Nigerian audit expert leads U.S. cybersecurity reforms and oversight

When Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Information Technology Audits (BITA) sought fresh expertise for its most sensitive systems, including the state’s SAP enterprise platform and election-vital voter registration database, they looked beyond borders and passports.

Their answer? Chinenye Marylyn Akinola is a Nigerian-born audit and cybersecurity powerhouse whose career already spans three continents, nine regulatory frameworks, and more than $12 billion in audited assets.

In 2024, Akinola was appointed Assistant Director at BITA by Pennsylvania’s Auditor General. Her portfolio includes overseeing IT controls testing across state agencies, managing cyber-risk governance, and modernizing data analytics strategies.

One of her landmark achievements was introducing a unified audit methodology that boosted transparency, improved agency collaboration, and shortened compliance reporting timelines. Her innovations brought measurable improvements to the public sector’s digital oversight.

Akinola also launched the state’s first centralised audit data repository, housing seven years of historical audit findings. This new system drastically reduced audit cycle times and saved the state millions in potential federal claw-backs. It has since become a model for other states exploring digital modernization.

Before taking the reins in U.S. public-sector audits, Akinola made waves at NCR Nigeria PLC, a subsidiary of global ATM provider NCR Atleos. There, her forensic investigation into procurement processes exposed a ₦1.5 million fraud ring. The reforms she initiated are now cited by West African regulators.

Akinola’s experience also spans audit leadership roles in the United Kingdom and India, where she assessed ERP systems, post-acquisition controls, and data-centre security. Her work across jurisdictions consistently protected terabytes of sensitive data and ensured international compliance with cybersecurity, privacy, and disaster recovery standards.

Akinola’s audit leadership and cybersecurity vision are directly aligned with the U.S. national priorities outlined in the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy and championed by CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency). Her expertise in risk-based auditing, access controls, and data privacy makes her a strategic player in building national cyber resilience.

Whether it’s crafting disaster recovery plans or safeguarding high-risk systems, her work reinforces public trust in digital governance and sets a gold standard for emerging audit professionals globally.

From Nigeria to Pennsylvania, Chinenye Marylyn Akinola continues to leave a transformative mark across sectors and continents. Her story is proof that the future of global audit leadership is being shaped by professionals fluent in Python scripts, policy codes and passports.