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The American Business Council (ABC) has partnered with Comercio Ltd., Nithub, Cisco, and the University of Lagos to launch a cyber hub aimed at building the capacity of young technology enthusiasts and creating a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem. The hub will focus on education, training, innovation, research, and policy development to enhance cybersecurity in Africa. It aims to address the growing gap of 100,000 certified cybersecurity professionals in Africa and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness. The ABC hopes to attract cyber enthusiasts in the educational sector who can contribute to Nigeria’s digital sector and export their talents under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Key points:
- The American Business Council has launched a cyber hub in partnership with Comercio Ltd., Nithub, Cisco, and the University of Lagos.
- The cyber hub aims to build the capacity of young technology enthusiasts and create a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem.
- It will focus on education, training, innovation, research, and policy development to enhance cybersecurity in Africa.
- The hub aims to address the growing gap of 100,000 certified cybersecurity professionals in Africa and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness.
- The ABC hopes to attract cyber enthusiasts in the educational sector to contribute to Nigeria’s digital sector and potentially export their talents.
With the launch of the cybersecurity hub, the ABC aims to address the shortage of certified cybersecurity professionals in Africa. According to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, there is currently a 100,000 person gap in cybersecurity professionals in Africa. The cyber hub will focus on building and enhancing the human capacity for cybersecurity through education, training, innovation, research, and policy development. It will also promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness and resilience among the public and private sectors through national campaigns and multilateral engagements.
The cyber hub will provide training opportunities and competitions for cyber enthusiasts in the educational sector, who can then seek jobs in Nigeria’s digital sector and contribute to the struggling cyber ecosystem. The ABC envisions expanding the hub beyond Nigeria and potentially exporting these talents under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Investing in cybersecurity is crucial to safeguard businesses from cyber attacks and preserve the investment ecosystem. The ABC urges both the government and private sector players to enhance investments in cybersecurity. The cyber hub aims to attract cyber enthusiasts in the educational sector to capitalize on the cybersecurity training opportunities and competitions.
The hub will also address the high cost of cyber defense for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and promote the use of affordable cyber tools. Dr. Bala Fakandu, Manager of the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team, emphasizes the need to invest in affordable cyber tools to address the cyber defense expenditure for MSMEs. He advises businesses to establish a community to share infrastructure and resources to protect their cybersecurity investments and prevent falling prey to cyber criminals.
The cyber hub aims to create a talent factory that meets international standards and addresses the shortage of cybersecurity experts not only in Nigeria but across the world. By providing exposure and training, the hub aims to feed the shortage of cybersecurity experts and contribute to economic growth and stability.
