By Genesis Ogiri
Dr. Izuka Elkanah Okeke, FICRPC, FIPMA, FCBAN, on Saturday called for a renewed commitment to ethical leadership as the foundation for a digitally secure and peaceful future, warning that technological advancement without moral direction poses serious risks to trust, stability, and social cohesion.
He made this call while delivering a keynote presentation titled “Ethical Leadership for a Digitally Secure and Peaceful Future” at the induction ceremony of the Institute for Crisis Resolution, Peace Building and Conciliation, held in collaboration with the Institute of Cyber Security Professionals, at the Candellux Plaza, Abuja.
The event attracted security experts, cyber professionals, policy analysts, industry leaders, and academics from across the country, reflecting growing concern over the ethical implications of rapid digital transformation.
From a leadership and security governance perspective, the gathering underscored the urgency of aligning technological innovation with accountability and human values.
In his address, Dr. Okeke described today’s world as increasingly interconnected, driven by artificial intelligence, data analytics, smart infrastructure, and digital finance.
While acknowledging the efficiencies and opportunities created by these technologies, he cautioned that innovation pursued without ethical oversight could deepen inequality, erode public trust, and undermine peace.
He noted that modern leaders now function as custodians of people’s digital lives, with decisions on data governance, surveillance, and algorithmic systems carrying far-reaching consequences for privacy and human dignity.
Leadership, he argued, has therefore assumed a civic dimension that demands responsibility beyond institutional or commercial interests.
Dr. Okeke identified integrity, empathy, and accountability as the core principles of ethical leadership in the digital era. Integrity, he said, protects truth in an environment increasingly threatened by misinformation and data manipulation.
Empathy ensures that technology remains human-centred, while accountability compels leaders to take responsibility for both intended outcomes and unintended harms.
Addressing the challenges at the human–technology interface, he highlighted concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, cybercrime, and digital surveillance.
He warned that unchecked data exploitation risks turning personal identity into a commodity, while biased algorithms may institutionalise discrimination under the appearance of objectivity.
On cybersecurity, Dr. Okeke reframed the issue as a leadership and cultural responsibility rather than a purely technical concern.
He observed that cyber breaches can erode institutional credibility, disrupt economic activity, and threaten national security if not handled with transparency and ethical resolve.
He further advocated the institutionalisation of ethics through mechanisms such as ethics review boards, continuous ethics training, and ethical impact assessments across the technology lifecycle.
According to him, embedding ethics within governance structures enables organisations to anticipate risks and respond responsibly to emerging digital challenges.
Dr. Okeke also emphasised the importance of cross-stakeholder engagement, calling for collaboration among regulators, civil society organisations, industry actors, and technology users. Such inclusive engagement, he said, strengthens trust and ensures that digital innovation serves the public interest.
As the ceremony concluded, participants described the presentation as timely and instructive amid growing digital security concerns.
Dr. Okeke’s central message resonated clearly: a secure and peaceful digital future depends not only on advanced technology, but on leadership firmly anchored in ethical responsibility and respect for human dignity.