Nigerian’s cybersecurity talent, Samuel Afolabi (Lordsam) has earned international recognition after featuring on the cover of November’s CIO Magazine as a Trailblazing Cybersecurity Leaders to Watch in 2025. The United States–based tech publication is headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts.

Afolabi is among a class of young African tech professionals spotlighted by the global magazine for excellence, thought leadership, and industry impact.

Described by peers as a “cybersecurity multi-potentialite”, Afolabi  has carved a niche in FinTech, E-Commerce, EdTech, Insurance, GovTech, Consulting and others.

His journey into technology, he said, was marked by curiosity, self-learning, and a knack to solve complex problems.

From software engineering (low-code) to networking, data centre management, cloud computing, and ethical hacking, Afolabi’s technical depth has positioned him as a sought-after mind in secure systems design and cyber-defence infrastructure.

A former Fellow of Pan-African Youth Ambassadors for Internet Governance, professional member of Cybersecurity Experts Association of Nigeria, and certified Ambassador of Management & Strategic Institute, Pennsylvania, U.S, Afolabi holds industry certifications from Amazon, Microsoft, CompTIA, EC-Council, Fortinet, and GitHub.