A country is not secure if citizens can’t travel, run businesses without fear — Zulaykhah Aileru, founder, Secure Gate

Zulaykhah Aileru is a security and defence leader driving human-centred, technology-enabled protection systems across critical infrastructure. Founder of Secure Gates and former COO of EPAIL, she has led transformative projects in defence manufacturing, AI surveillance, and infrastructure security, championing indigenous innovation, operational resilience, and the integration of physical and cybersecurity governance. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, she speaks about her work and the security sector of Nigeria.

You studied history and international relations for your bachelor’s degree and law for your master’s degree. But you now work in the defence and security sector. Why this shift from what you studied?

My academic background in history, international relations, and international law gave me a strong understanding of conflict, governance, diplomacy, and national security systems. Rather than seeing my move into defence and security as a shift, I see it as an evolution. History and international relations helped me understand how conflicts emerge and how political, economic, and social factors shape security outcomes. My master’s in International Law further exposed me to governance systems, laws of armed conflict, state security, and international frameworks.

Professionally, working in defence and security enabled me to apply these concepts in practice through security technology, critical infrastructure protection, and public-private partnerships. My academic background helps me approach security challenges strategically, while my professional experience gives me the operational perspective needed to address modern threats.

Professional security work is a complex, serious endeavour that most women would not like to venture into. Why are you into it? Is it something personal to you or something more than that?

Security and defence may be male-dominated sectors, but for me, entering the field was never about gender — it was about impact. Coming from Nigeria and working in environments where insecurity directly affects businesses, communities, and daily life made security deeply personal to me.

I have seen how insecurity disrupts livelihoods, limits economic growth, discourages investment, and affects people psychologically and socially. That made me realise that security is not only about protecting assets; it is about protecting people and enabling development. I also believe representation matters. Women bring different leadership styles, communication approaches, and perspectives to problem-solving. My commitment to the sector is driven by the desire to contribute to safer communities, stronger institutions, and more sustainable security solutions.

You are the founder and CEO of Secure Gate Limited. What inspired the establishment of the firm, and how have you leveraged the firm to address insecurity in Nigeria?

Secure Gates Limited was established on the belief that security should be proactive, technology-driven, and people-centred. I saw that many businesses and communities in Nigeria remained vulnerable because security solutions were often reactive or fragmented. What inspired me most was the human side of insecurity — how it affects livelihoods, business continuity, community trust, and economic stability.

Through Secure Gates, we have deployed surveillance systems, remote monitoring solutions, AI-enabled technologies, and smart tracking systems to improve safety and accountability. We also advocate stronger collaboration between government, communities, and private security providers because technology alone cannot solve insecurity. Our goal is to build smarter and more resilient protection systems that support both public and private infrastructure.

In the last five years, how would you describe the security situation of Nigeria, and the general efforts — especially from the Federal Government — to address it?

Nigeria’s security situation has become increasingly complex in the last five years. Beyond terrorism, the country is facing kidnapping for ransom, banditry, communal violence, attacks on schools, illegal arms circulation, and insecurity around critical infrastructure and rural communities.

ALSO READ: Two Pakistanis to be executed for raping French tourist in front of her three children

The Federal Government has made efforts through military operations, intelligence-led interventions, hostage rescues, police reform discussions, and initiatives such as forest guards to reduce criminal activities. These efforts should be acknowledged. However, if citizens still cannot travel safely, farm safely, or conduct business without fear, then more still needs to be done. Insecurity also has socio-economic consequences, affecting investment, food production, education, and community trust.

Nigeria’s security challenges must therefore be addressed through a multilayered strategy that integrates force, intelligence, justice, education, economic inclusion, technology, and community engagement. Security must not only protect lives; it must also restore hope.

How would you describe the relationship between personal security and national security? To proffer sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges, which — personal security or national security — should be prioritised?

Personal security and national security are deeply interconnected. National security protects the state and its institutions, while personal security focuses on the safety and well-being of citizens and communities. A country cannot truly be considered secure if citizens cannot travel safely, access schools, farm, or run businesses without fear. National security should ultimately translate into personal security.

Rather than prioritising one over the other, Nigeria needs a human-centred security approach where strong institutions work alongside community engagement, access to justice, economic opportunities, and social inclusion. When citizens feel protected and included, they become active partners in strengthening national security.

You are one of the organisers of the first Nigerian Private Security Conference, which will hold on June 13 in Abuja. What is this conference about, and why is it important to the security sector?

The Nigerian Private Security Conference is designed to bring together government stakeholders, private security companies, defence institutions, technology providers, policymakers, and academics to discuss the future of security in Nigeria.

The conference is important because insecurity has become too complex for the government alone to address. The private sector already plays a major role in protecting businesses, infrastructure, and communities, but there is still a need for stronger collaboration, innovation, regulation, and integration.

The conference will address issues such as public-private partnerships, security technology, intelligence sharing, critical infrastructure protection, and local capacity development. Ultimately, the goal is to move conversations from complaints to practical solutions that strengthen Nigeria’s security ecosystem.

What involvement or cooperation is your team getting from the government and political leaders regarding the conference, and even after the conference?

We have received encouraging engagement from government stakeholders and political leaders, reflecting growing recognition that Nigeria’s security challenges require stronger public-private collaboration.

The conference, being chaired by the Honourable Minister of Defence, demonstrates institutional support and highlights the importance of building a more coordinated security ecosystem. We are also engaging stakeholders across defence institutions, law enforcement agencies, regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Beyond the event itself, our focus is on implementation. We want the conference to create lasting partnerships around policy reforms, critical infrastructure protection, technology adoption, intelligence sharing, and local capacity development.

How much in monetary value or potential do you think the Nigerian private security market is worth? And what can be done to properly harness this potential to secure the country?

Nigeria’s private security market is already substantial but still underdeveloped. The sector employs over one million Nigerians and includes guarding services, surveillance technology, cybersecurity, emergency response, and critical infrastructure protection. With increasing demand from businesses, estates, schools, logistics companies, and government-linked projects, the market has the potential to become a multi-billion-dollar industry.

To properly harness this potential, Nigeria needs stronger regulation, licensing standards, training, technology adoption, insurance structures, and better collaboration between government and private security providers. Private security companies should evolve beyond guarding into intelligence, technology, and risk-management support systems that complement national security efforts.

Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) tools are heavily deployed these days to solve complex security problems. In your work, how have you explored these tools to secure private and public infrastructures?

Technology and AI have become essential because threats today are faster and more complex. In our work, we use intelligent surveillance, centralised monitoring, remote asset tracking, and smart locking technologies to improve visibility and response times.

We have deployed AI-enabled monitoring solutions that support intrusion detection, anomaly identification, and faster incident response across public and private infrastructure projects. For critical infrastructure, centralised command capabilities improve situational awareness and operational efficiency.

My philosophy is simple: AI should augment human decision-making, not replace it. Effective security remains a combination of people, processes, and technology working together.

What policies, laws, investments, or systems would you recommend that would encourage and prioritise the manufacture and usage of indigenous defence tools in addressing insecurity in Nigeria?

Nigeria needs stronger implementation of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 and policies that actively support local manufacturing. Government procurement policies should prioritise indigenous manufacturers where capabilities exist.mWe also need sustainable financing mechanisms such as defence industrial funds, grants, and tax incentives because defence manufacturing is capital-intensive. Beyond funding, defence talent development is critical. Nigeria must deliberately invest in engineers, cybersecurity professionals, AI specialists, researchers, and manufacturing experts through stronger collaboration between universities, research institutions, industry, and the military.

Finally, indigenous defence production should not only be viewed as a security issue, but also as an economic strategy that creates jobs, strengthens local capacity, reduces foreign dependence, and improves national resilience.

How do you offer leadership in the security sector, or support and encourage women to go into the sector, which is dominated by men?

Leadership in the security sector, for me, is about creating pathways for others and demonstrating that diverse backgrounds can thrive in security. I lead through continuous learning and adaptability. My own transition from law and international relations into defence, security technology, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) is something I openly share to encourage others, especially women, who may think they need a traditional security background to succeed.

I strongly believe in mentorship, knowledge sharing, and representation. I encourage women to explore areas such as cybersecurity, intelligence, risk management, compliance, and security technology while continuously developing their skills and confidence.

What advice do you have for Nigerians on how best to secure themselves and contribute to the security of the country?

My advice to Nigerians is that security must become a shared responsibility. The government has a constitutional responsibility to protect citizens, but security works best when communities and individuals also participate actively.

We need stronger unity, community engagement, and responsible information sharing. Citizens should embrace the principle of “see something, say something” because timely reporting can prevent threats from escalating.

The government must also strengthen justice, accountability, education, economic opportunities, and citizen inclusion because insecurity often thrives where poverty, exclusion, and lack of trust exist.

Ultimately, sustainable security requires cooperation between the government and citizens. Security is everyone’s business.