By Balarabe Oshiafi
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have joined forces to empower West African youths with the skills and knowledge needed to safeguard the region’s cyberspace.
Official reports made available to ExpressDay on Friday in Abuja disclosed that, “A regional security hackathon held in Abuja, Nigeria, showcased the potentials of young participants from across West Africa.
The event aimed to identify and nurture cybersecurity experts who can combat the growing threat of cybercrime in the region”.
NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Oladejo Olawumi, emphasised the importance of harnessing the energy and creativity of young people to address cybersecurity challenges.
He stressed the need for countries to adhere to regional regulations and implement robust measures to protect critical institutions.
Olawumi stressed the importance of tapping into the region’s youthful talent to combat cybercrime. He emphasised NITDA’s ongoing commitment to supporting future initiatives and stated that “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.”
On his part, the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, highlighted the urgency of protecting the region’s cyberspace and the role of the hackathon in identifying and supporting talented individuals. He emphasized the essence of the collaboration amongst ECOWAS,
NITDA, governments, private sector, and the academia in making the event a success.
The hackathon, which was the third in the series, attracted participants from 12 West African countries. Winners and participants received cash prizes and gift items as recognition for their achievements.
In addition to the competition, the event included training programs sponsored by donors and partners to further enhance the skills of the young participants.
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. The M3V7R team from Benin Republic came second with a cash prize of $8,000 and laptops for its members, while the First Prize went to Shell X Roots from Cote d’ Ivoire 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. Her achievement underscored the growing influence of women in the field of cybersecurity across West Africa.
Earlier at the opening of the competition in Abuja, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, commended ECOWAS for its commitment to promoting regional unity in addressing cyber security.
He emphasised that the Hackathon represents a powerful symbol of unity and cooperation among ECOWAS member states, noting that “As threats become increasingly sophisticated and transnational, collaboration amongst nations has become indispensable.
