Browsing: Cybersecurity skills gap in Africa

• A total of 77 people, including 22 Chinese and a Cameroonian, all suspects in an elaborate cybercrime ring in Zambia targeting thousands of people across the world, have been arrested in a crackdown. 
• Masquerading as call centre agents, Zambian youth were recruited into conning people via Telegram and WhatsApp platforms.
• Authorities in Zambia say the scam affected people in Singapore, Peru, the UAE, and some African countries.

In Zambia’s posh Roma district, the morning African sun barely peeked through the offices of Golden Top Support Services. This company had promised scores of respectable jobs to young Zambians as call centre agents.

Instead, it had covertly plunged them into the depths of a sprawling cybercrime syndicate. This chilling reality came to light following a decisive raid led by the country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), exposing a narrative that conjures up the global challenges of cybercrime.

This operation was a huge score …

• The demand for cybersecurity skills in Africa has increased by 35% over the past year.
• Africa has a significant digital skills gap, which could create 650 million training opportunities and a $130 billion market by 2030.
• An increasing number of companies are working to develop programs to reduce the IT skills gap on the continent.
  

Over the past few years, Africa is facing a significant digital skills gap, which is stunting growth of economies for the majority of the continent’s nations. 

A study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) indicates that by 2030, about 230 million jobs across the continent will require some level of digital skills. These opportunities have the potential of giving rise to 650 million training opportunities and an estimated $130 billion market.

To harness the emerging opportunities, an increasing number of local and international firms are developing programs to help reduce the IT skills gap on …