Mr. Festus Amede

Mr. Festus Amede is an accomplished cybersecurity professional, information security executive and financial technology specialist with extensive experience in banking security, cyber risk management and digital infrastructure protection. He currently serves as the Group Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Zenith Bank Plc and Chairman of the Committee of Chief Information Security Officers of Nigerian Financial Institutions (CCISONFI), an industry body dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity cooperation and resilience across Nigeria's financial services sector.
His professional experience encompasses enterprise information security, cybersecurity governance, digital banking security and the protection of critical financial infrastructure. As Group Chief Information Security Officer at Zenith Bank, Mr. Amede provides strategic leadership for the bank's information and cybersecurity programmes, overseeing initiatives aimed at protecting sensitive customer information, securing digital banking platforms and strengthening institutional resilience against emerging cyber threats.
As Chairman of CCISONFI, Mr. Amede leads collaborative efforts among Chief Information Security Officers of Nigerian banks and payment service providers to improve cybersecurity standards, strengthen threat intelligence sharing and promote industry-wide cooperation. The Committee works with the Central Bank of Nigeria, national security agencies and other stakeholders to address cybercrime, develop cybersecurity awareness programmes and support the protection of Nigeria's financial infrastructure.
Under his leadership, CCISONFI has championed public awareness initiatives aimed at reducing financial fraud and strengthening consumer confidence in electronic payment systems. In August 2023, the Committee collaborated with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bankers' Committee and Cybersafe Foundation to launch the NoGoFallMaga, Confam Am Again campaign, designed to educate Nigerians about cybersecurity risks, digital fraud prevention and safer financial transactions.
Mr. Amede has contributed to industry discussions on emerging technologies and their implications for financial security. At the 2024 Annual CCISONFI Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he advocated the adoption of advanced cybersecurity technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum-safe cryptography, zero-trust security and behavioural analytics, to strengthen the financial sector's ability to detect and respond to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
He has also promoted stronger data protection and privacy practices in Nigeria's electronic payment ecosystem. At the 2024 Payments Forum Nigeria, his keynote presentation addressed trust, security and privacy in the era of artificial intelligence, emphasising data minimisation, consumer consent, regulatory compliance and continuous security awareness as essential considerations for financial service providers.
At the 2025 CCISONFI Annual Conference, themed Cyber Resilience in a Disruptive World, Mr. Amede called for stronger cooperation among financial institutions, cybersecurity professionals, regulators and law enforcement agencies. He also advocated the inclusion of cybersecurity education in Nigeria's school curriculum to develop future cybersecurity professionals and strengthen the country's long-term digital security capabilities.
Mr. Festus Amede remains an advocate for financial sector cybersecurity, responsible technological innovation and stronger cooperation among institutions responsible for protecting Nigeria's digital financial ecosystem. Through his leadership at Zenith Bank and CCISONFI, he continues to promote the security, resilience and integrity of digital financial services in Nigeria.