During the Apex Tech Summit in Lagos, David Efemena Ominiabohs—CTO at Apex Web Network, urged Nigerian businesses to adopt bug bounty programs and make cybersecurity a core part of product design. As he explained, inviting ethical hackers to test platforms early helps companies fix vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them—and right now, this is missing in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem
Moreover, Efemena warned that many companies delay security until after launch, which too often leaves them scrambling to patch vulnerabilities under pressure. As a result, security breaches can severely tarnish a brand’s image
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In addition, he highlighted how small missteps,like a single phishing click—can trigger major crises. Accordingly, he encourages firms to simulate phishing attacks internally to keep staff alert and vigilant
Furthermore, Efemena stressed the importance of local data storage. By hosting data in Nigerian data centers instead of abroad, businesses can mitigate risks of leakage and strengthen customer trust
Finally, he shared advice for aspiring tech founders: focus on building solutions for local markets first to understand user needs and regulatory environments. Then, scale regionally and adapt to wider compliance as you grow. This strategy, he noted, helped Apex expand across seven African countries while staying grounded in local markets
Why This Matters for Smartpreneurs
Proactive security builds trust. Startups that adopt bug bounty programs and build-in security early stand out in a crowded market.
Employee readiness matters. Simulating threats like phishing trains your team to respond instead of react.
Local infrastructure strengthens confidence. Keeping data within Nigeria reassures customers and fits within evolving regulatory landscapes.
Scale wisely. Validating your concept locally before scaling helps reduce compliance hurdles and enhances long-term resilience.
