Impact of Cybersecurity on Digital Economy in Southeast Nigeria

The dominance of cyberspace in the 21st century, with the adoption of advanced technologies, has led to a significant economic shift towards digital platforms. The South East region of Nigeria is gradually advancing in the adoption of the digital economy. The impact of cybersecurity on the advancement of the digital economy cannot be underscored. This paper investigates the state of the digital economy in South East Nigeria using the pillars of the digital economy as a yardstick of evaluation, identifying the threats and challenges of cybersecurity on the digital economy in the region, which include data breaches, cyber-attacks, cybercrime, and infrastructure challenges, among others.  The study analyses the impact of cybersecurity on the digital economy of the region, which includes: protection of information, trust and confidence, financial loss, reputational damage, etc. The research employs an ex post facto research design supplemented by secondary sources of data. The study integrates public good theory as the theoretical framework for this study. The research proposes strategies to enhance cybersecurity, which include the provision of advanced cyber infrastructure, collaboration among the government and stakeholders.