Confidence Staveley
Nigerian cybersecurity person
Confidence Staveley is a Nigerian cybersecurity and information technology expert She is also the founder and Executive director of Cybersafe foundation; a non-profit that promote cyber security awareness and education within most vulnerable communities in Africa. And the Founder of MerkleFence; an application‑security consultancy.
Early Life and Education
Confidence Staveley holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Business Information Systems from Middlesex University, London. She subsequently earned a Master's degree in Information Technology Management from the University of Bradford. An elective in cryptology taken during her master's program is credited with crystallizing her focus on cybersecurity as a professional discipline.
Career
Staveley began her professional career in 2011 as an IT Officer and Executive Assistant within the Cross River State Government in Nigeria, where she supported public-sector IT operations. She subsequently joined Lloyds Banking Group in a customer-facing capacity, serving as a Customer Service Advisor and Telephone Banking Consultant.
In 2013, she transitioned to the role of IT Specialist at the Calabar International Convention Centre. By 2015, she had moved to InfoGraphics Nigeria, where she oversaw technical marketing and interactive media. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as a Cybersecurity Analyst for UIC Innovations Africa, deepening her specialization in the field. In December 2019, she was appointed Country Manager for DIGISS, a computer security firm. Concurrently, through 2022, she co-led Gidinerd as Managing Partner, a marketing agency in which she worked on a part-time basis.
Alongside her organizational roles, Staveley founded MerkleFence, an application-security consultancy.
Cybersafe Foundation
In 2019, Staveley founded Cybersafe Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on bridging the digital divide by equipping underserved communities across Africa with cybersecurity and artificial intelligence skills. The organization delivers practical training and awareness initiatives aimed at improving digital safety and economic inclusion.
Among its flagship programs is the CyberGirls Fellowship, a training and mentorship initiative designed for young African women. In 2021, Cybersafe Foundation partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria to deliver emergency cybersecurity interventions, an effort that produced what has been described as Africa's first storified cybersecurity handbook and an Afrobeat-style cybersecurity awareness song titled #NoGoFallMaga. In 2022, the foundation partnered with the UK Government to launch the Digital Access Program, aimed at addressing the digital skills gender gap in Nigeria.
Recognition
Staveley has received broad recognition for her contributions to cybersecurity and digital inclusion. She was the first Nigerian woman inducted into the Forbes Technology Council. In 2024, she was listed among the Top 40 Global Thought Leaders in Security and Safety and named one of "150 Fascinating Females Fighting Cybercrime" by Women Know Cyber. In 2023, she appeared on ABCD Africa's 50 Most Impactful Voices list, and in 2022 she ranked among Nigeria's Top 100 Most Inspiring Women.
International honors include recognition as a 2021 African Obama Leader and the IFSEC Global "One-to-Watch" accolade in Security and Fire.
Awards
Staveley's formal awards include the Women in Tech Africa Award (2024), the ISC2 Global Achievement Award (2023), the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria Merit Award (2022), the Cyber Security Women Supporter of the Year Award (2022), the Meridian Global Citizen Award (2022), the Cybersecurity Woman of the Year award (2021), and the U.S. State Department International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Award (2021).
