Dr. Ibrahim Waziri Jr. is a cleared specialist in National Security and Global Cybersecurity Governance. He was a Global Insider Risk and Incident Governance Lead within Google’s Cloud CISO organization, where he oversaw initiatives for cloud insider risk management, incident governance, and global regulatory response. His work centers on advancing global cybersecurity governance, responsible AI, and digital trust, including directing security due diligence for major acquisitions and supporting Google’s Secure AI Framework (SAIF).His expertise spans cybersecurity engineering, national security strategy, and AI governance. Prior to Google, he was a Principal Security Product Manager at Microsoft, leading security product development, incident management, and DoD regulatory compliance for Microsoft’s U.S. national security environments. In this role, he also led Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI) within Azure and CELA organizations, fundamentally transforming Microsoft’s secure-by-design strategies and driving organization-wide adoption of threat mitigation standards.Dr. Waziri is a former Cybersecurity Fellow at New America and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity at Marymount University. His professional career includes roles at Deloitte, RSA Security, and the U.S. International Trade Commission. He currently serves on nonprofit boards dedicated to cybersecurity and education and holds a Ph.D. in Information Security from Purdue University.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the nature of national security, intelligence gathering, conflict prevention and military operations. From predictive analytics and intelligence fusion to facial recognition, autonomous systems, cyber defence and real-time threat detection, AI presents unprecedented opportunities to strengthen the capacity of nations to anticipate, prevent and respond to security threats.Yet, the same technology that promises to make societies safer can also create new vulnerabilities and amplify existing threats. This raises a fundamental question for Nigeria: *Can we trust Artificial Intelligence to help secure the nation, or could the unchecked deployment and misuse of AI create a new dimension of insecurity?*Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s complex security challenges, this keynote will examine the emerging role of AI as both a *force multiplier for national security and a potential accelerator of insecurity*. It will explore how AI can support security agencies through the analysis of vast volumes of intelligence, identification of emerging threats, early-warning mechanisms, border surveillance, counter-terrorism operations, cyber defence and more effective allocation of security resources.At the same time, the keynote will examine the darker side of the AI revolution. The weaponisation of AI through misinformation and disinformation, deepfakes, social-media manipulation, cyberattacks, automated propaganda and other forms of digital influence could deepen mistrust, inflame communal tensions and complicate efforts to maintain peace and national cohesion. In an environment where public confidence is already critical to effective security operations, the ability to distinguish *truth from AI-generated deception* becomes a national security imperative.A central focus will be the question of *trustworthiness*. Can AI-generated intelligence be relied upon when decisions may have consequences for national security and human lives? How do we address algorithmic bias, inaccurate or incomplete data, hallucinations, compromised systems and the possibility of adversaries manipulating AI models? Where should human judgement begin and AI assistance end? And what governance, ethical and legislative safeguards are necessary to ensure that AI remains accountable, transparent and aligned with Nigeria’s national interest?The keynote will also consider the strategic implications of AI for Nigeria’s sovereignty and security architecture. As technology increasingly shapes the battlefield beyond conventional physical spaces, the *new battlefield encompasses cyberspace, information environments, data ecosystems and the algorithms that influence how threats are detected, understood and responded to*.Ultimately, the session will challenge policymakers, military and security leaders, technology professionals, business leaders and citizens to rethink the meaning of trust in an AI-enabled security environment. Nigeria must not merely ask *what AI can do*, but also *whether it can be trusted, who controls it, how it is governed, and what happens when it gets it wrong*.The keynote will conclude by proposing a framework for *responsible, human-centred and trustworthy AI for national security*—one that harnesses the technology’s immense potential to prevent and address insecurity while protecting human rights, democratic values, national sovereignty and public trust. *Key Questions the Keynote Will Address** How is AI changing the nature of national security and the modern battlefield?* Can AI improve intelligence, early warning and response to insecurity in Nigeria?* How can AI contribute to addressing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats. * How could AI-enabled misinformation, deepfakes, cyberattacks and digital manipulation escalate insecurity?* Can AI-generated intelligence be trusted in high-stakes national security decisions?* What are the risks of algorithmic bias, poor-quality data and over-reliance on AI?* Where should human judgement and accountability remain in AI-assisted security operations?* What regulatory, ethical and institutional safeguards does Nigeria need?* How can Nigeria build an AI-enabled national security ecosystem that strengthens, rather than erodes, public trust?The future of national security will not simply be determined by who has the most advanced AI, but by who can deploy AI responsibly, securely and trustworthily. In the new battlefield, trust itself has become a strategic asset.