NAIROBI, Kenya Nov 4 – Cybersecurity firm e-Crime Bureau has signed a partnership agreement with the Smart Africa Secretariat to strengthen cybersecurity capacity, innovation and digital protection across the African continent.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, November 2, seeks to promote cooperation in developing cybersecurity skills, strengthening institutional frameworks and deploying technology to safeguard Africa’s growing digital ecosystem.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum, with the two organisations identifying people, processes and technology as the three priority areas of collaboration.
Smart Africa Director General and Chief Executive Officer Lacina Koné says the partnership will support efforts to build cybersecurity expertise, enhance institutional coordination and protect critical digital infrastructure.
Koné says Africa’s digital transformation must be supported by strong security systems, noting that cybersecurity requires coordinated action, sustained investment and cooperation between governments, the private sector and international partners.
“Africa’s digital transformation can only be as strong as the systems that protect it. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires stronger cooperation, coordinated action and sustained investment in our people and institutions,” he said.
The partnership will also focus on strengthening governance and risk management, harmonising cybersecurity laws and policies, and developing a skilled workforce capable of responding to emerging digital threats.
The agreement comes as Smart Africa advances its continental cybersecurity agenda, including the development of the Continental Cybersecurity Blueprint in 2023 and the establishment of the African Network of Cybersecurity Authorities.
Meanwhile, e-Crime Bureau Executive Chairman Albert Antwi-Boasiako says the agreement marks a new chapter for the firm following its restructuring into a global cybersecurity consulting company.
Antwi-Boasiako says the firm’s international expansion, supported by operational hubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will enable it to connect expertise, technology and talent in delivering cybersecurity solutions.
“Our expansion, and our partnership with Smart Africa, marks a new era for the Bureau. Together with Smart Africa and its partners, we will drive cybersecurity development across Africa, building the skills, infrastructure and resilience the region needs to thrive in a digital economy,” he said.
The partnership builds on e-Crime Bureau’s 15 years of experience in cybersecurity consulting and is expected to support efforts to create a more secure and resilient digital environment across Africa.
