Hackathon: ECOWAS, NITDA Foster Cybersecurity Expertise in West Africa
0
0
Hackathon: ECOWAS, NITDA Foster Cybersecurity Expertise in West Africa
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have successfully hosted a regional cybersecurity hackathon, bringing together talented young minds from 12 West African countries.
The 30-hour competition, held in Abuja, Nigeria, aimed to identify and nurture cybersecurity experts to combat the growing threat of cybercrime in the region.
TeamERROR from Nigeria emerged third, winning a cash prize of $6,000 and laptops for each team member.
M3V7R from Benin Republic took second place, receiving $8,000 and laptops, while Shell X Roots from Cote d’Ivoire won first prize, earning $10,000 and laptops.
Hannah Bangoura from Sierra Leone was recognized as the Best Female Participant, highlighting the growing influence of women in cybersecurity across West Africa.
NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Oladejo Olawumi, emphasized the importance of harnessing young people’s energy and creativity to address cybersecurity challenges.
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray stressed the urgency of protecting the region’s cyberspace and the role of collaboration in achieving this goal.
The hackathon featured training programs sponsored by donors and partners to enhance participants’ skills. Out of 5,341 participants, 1,362 were female, showcasing women’s significant contributions to cybersecurity in the region.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, Seido Douko, commended the participants’ dedication to addressing cybersecurity challenges.
The event coincided with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, with NITDA conducting extensive awareness campaigns to educate the public about trending cyber threats and how to stay safe.
