Harrison Nnaemeka Nnaji is an uncommon Nigerian. With four Master’s degrees and a doctorate (he has a second doctorate in view), he is a guru in the world of Information Technology.

He is an accomplished Data and Information Security executive. He has more than 17 years of solid experience in the conception, engineering, design, delivery, operation and optimization of cyber, data and information security.

Nnaji is an expert in the design of Cybersecurity Strategy and Architecture. He is an asset anywhere in Policy and Process Design. He also has expertise in Forensics and Fraud Investigations, Fraud Management, IT Strategy Development and Operation, Risk Control and Management, Data and Information Security as well as Regulatory Compliance.

Dr Harrison Nnaji currently works with First Bank of Nigeria Limited as Group Head & Group Chief Information Security Officer. In that role, he is a Deputy General Manager with his scope of work covering Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, DRC, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and the UK.

Before joining First Bank in November 2017, he was with United Bank for Africa Plc as Senior Manager and Divisional Head of the bank’s IT Enterprise Security Division. His engagement covered 19 African countries, the UK, USA, and Paris.

From January 2011 to May 2014, he was with IBM West Africa as Network & Security Infrastructure Manager. He was in charge of nine countries namely Nigeria, Ghana, Chad, Sierra Leone, Republic of Congo, DRC, Niger, Gabon and Burkina Faso.

At Airtel Networks Ltd (January 2009 – December 2010) he was Lead in Assets Management, Applications & Databases as well as Forensics & Investigations. He was Specialist, IT Security at Celtel Nigeria Ltd from October 2007 to January 2009.

Nnaji’s career in the field of IT began at Telnet Nigeria Ltd where he served as a member of the National Youth Service Corp from October 2004 to September 2005. He later worked as Network Support Engineer at ITECO Nigeria Ltd and as Cisco Pre-Sales Engineer at Redington Nigeria Ltd.

Harrison Nnaji graduated from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State in 2003 with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. He earned a Master’s in Project Management from the University of Lagos in 2012.

He went on to bag an M.Sc in Security Management at the University of Portsmouth, UK in 2017. His Master of Philosophy in Management was earned at Walden University, USA in 2021.

In the year 2022, he had his Master’s in Cyber Security (Cloud Security Architect) at EC – Council University. Back to Walden University, in 2023, he was conferred with a Ph.D in Management, Leadership & Organisational Strategy. Today, he is working on his second doctoral programme online: a Ph.D in Offensive Cyber Engineering at Capitol Technology University, USA.

Nnaji has attended numerous trainings and earned several certifications in his field. He is Director, ISC2 (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium) Nigeria Chapter. He is also a former Vice Chairman of the Committee of Chief Information Security Officers for Nigerian Financial Services and Payment Services Providers.

Expectedly, Dr Harrison Nnaji has been widely recognized and celebrated. He is a recipient of numerous awards which have to do with his field.

To mention just a few of his awards: he is a double recipient of the First Bank Heroes Awards in 2020 and 2022; CISO of the Year Award by Finnovex West Africa Awards (2022); IBM Manager’s Award for the practice “Unite and Get it Done Now (2013); Cash Award for Achieving Excellence in the Annual Appraisal by IBM Management (2012) and Award for Excellent Service Delivery by Hamid Husain, Chief Information Officer, Zain Nigeria (2009). He got eight (8) Excellent Service Delivery Commendation Letters from UBA Plc Senior Management (2016 & 2017).

It is in recognition of his contribution to national development in the field of Business Intelligence and Information Management that Dr Harrison Nnaemeka Nnaji was deemed worthy to be conferred with the Development in Nigeria Merit Award which is part of the PSR National Awards.