Inaugural Cyberweek Africa 2023 :Bridging the Cybersecurity Skills Gap
The University of Nairobi played host to the inaugural Cyber Week Africa 2023 event from October 30th – 1st November, a three-day conference that aimed to address critical issues in cybersecurity. The central theme of the event was "Bridging the Cybersecurity Skills Gap in Africa," emphasizing the urgent need to develop and cultivate cybersecurity expertise across the continent.
Organized by Cyberpro Global, a renowned provider of educational technologies and cybersecurity training solutions, the event brought the academia, government institutions, private sectors, industry leaders, and funding agencies, with a shared mission of bridging the cybersecurity skills gap on the African continent, exchange of knowledge and delve into emerging trends, and envision the future of cyber defense.
The first day of the conference focused on an array of cybersecurity topics, ranging from cybersecurity education to cyber-attacks, the role of women in cybersecurity, collaborative strategies against cybercriminals, and government intervention in cybersecurity. The central theme of the event was "Bridging the Cybersecurity Skills Gap in Africa," emphasizing the urgent need to develop and cultivate cybersecurity expertise across the continent.
Academia played a pivotal role in driving innovation, generating new knowledge, and educating future professionals in the field of cybersecurity. The inclusion of academia in Cyberweek ensured a diversity of perspectives and cutting-edge research, making it an ideal platform for academics to both contribute to and benefit from the cybersecurity community.
The keynote speech was delivered by Haider Chaudhary, a cybersecurity expert who focused on the ‘status of cybersecurity education and training in Kenya’. He highlighted the vulnerability of Africa to cyber threats and emphasized the need for collaboration and working together to address the continent's cybersecurity challenges. Chaudhary emphasized that Africa, despite having the largest population in the world, had been somewhat neglected in the realm of cybersecurity.
Sanjiv Sharma, the Director of EC-Council, highlighted the critical nature of cybersecurity in today's digital landscape. He emphasized that businesses with a digital footprint were vulnerable to cyberattacks in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and technology. The demand for cybersecurity skills in Africa was soaring, but there was a significant gap in meeting this demand. Sharma attributed this gap to limited education, a lack of awareness, and economic challenges that hindered investment in the cybersecurity sector. r Sanjiv Sharma further presented a grim perspective on the global cybercrime landscape, comparing it to the GDP of major countries, illustrating the immense economic impact of cybercrime. He stressed that the vulnerability of systems to cyberattacks made cybersecurity one of the most promising career opportunities.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kiama, represented by Prof. Jack Odhiambo, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, acknowledged the significance of the conference and the need to address cybercrime urgently. He emphasized the need for cooperation between industry, academia, and government to combat the evolving threat of cybercrime effectively ad to develop innovative solutions to counter these threats.
Prof. Kiama’s speech also pointed out that cybercrimes often-involved young individuals, many of whom were university students. This demographic present an untapped potential for combating cybercrimes, and he encouraged the collective efforts of industry, academia, and government to harness this resource effectively.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. Leonida Kerubo, expressed her hope for strong collaborations with partners, including the Ministry of ICT and Cyberpro She stressed the importance of raising awareness of cybersecurity and equipping students with essential skills to tackle modern challenges. She concludeud by noting the Faculty of Science and Technology was eager to collaborate with organizations like Cyberpro to establish a Center of Excellence dedicated to cybersecurity at the proposed Science and Engineering complex.
The day featured thought-provoking panel discussions that delved into the current state of cybersecurity education and training in Africa. These discussions covered a range of critical aspects, including knowledge sharing, innovation, advanced skill development, policy and regulation development, funding opportunities, cybersecurity awareness, public-private partnerships, threat detection, mitigation, and global collaboration. The panels also emphasized the importance of building a pipeline of cyber talent through cybersecurity education, practical training, research, innovation, and the development of national cybersecurity hubs. Additionally, there was a call to strengthen cyber resilience through committed leadership by government, support for critical national infrastructure, collaboration with businesses and academia, and active participation of every citizen in promoting a secure and progressive society.
In summary, the Cyberweek Africa 2023 conference provided a platform for stakeholders to come together, discuss critical cybersecurity issues, and work towards bridging the cybersecurity skills gap in Africa. With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, the conference underscored the urgency of collaboration and innovation in the field of cybersecurity to secure a safer digital future for the continent.
