The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have joined forces with other stakeholders to boost the capacity and skills of West African youths in protecting the region’s cyber space. This partnership culminated in the 3rd ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon Challenge 2024, a two-day event held in Abuja.
The hackathon aimed to harness the talents of young people to combat cybercrime, which knows no borders. Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions Oladejo Olawumi emphasized the importance of collaboration between ECOWAS, NITDA, governments, private sector concerns and academia to tackle cybercrime.
ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Infrastructure Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, highlighted the hackathon’s role in identifying and supporting young talent in new technology. By enhancing the cyber workforce, the region’s stability and security are strengthened.
The competition provided participants with hands-on experience, updating them on the latest cybersecurity challenges and techniques. Douka encouraged youths to leverage this experience to perform better and contribute to building a resilient cyber space.
The event concluded with awards for winners and participants, motivating them to deepen the industry and protect digital infrastructure as NITDA pledged continued support for future events.
