In an increasingly digital world, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated, especially for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working tirelessly across Africa. Recognizing this critical need, Mother of All Nations Foundation, in partnership with Salzic Global Limited and Global Fund for Children, took a proactive step by organizing the first ever Africa NGO Cybersecurity Training
Held on Thursday, July 4, 2024 virtually, the training, themed “Empowering NGOs for a Safer Digital Tomorrow: Protect Your Impact,” successfully brought together 50 participants from 40 different NGOs across Africa,, which include the Street Children Empowerment Foundation (Ghana), TATAC (Uganda), Implicit Effect (Uganda), The Paideia Project (Zambia), and Move the World (Ghana), amongst many. This initiative addressed the growing vulnerability of NGOs to cybercrime, which experts estimate has seen an alarming 11% annual increase since 2018, with a significant portion attributed to human error.
Zico Ishaq Abubakar Newton, Executive Director and Certified Information Systems Security Management professional at Mother of All Nations Foundation, emphasized the critical role NGOs play in community development and their increasing reliance on technology. He drew a parallel between the essential use of accounting principles in organizations and the importance of cybersecurity for NGOs. “To sustain our impact in this rapidly advancing digital age, it is essential to safeguard our data,” Newton stated.
The training program was carefully designed to equip NGOs with the skills to prioritize cybersecurity, acknowledging the evolving digital landscape. By enhancing their cybersecurity posture, NGOs can better protect themselves, their partners, beneficiaries, and the overall impact of their work.
Engineer Yakubu Lantam Abdul-Jabar, Co-Founder of Coldsis IT Solutions, further highlighted the vulnerabilities NGOs face in cyberspace. He urged NGO leaders to prioritize continuous training for their employees to effectively combat threats and intrusions that could potentially affect their finances and data.
This impactful project was made possible through the collaboration with Coldsis IT Solutions, Quran Klink, Express Phenomenon, and Thenewgh Multimedia. The organizers have expressed their commitment to making this a continuous effort, with the aim of ensuring that NGOs across Africa can navigate the digital world with confidence and security.
