Confidence Staveley is Nigeria’s leading female cybersecurity expert and the founder of the CyberSafe Foundation. She’s a Forbes Technology Council member, bestselling author of “API Security for White Hat Hackers,” and a passionate advocate for getting more women into cybersecurity. With certifications like CISSP, CSSLP, and CCISO, plus recognition as a Top 40 Global Thought Leader in Security and Safety, she’s proven herself as someone who truly knows her craft.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Confidence Staveley |
| Date of Birth | N/A |
| Place of Birth | N/A |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Partner | Damilola Staveley (husband) |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Cybersecurity Leader, Executive Director (CyberSafe Foundation), Author, Forbes Technology Council Member, Cybersecurity Architect, CISO, Board Member, Speaker, Talent Developer |
| Net Worth | $1 million – $5 million USD |
Early Life and Education
Confidence’s journey into tech started with genuine curiosity about how technology works. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Business Information Systems from Middlesex University in London, graduating with First Class honors.
She followed that with a Master’s degree in Information Technology Management at the University of Bradford (2012–2013). Interestingly, it was an elective course on cryptology during her master’s that sparked her passion for cybersecurity and changed her career path forever.
Career
Confidence built her career step by step across technology and cybersecurity roles. She started in 2009 as a Faculty Member at Eastern Data Services Ltd, then worked for Cross River State Government as Executive Assistant and IT Officer in 2011. She gained banking security experience at Lloyds Banking Group in 2012, then returned to Nigeria as IT Specialist at Calabar International Convention Centre in 2013.
After roles in tech marketing at InfoGraphics Nigeria (2015) and as Cyber Security Analyst at UIC Innovations Africa (2016), she fully committed to cybersecurity.
She became Managing Partner at Gidinerd (2017) and Country Manager at DIGISS LLC (2019). That same year, she founded the CyberSafe Foundation and became its Executive Director—her most meaningful work.
Today she works as a Cybersecurity Architect, CISO, and Cybersecurity Board Member. She also co-founded MerkleFence, an application security consultancy. Her YouTube series “API Kitchen” uses cooking metaphors to make API Security understandable, and she founded the CyberGirls Fellowship, Africa’s largest cybersecurity training program for women.
Personal Life
Confidence Staveley is married to Damilola Staveley. The couple got engaged in 2016 and walked down the aisle in 2017. Their journey together started when they met as university classmates in 2010, transitioning from friendship to marriage.
Net Worth
Confidence Staveley’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million to $5 million USD. As an award-winning cybersecurity professional, Forbes Technology Council member, bestselling author, and founder of the CyberSafe Foundation which serves millions across Africa, she has built significant wealth through her cybersecurity architecture work, CISO consulting roles, board memberships, speaking engagements, and her application security consultancy MerkleFence.
Awards and Recognition
Confidence has collected impressive recognition throughout her career:
- Top 40 Global Thought Leader in Security and Safety (2024)
- Top 25 Leader in Cybersecurity (2024)
- IFSEC Global Influencer (2024)
- Cybersecurity Woman of the World (2023)
- 40 Under 40 in Cybersecurity (2023)
- ABCD Africa’s 50 Most Impactful Voices (2023)
- ISC2 Global Achievement Award (2023)
- Cyber Security Woman of the Year (2022)
- Meridian Global Leadership Awards Global Citizen Award (2022)
- Obama Leader’s Personal Commitment Award (2022)
- 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation, CIO Magazine (2022)
- 20 African Women of Impact, Ventures Africa (2022)
- Young CISO of the Year (2022)
- IFSEC Top Influencer in Security & Fire (2021)
- Top 10 Powerful Women in Technology, CovenWorks (2021)
- Top 50 Women in Cybersecurity in Africa Finalist (2020)
- Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria, Leading Ladies Africa (ongoing)
- 150 Fascinating Females Fighting Cybercrime, Women Know Cyber (ongoing)
