Some people build companies; others build communities. Innocent Paul Ojo does both, and he does it with heart.
As the Founder and CEO of CoreDefense (UK), Innocent is redefining what it means to lead with purpose, blending cutting-edge cybersecurity innovation with a passion for mentorship and youth empowerment.
His journey reminds us that true leadership isn’t about building technology alone, but about building people, inspiring trust, and creating lasting opportunities.
From mentoring aspiring professionals to guiding enterprise security transformations across the UK, Innocent shows that leadership in technology isn’t just about technical excellence, it’s about compassion, clarity, and community.
Since 2022, he has trained and mentored over 50 young people through his Cybersecurity Awareness and Digital Safety Programme, helping many transition into tech roles, including mentees like Abel Okudu, now thriving in the tech space. His belief is simple: access to knowledge should never be limited by background.
Today, Innocent leads CoreDefense’s mission to make AI-driven cybersecurity and explainable intelligence accessible to organisations worldwide, all while remaining a trusted voice in the community.
He has shared his insights at events like the BCS Hertfordshire 51st Anniversary Conference, advocating for transparent AI, ethical hacking, and sustainable digital innovation.
In this interview, he opens up about what fuels his work, the milestones that shaped his journey, and why empowering others remains at the heart of his mission.
CA: Innocent, your journey into cybersecurity is inspiring. Can you take us back to how it all began? What inspired you to start the company?
Innocent: My journey into cybersecurity began with curiosity, the kind that questions how systems work, and more importantly, how they fail. I started out fascinated by how technology connects people, but quickly realised that connection without protection is vulnerability.
Early in my career, I worked across data security and incident response roles where I saw firsthand how complex cybersecurity looked from the outside. That complexity often discouraged smaller organisations from taking it seriously.
I wanted to change that narrative, to make cybersecurity smarter, simpler, and more transparent. That vision became the foundation of CoreDefense Limited, a company built on explainable intelligence and trust-driven innovation.
CA: That’s powerful. CoreDefense was founded to make cybersecurity smarter and more transparent. What key milestones have marked your progress so far?
Innocent: One of our proudest milestones was helping clients transform their visibility and response posture through AI-driven, explainable cybersecurity frameworks.
We designed CoreDefense to close the gap between security data and executive understanding, to make risk measurable and security actionable.
A major milestone was the Tribase collaboration, where our solution led to a 98% reduction in critical vulnerabilities within 60 days. Beyond metrics, the real success came from how Tribease’s team evolved, building resilience, governance, and confidence to grow securely.
We’ve also expanded our platform’s reach to support SMEs, critical infrastructure providers, and educational initiatives, ensuring that cybersecurity awareness grows alongside innovation.
CA: That 98% drop in vulnerabilities within 60 days is remarkable. What key factors made that success possible?
Innocent: Two things: partnership and clarity. We didn’t just deploy a tool, we co-created a process. Tribease’s leadership understood that cybersecurity is cultural before it’s technical.
We implemented continuous vulnerability monitoring, coupled with explainable AI dashboards, allowing non-technical teams to visualise risk in real time. By making security data understandable, the teams became proactive, not reactive. That mindset shift made all the difference.
CA: Interesting! You often describe trust as the new currency of the digital economy. What does that mean to you as a leader?
Innocent: Trust determines whether technology thrives or fails. In today’s digital economy, every click, transaction, and data exchange depends on one simple question: Do I trust this system?
As a leader, trust is my design principle. It influences how I build teams, develop technology, and engage with clients.
For me, cybersecurity isn’t just about protection, it’s about preserving confidence in how people use technology. When organisations understand that, security moves from being a cost to being a catalyst for growth.
CA: That’s such an empowering perspective. As an African entrepreneur building from the UK, your story blends two powerful worlds. How has your background influenced the way you lead and innovate?
Innocent: Growing up in Africa taught me resilience; building in the UK taught me structure. Together, they’ve shaped how I think about innovation. Africa’s tech ecosystem thrives on creativity and adaptability, while the UK offers rigour and frameworks.
At CoreDefense, I blend both worlds, agility with governance, innovation with accountability. That duality allows us to solve problems globally while staying deeply connected to local realities.
It’s also why inclusion and cultural diversity are embedded in our DNA, innovation happens when multiple perspectives converge.
CA: Speaking of inclusion, you’re known for mentoring young technologists and advocating for diversity in tech. Why is inclusion such a vital part of innovation for you?
Innocent: Because exclusion is the enemy of innovation. Technology that isn’t inclusive eventually becomes irrelevant.
I volunteer as a mentor through the Centre for Cyber Safety (ISC)² and also mentor students in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, helping them explore cybersecurity careers.
Mentorship, to me, is about giving clarity where I once had confusion. Seeing mentees secure roles or start their own journeys is a reminder that talent is universal, opportunity isn’t. Inclusion bridges that gap.
When diverse voices build technology, it becomes safer, fairer, and smarter.
CA: Beautifully said. CoreDefense connects African creativity with global cybersecurity standards. How do you see this shaping the future of digital resilience?
Innocent: Digital resilience will increasingly rely on collaboration between regions, industries, and disciplines. Africa’s innovation mindset, combined with global best practices, is producing a new model of cybersecurity leadership: local insight, global standards.
At CoreDefense, we’re working to make our AI-powered models accessible to emerging markets while maintaining enterprise-grade governance. The goal is to prove that cybersecurity excellence doesn’t depend on geography, it depends on vision.
CA: That’s a powerful statement, “cybersecurity excellence depends on vision.” CoreDefense is expanding its reach from Africa to the UK and beyond. What exciting projects or milestones are on the horizon?
Innocent: We’re focused on AI explainability, vulnerability governance, and cross-sector resilience, bringing transparency into how security decisions are made.
On the human side, we’re launching an expanded mentorship and internship pathway, connecting young professionals from Africa and the UK to real-world cybersecurity projects.
I’m also continuing my advocacy through talks at BSides events, the British Computer Society (BCS), and community programmes that encourage ethical innovation.
Ultimately, our next chapter is about scale and sustainability, securing not just systems, but futures.
CA: I love how purpose and innovation go hand in hand for you. What keeps you motivated about cybersecurity and mentorship?
Innocent: Cybersecurity is more than a profession, it’s a form of service. Every secure system we build protects people’s trust. Every young person we mentor multiplies that protection. I stay motivated by seeing others grow, that’s the real impact.
CA: That’s truly inspiring. Before we wrap up, what does CoreDefense represent to you personally?
Innocent: CoreDefense is my way of showing that Africa can lead in advanced cybersecurity innovation. It’s a bridge between AI, trust, and human understanding, proof that technology and empathy can coexist. Our goal is to make resilience measurable, explainable, and inclusive.
CA: Such a powerful vision. What message would you like to leave with young Africans looking to build a career in tech?
Innocent: Don’t wait for permission to start. Learn, experiment, fail fast, and keep building. The cybersecurity industry needs diverse thinkers, and Africa is full of them. Your background isn’t a barrier; it’s your unique advantage
To learn more about Innocent Paul Ojo, his work with CoreDefense, and his contributions to cybersecurity innovation and mentorship, visit www.coredefense.co.uk.
