By Atoyebi Nike
Nigerian-born cybersecurity professional, Grace Durotolu, has urged the federal government to adopt an AI-driven national cybersecurity policy to protect critical infrastructure from escalating digital threats.
Durotolu, who is researching the intersection of artificial intelligence and cyber defense, said traditional signature-based security systems were inadequate against advanced persistent threats, zero-day exploits, and sophisticated social engineering attacks.
Her recent study, Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for Threat Detection and Adversarial Defense in Cybersecurity, revealed that AI-powered solutions can achieve detection accuracy rates above 95 per cent while cutting false positives by up to 60 per cent. She explained that machine learning and deep learning models can process vast data streams to detect anomalies in real time, identify adversarial attacks, and contain risks before escalation.
She emphasized that critical infrastructure such as power grids and industrial control systems are prime targets, warning that successful attacks could cripple economies and threaten national security. “AI must not only defend but also enable resilience,” she said, calling on governments and businesses to adopt adaptive, risk-based strategies.
Her research also highlights the importance of explainable AI, ensemble learning, and federated learning for fast, privacy-preserving, and distributed cyber defense. Beyond national infrastructure, her work explores how governments can integrate AI into policies protecting supply chains, small and medium enterprises, and digital economies.
Durotolu, who directs a Cyber Lab, also stressed the need for training and recruitment strategies to build capacity in managing AI-powered systems. “Organizations must invest in training programs and recruitment strategies to build the necessary skill sets,” she added.
She holds a master’s degree in computer science (cybersecurity concentration) from Troy University, Alabama, and a bachelor’s degree from Redeemer’s University, Nigeria.
