FirstBank Re-elected Payment Card Security Standard Council Board

FirstBank of Nigeria Limited said it has been re-elected into the Board of Advisors of the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), for the third consecutive time. 

PCI SSC is an open, global forum for the development of payment card security standards. 

The PCI Security Standards Council, works with organisations around the world to protect businesses and consumers against data theft by continuously developing new payment security standards, cyber security training courses, and certification programmes. According to a statement, the Head of Information Security Operations at FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Lara Nwokedi, has been representing the bank on the Board of PCI SSC in the fight against payment fraud and data breaches globally.

Nwokedi, a payment card industry professional, security lead auditor and implementer, has many years’ ofexperience in information security and has led several initiatives in the bank.

FirstBank has been the only African Bank elected to the PCI SSC Board since its inception. It stated that its re-election into the Board underpinned its commitment to the protection of customer assets and information. 

According to the MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, “FirstBank has continued to maintain a safe and secure environment for customer transactions despite the challenges posed by rapid changes in technology and the operating environment. In recognition of the Bank’s interventions in abating card data theft, the PCI Security Standards Council through an open and well contested electoral process re-elected FirstBank on its Board of Advisors, a feat which no African Bank has achieved in the long history of the PCI SSC”. 

Commenting on the appointments, PCI SSC General Manager, Stephen W. Orfei said: “The new PCI SSC Board of Advisors represents the very best and brightest from some of the most impressive companies and organisations in the world. We are grateful for their willingness to serve and join us in our battle against cybercrime. The input and direction we receive from our Board of Advisors is highly valued, and we look forward to getting down to work with this outstanding group. We all share the same goal of securing payment data globally.”