Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (Smedan) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assist small and medium businesses in the country to become more cyber-aware and less vulnerable to developing cyber threats.
The MoU reflects a shared view that SMEs, being the backbone of economy, require strong cybersecurity measures. Kaspersky and Smedan will work together on information sharing, training programmes, and other practical steps to raise awareness of digital threats and cybersecurity measures.
“Small and medium business owners are juggling a dozen things – accounting, promotion, legal issues. They are not cybersecurity experts. But they are being targeted by cybercriminals through malware, phishing, and online schemes using social engineering tactics that make them look realistic. Our aim is to provide these organisations with some best practice tools and inform about measures that will help them stay safer online,” says Chris Norton, GM for sub-Saharan Africa at Kaspersky.
The cooperation will feed into Smedan’s wider SME development efforts, with Kaspersky contributing cybersecurity knowledge and joining forces on awareness campaigns. The idea is to bring cybersecurity-focused guidance into existing business support channels, and to do it in a way that actually makes sense to entrepreneurs who may not have technical teams behind them.
Charles Odii, DG/CEO of Smedan, comments: “Since the Covid-19 pandemic, digital adoption among business owners has accelerated significantly. Many now operate WhatsApp shops, use online banking, and send invoices via email, which has increased their exposure to cyber risks. Together with Kaspersky, we intend to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and practices across Nigeria, helping SMEs protect their businesses as they embrace the digital economy.”
Smedan has long been a government agency that has consistently shown up for small business owners in Nigeria. Its work cuts across industries, regions, and stages of growth from traders and artisans to early-stage tech startups trying to get formalised. This partnership gives it another tool to help those businesses operate more securely in a digital world. For Kaspersky, the collaboration is part of a wider push across the continent to support under-resourced sectors that are quietly being targeted online.