In recent years, cybersecurity has become a key issue for African countries. It has therefore become crucial to train talents in the field. 

On Tuesday, December 19, the American Business Council (ABC) launched a virtual center to train Nigerian talent in the field of cybersecurity. The aim is to bridge the skills gap in the sector.

"We are trying to create awareness for the talent gap we have in Nigeria. There is an urgent need for capacity building and upskilling the market that can help drive cybersecurity in Nigeria," said Margaret Olele, ABC’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary. 

The acceleration of digital transformation has made African nations aware of the importance of a secure cyberspace. Nigeria, one of the continent's leading technology nations, is a top performer in the cybersecurity sector. It has a national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) and a national cybersecurity strategy. According to the International Telecommunication Union's Global Cybersecurity Index 2020, the country led by Bola Tinubu ranks fourth on the continent with a score of 84.76, just behind Ghana and ahead of Kenya.

Speaking on the subject, Aderonke Adeyegbe, CEO of Commercio Limited (a Nigerian ICT company) said: “We need a talent factory that meets international standards that the students would be exposed to. This is one of the ways to bridge the shortage of cybersecurity skills in Nigeria and the world.”

Adoni Conrad Quenum