A United Kingdom-based member of the Forbes Technology Council, Dr Fene Osakwe, shares insights with BIODUN BUSARI on the experiences of Nigerians who have relocated abroad and their struggles to survive against all odds
What inspired your journey into cybersecurity and risk management?
The first thing is that I didn’t start cybersecurity in the United Kingdom. I started in Lagos, Nigeria, where I trained as a cybersecurity professional. Two things led me there: I experienced a cyber breach over a decade ago, where I lost my hard-earned savings.
It happened many years ago with my ATM card, and I lost most of my savings. Fast forward a few years, I joined Deloitte as an auditor. At that time, cyber wasn’t even popular. This was between 2011 and 2012. Deloitte was beginning to think about starting a cyber practice in Nigeria, and I was one of those they trained to start that practice. I was one of the pioneers of cybersecurity at Deloitte.
It was also strategic. Everyone was starting to use soft copies. People began to think about how to protect all the information now being stored digitally. So it was a matter of thinking futuristically and aligning with emerging trends.
What steps would you recommend the Nigerian government take to leverage cybersecurity in strengthening the criminal justice system?
I think there are already a lot of policies, frameworks, and agencies in place. Almost everything is there, but in our country, the challenge is execution. There’s a national cyber policy, a framework, and the Office of National Security—it’s all about enforcing what we’ve already put in place. I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel. It’s simply about enforcing our existing laws. That’s genuinely my view.
In your opinion, is there an ideal age range for Nigerians to relocate abroad and achieve success?
From my experience, I don’t believe there’s a specific good or bad time to migrate. I don’t subscribe to that debate because I don’t have data to support it. For example, I became the first African to win the UK Cybersecurity Award after just two and a half years in the UK. Some people might expect such a record to take ten years.
When I was in Dubai, I became the first African to win the Cyber Mentor of the Year award after just seven months. I believe that when moving to a new country, you need to be intentional about the value you’re bringing. That value isn’t necessarily tied to age.
The real issue is often a wrong mentality, thinking more about what you can take rather than what you can give. The right question to ask is, “What value do I have that I’m bringing to this economy?” instead of “What am I escaping from?”
What do you believe set you apart and led to your recognition as the UK Cybersecurity Personality of the Year?
I’ve been asked this question many times, and my answer remains the same: I wasn’t one of the judges, so I can’t say for sure.
The award receives nominations from about 35 countries, and in my category, there were nominees from 11 countries, top and senior cybersecurity professionals from around the world.
I can’t say why I was picked, but I can mention a few things I did.
First, I did a lot of research and published much of my work in cybersecurity. I’m privileged to have platforms like Forbes, which attracts over 100 million daily views, to publish what I do.
Second, I mentor cybersecurity professionals at the University of Canada, Westminster University in London, and the University of Aberdeen. I’ve also mentored at Gonzaga University in Washington, across four continents. That’s a rare achievement.
In a nutshell, I would say it’s about my industry reputation. The listed criteria included thought leadership and influence in public speaking.
Many Nigerian youths are weary of motivational talks that yield no tangible results. How can the socio-economic environment be structured to genuinely support and empower them to achieve their dreams?
The first thing to understand is that there’s no perfect environment. I’ve lived in the UK, Dubai, and Lagos. Everywhere has its own challenges.
I know people in the UK who have been searching for jobs for over two and a half years without success.
These are not just stories; they’re real, but people in Nigeria often don’t hear about such cases.
I also don’t think motivational speaking is wrong. But motivation eventually fades, and then reality hits. That’s why I always say: any motivation that doesn’t provide practical steps to achieve your goals is just hype. It’s like going to a music show—you’re hyped by the DJ, and then reality sets in.
I believe in inspiration. Inspiration shows you that success is possible. For example, there are excellent cybersecurity professionals in Nigeria. That inspires belief. But motivation should now come with “how.” So when people say, “You can do this,” the follow-up question should be, “How?”
That’s where people like us come in—to inspire others by sharing our stories and the steps we took to succeed.
As the government cautions against chasing greener pastures, what do Nigerian youths need to succeed abroad?
First, ask yourself: what skill are you bringing?
Second, is your skill global or local? For example, cybersecurity is the same everywhere in the world. But law is different in each country.
If you’re a lawyer in Nigeria and you move to Canada, you’ll need to study Canadian law.
Third, your mindset matters. Are you going abroad to add value or just to survive? Both are valid, but they lead to different paths. Some want to thrive and make an impact. Others just want to get by. You need to define what you want and pursue it.
If survival is your goal, find a job that helps you survive. If your goal is to add value, identify the problems in your new country’s economy and align your skills to solve them.
