Rabat:The “Cyber Academy” executive cybersecurity training program commenced on Monday in Rabat. It is designed for leaders and technical managers from cybersecurity authorities across African countries, focusing on decision-making challenges and strategic leadership in the cybersecurity sector.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the program is organized by the General Directorate of Information Systems Security and the World Bank, in collaboration with the Smart Africa Digital Academy. It aims to enhance governance and cybersecurity capacity among African leaders, addressing challenges related to artificial intelligence and emerging cyber threats, while also developing response mechanisms and fostering cooperation among African nations.

William Zhang, Lead Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity Expert at the World Bank, highlighted the program’s critical role in global capacity-building for cybersecurity. He pointed out the growing cyber risks associated with AI and the necessity for high levels of
preparedness among sector actors to tackle these risks. Zhang also noted the resource shortages faced by many cybersecurity organizations in addressing current challenges, exacerbated by AI’s ability to detect and exploit vulnerabilities.

Rym Jarou, Director of Partnerships, Events, and Communication at the Smart Africa Digital Academy, emphasized that the program seeks to strengthen the capabilities of cybersecurity leaders to support digital transformation across Africa. She underscored the importance of equipping leaders with skills for strategic cybersecurity management amid the evolving AI landscape.

Tawfiq Ali Lakssar, Head of the Cybersecurity Unit at the Yemeni Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, stressed the necessity of establishing an executive foundation for cybersecurity leadership, focusing on leading cybersecurity units and adopting AI governance strategies. He highlighted the value of the program’s diverse tracks, which are aligned with international best practices and
facilitate expertise exchange among participating countries.

The training, running until October 8, includes interactive sessions and cyber crisis simulations, allowing participants to address practical challenges in strategic cybersecurity leadership and decision-making.