Federal University of Technology Minna
Federal University of Technology Minna

Cyber Security

About the Department

The Cyber Security Science Department was established in the new School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in 2009; and it is the first of such Department in Nigeria.  With the establishment of the Department, B. Tech, M. Tech and PhD degrees and Postdoctoral Diploma Certification programmes in Cyber Security Science were approved by the Senate.  Cyber Security Science Department encourages researches in many areas that would help in developing manpower needs, such as Fraud Detections in Financial Institutions, Mobile Phones Malware detection, Voice Over IP (VoIP) fraud detection, Network Security, Information disseminations through Cryptography, Cryptography and Web Networking Security, Software Supportive Agents for the detection of Malware and Cyber Crime Terrorism.

In view of the above, Staff, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students in the Department carry out meaningful researches in these aforementioned areas. They are also encouraged to research on the New Generation Networks involving IPV6 security as this is the principal area involving Digital Privacy, Digital Forensics, and Cyber Warfare. Machine Learning Algorithms such as Artificial Immune Systems, Decision Trees, Artificial Neural Networks etc are studied as useful tools in data analysis. The department is currently having full accreditation (since 2019), which happen to be the first and only Cyber Security accredited programme in Nigeria.

Brief History of Cyber Security Science Department:

The Department of Cyber Security Science was established on 13th February, 2009. It was created from the defunct Department of Mathematics/Computer Science with the aim that it shall be the backbone of the School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT). The Department offers degree programmes in Cyber Security, and is one of the departments in the School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT). It offers a unique opportunity for students to achieve excellence through vigorous classes, practicals and participation in cutting edge ICT research. The pioneer Head of Department was Prof. Victor.O. Waziri. The department has been graduating B. Tech, M. Tech and PhD degrees and Postdoctoral Diploma Certification programmes in Cyber Security Science for over 14 years. Currently it has two Professors, two Associate Professors, three Senior Lecturers, three Lecturer 1, five Lecturer II, one Assistant Lecturer and one Graduate Assistant. The department has 100level to 500level undergraduate set of classes. It has graduated eight set of Undergraduate and over 150 postgraduate students. Currently, 100level has 97 students, 200level has 95 students, 300level has 112 students, 400level has 72 students and 500level has 98 students. The department currently has 48 M.Tech and 20 PhD students.

Department Menu

Ismaila Idris received a B.Tech. (Hons) in Mathematics Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Minna and M.Sc in Information Security from University of Ilorin in 2002 and 2009 respectively. He received a PhD degree from University of Teknologi Malaysia in 2014. He is an IT Specialist with over 19 years of experience in information security, digital forensics and software development. He has a wide variety of security, engineering, networking, and operating system software experience. He was the best graduating student, PhD Computer Security, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He possesses two patents from Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC), Malaysia with over 70 international publications.

An Associate Professor and Head, Department of Cyber Security Science, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, he was a Deputy Director, Information Technology Services, Federal University of Technology, Minna. He was appointed by Federal Executive Council as Member of Steering Committee for the Device Management system (DMS) Solution. 2023. He was a member, Committee Convened to Review the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, 2014 and Formulate the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2020. He was a National Vice President, Cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria from 2005 to 2022. He is also the Chairman, Committee on Digital Policing and Forensics, Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Dr Idris was the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee of International Conference on Information Communication Technology and its Applications. He is a Member of editorial board Journal of Computer Engineering and Information Technology and International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Applications. (IJAIA).

His research interests include Information Security, Data Mining, Software Engineering, Soft Computing, Computational Intelligence and Information Retrieval. He is a member board of trustees Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria; member, Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), member Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), member of International Association of Engineers (IAENG) and also member of Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Vision

To be a world class centre for Cyber Security Education, Research, and Management; to guarantee security of National and global cyber assets

Mission

  1. To establish quality Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes in cyber security.
  2. To develop next generation cyber security experts with adequate capabilities to anticipate and overcome cyber threats.
  3. To produce cyber security graduates that will be able to solve contemporary national and global cyber threats.
  4. To be wired into the cyber security industry, cutting leading edge cyber security programmes.

Activities and events including images and photo

The department has done several Community Services in the University and Minna environment. The department presents an annual lecture during its Cyber Security Awareness Month in October to the University community and secondary schools in Minna. The department also organized Cyber Intelligence and Robotics Training for Secondary Schools of educational Resource Centre in Minna in October, 2022.

Admission Requirement

 (a)   Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Entry Requirements

Candidates are required to obtain five (5) O’ Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology; and Economics or Agricultural Science or Geography in National Examination NECO, West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) or NABTEB at no more than two (2) sittings. In addition, candidates must obtain a high aggregate score from the University’s Post-UTME Screening Exercise testgreater than or equal to the cut-off point as might be stipulated from time to time by the University.

 (b) Direct Entry (DE)

  • Holders of National Diploma (ND) in Computer Science/Engineering/Information Technology with a minimum of Lower Credit may qualify for admission into 200 Level.
  • Holders of HSC/GCE-A Level/IJMB with credit passes in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry also qualify for 200 Level.
  • Holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) with at least Upper Credit in Computer Science/Information Technology may qualify for admission into 300 Level.

NB:   (i) These DE requirements are in addition to the O’Level grades stipulated in (a). Also, DE students must take and pass the General Studies courses offered in 100 and 200 levels in the University.  

(ii)   All candidates for admission must pass the University Post-UTME Screening Exercise.  

 

  1. Postgraduate

Candidates seeking for admission into the programme must satisfy the following general and specific requirements.

  1. Satisfy the minimum five (5) credits requirement for admission into the undergraduate programme including English and Mathematics.
  2. Possess a minimum of a second-class lower degree of the Federal University of Technology, Minna or any other recognized University in Cyber Security Science/Computer Science or allied disciplines. Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Security Science with a minimum of Lower Credit of the Federal University of Technology, Minna or any other recognized University
  3. All candidates may be required to sit for admission examination.
  4. Satisfy all admission requirements of the Postgraduate School of the University.

 

Research Work/Grant/Patenting/innovation

The department was able to secure a grant from Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission in 2020. The grant is on “Cyber Security Solutions for Electricity Power Systems (EPS) Data Analytics for the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). All staff have publications at both local and International levels. Some of the published papers are among the best in Elsevier, Scopus and other well-known academic publishers. Individual staff also have patent from their research.