-FG Calls On Nigerians To Apply For The Hackathon
News Highlights:
- The Hackathon aims to equip citizens across the region with essential cybersecurity skills.
- Federal Government encourages Nigerian youths and IT enthusiasts to join the hackathon.
- Registration for the 2024 ECOWAS Hackathon is open to citizens of ECOWAS member countries.
The Federal Government has invited Nigerian youths and IT enthusiasts to participate in the Economic Community of West Africa’s (ECOWAS) Cybersecurity Hackathon by joining the ‘Capture the Flag’ (CTF) competition.
Digital TimesNG understands that the event organised by ECOWAS and hosted by Nigeria in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, and NITDA, aims to equip citizens across the region with essential cybersecurity skills.
The Cybersecurity Hackathon offers a fantastic opportunity for both beginners and experienced professionals to explore the world of cybersecurity, gain new skills, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.
All talented individuals and teams are encouraged to participate in this exciting competition where they are expected to showcase their skills, work with peers, and push the limits of cybersecurity.
The competition offers young Nigerians and IT enthusiasts the opportunity to join the talent pool advancing cyberspace security for the country and West Africa as a whole.
While the hackathon provides a platform for young technology enthusiasts, boosting the cyber workforce in the region, Nigerian youths are especially encouraged to participate and display their talents in this competition.
“Whether you’re a cybersecurity novice or a seasoned expert, this event offers a unique chance to acquire new skills and network with fellow cyber enthusiasts,” said Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA.
ECOWAS Hackathon is an annual ethical hacking competition that brings together top cybersecurity talents from across ECOWAS, providing a unique opportunity to showcase skills, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote excellence in the field of cybersecurity.
The first edition took place in Porto Novo, Benin Republic in 2022 and in Lome, Togo in 2023.
Registration for the 2024 ECOWAS Hackathon opened on July 19 and ends on August 5, 2024
For any potential applicant to be eligible, such an applicant must be a citizen of an ECOWAS member country; travel tickets will be provided for participants residing within the region; teams must consist of 3-4 members, with at least one female participant; and participants must be between 17 and 35 years of age.
This initiative came at the time of a recent report by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), which highlighted a global gap of four million unfilled cybersecurity jobs.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is addressing this talent shortage through its 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
The programme aims to train three million Nigerians in technical skills, including cybersecurity.
Interested persons can register for the Capture the Flag (CTF) competition by registering at https://ecowasctf.ng](https://ecowasctf.ng)