Sycom Integrated Solutions Ltd has urged governments, universities, industry players, and professional bodies to work together to bridge Africa's shortage of cybersecurity experts, warning that technology alone won't protect the continent's digital future.
The consulting firm noted that Africa is undergoing rapid digital transformation across government, finance, healthcare, education, and business sectors. Yet the lack of skilled cybersecurity professionals threatens to derail this progress, the company cautioned.
Abdulrahman Akanbi, the firm's chief executive officer, stressed that cybersecurity has become central to economic strength, investor confidence, national security, and public trust. "Africa's digital economy is only as strong as the people capable of protecting it," he said.
According to Akanbi, the real problem isn't the unavailability of cybersecurity tools but rather the shortage of qualified professionals who can deploy and manage them. "Technology alone cannot solve the cybersecurity challenge," he explained.
"We must deliberately invest in developing skilled professionals who can defend our digital future."
To tackle this gap, Sycom launched Sycom Academy, a training and workforce development initiative. The company also created the African Cybersecurity Scholarship Programme to help aspiring professionals access internationally recognised education, mentoring, certifications, career guidance, and hands-on training.
The scholarship initiative has already helped professionals from several African countries secure cybersecurity positions in local and international organisations, Sycom said.
"Africa does not have a talent shortage," Akanbi told reporters. "It has an opportunity gap.
Our goal is to remove financial barriers and create pathways that allow talented young Africans to build successful careers in cybersecurity."
Sycom announced a strategic partnership with Babcock University to produce industry-ready cybersecurity graduates. Students will work with industry mentors, attend professional workshops, pursue certifications, complete internships, and undertake practical projects throughout their studies.
This model means graduates will leave university with academic qualifications, internationally recognised certifications, practical experience, professional networks, and readiness for the workplace, the company explained.
Employers also benefit by seeing the gap between university education and industry needs narrow, while securing a dependable pipeline of talent for Africa's expanding digital economy, Sycom noted.
The firm called on governments to boost investment in digital skills training, universities to deepen ties with employers, private companies to expand mentoring and internship programmes, and professional bodies to improve access to global certifications.
"No single organisation can solve Africa's cybersecurity skills challenge alone," Akanbi added. "Building a secure digital future requires collaboration between education, industry, and government."
