*Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency and Economic Community of West African States organise cybersecurity hackathon to identify and nurture young cybersecurity towards combating the growing threat of cybercrime in the region

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

In regard to continued efforts at securing the region’s cyberspace, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have collaborated to empower West African youths with the requisite skills and knowledge.

绿帽献妻 reports NITDA in conjunction with ECOWAS recently organised a regional security hackathon held in Abuja, FCT, where young participants from across West Africa showcased their talent and potential.

The objective of the regional event was to identify and nurture cybersecurity experts who can combat the growing threat of cybercrime in the region.

Speaking at the event, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, represented by Mr. Oladejo Olawumi, Director of IT Infrastructure Solution at the agency, emphasised the importance of harnessing the energy and creativity of young people to address cybersecurity challenges.

Inuwa stressed the need for countries to adhere to regional regulations and implement robust measures to protect critical institutions across West Africa.

He further stressed the importance of tapping into the region’s youthful talent to combat cybercrime.

NITDA also acknowledged importance of the ongoing commitment to supporting future initiatives.

“The vibrant competition within the technology sector is encouraging.

“By harnessing the energy and creativity of our youth, we can effectively fight cybercrime and prevent them from engaging in criminal activities,” the Director-General stated.

In his remarks at the event, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the urgency of protecting the region’s cyberspace and the role of the hackathon in identifying and supporting talented individuals.

Dr. Touray emphasised the significance of collaboration between ECOWAS, NITDA, governments, private sector, and the academia in making the programme a success.

The Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency further disclosed the hackathon, which was the third in the series, attracted participants from 12 West African countries.

It stated both the winners and participants received cash prizes and gift items as recognition for their achievements.

According to NITDA, besides the competition, the event included training programmes sponsored by donors and partners to further enhance the skills of the young participants.

How the winners emerged

NITDA noted after 30 hours of intense competition, the TeamERROR from Nigeria emerged third and got a cash prize of $6000 with laptops for each member of the team.

Whereas the M3V7R team from Benin Republic came second with a cash prize of $8,000 and laptops for its members, the First Prize went to Shell X Roots from Cote d鈥橧voire with a cash prize of $10,000 and laptops for members of the group.

A highlight of the event was the recognition of Hannah Bangoura from Sierra Leone, who won the Best Female Participant award, said the agency.

The Nigerian IT sector regulator said Bangoura’s achievement underscored the growing influence of women in the field of cybersecurity across the West African subregion.

On ECOWAS commitment to promoting regional unity, cybersecurity

Earlier at the opening of the competition in Abuja, Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, in his address, had commended ECOWAS for its commitment to promoting regional unity in addressing cybersecurity.

In connection with objective of the event, he emphasised that the Hackathon represents a powerful symbol of unity and cooperation among ECOWAS member states.

“As threats become increasingly sophisticated and transnational, collaboration between nations is no longer optional, but essential.

“Making partnerships with relevant Cybersecurity outfits in various countries and a call for global Cybersecurity strategies is vital,” NITDA Chief stated.

Inuwa explained that the global Cybersecurity workforce places a gap with billions of jobs unfilled for the coming years.

He said the Hackathon was a response to that challenge.

Inuwa also explained that participants need to be provided with opportunities to showcase their abilities to ensure that the youths have pathways to recognition, employment, and growth in this field.

He noted: “Our efforts also extend to fostering home-grown solutions towards our annual Hackathons, which offer startups to showcase real world problems.

“This Hackathon coincides with the National Cybersecurity Awareness month, during which we conduct extensive awareness to educate the public about the trending cyber threats and how to stay safe.”

Inuwa equally said the Hackathon competition witnessed 1,500 teams participate, including 139 teams led by female captains. With 1,362 female participants out of 5,341, the event highlighted the significant contributions women make to Cybersecurity in the region.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, Mr. Seido Douko, while welcoming the participants, commended their dedication to addressing the pressing Cybersecurity challenges affecting the region

“ECOWAS passionately believes in harnessing the power of innovation and collaboration to drive progress.

“As technology continues to evolve, mere vigilance is no longer enough.

“To stay ahead of emerging threats, we must foster adaptability, creativity, and collaboration across borders, building a robust and resilient cyber ecosystem that benefits all member states,” said he.

The Director-General stated: “Today’s event embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation, bringing together talented young minds to tackle a critical regional challenge.

“It is not just about competition, but about collective contribution and creativity, fostering innovative solutions that will drive meaningful change and resilience in our region.”

Emphasising that the competition is more than just a contest but a collaborative effort at combating cyberthreats, Inuwa advocated a push to the boundaries of what is possible, harnessing collective creativity and expertise to develop innovative solutions.

The 30-hour ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon competition brought together over 40 young and talented technology enthusiasts from 14 countries in the West African sub-region.

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