 cyberattacks weekly. He also revealed that over 27,000 fibre cable cuts were recorded in 2025 and noted that nearly 90 per cent of Nigerian data is hosted outside Africa.

He highlighted initiatives including the Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), the Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigerian Communications Sector and critical national information infrastructure protections.

Speakers from government agencies and the private sector emphasised that security has evolved into a strategic and economic issue requiring board oversight, intelligence sharing and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

Experts also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence, data-driven intelligence, smart surveillance and zero-trust architecture in strengthening resilience.

Speaking at the event, AERMP Director-General and CEO, Dr. Olayinka Odutola, said the conference marks the beginning of a sustained national conversation on advancing ESRM as a driver of organisational resilience, economic growth and national development.

He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting professional excellence, research, capacity building and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen security governance across public and private institutions.