Virtual InfoSec Africa Partners with University of Ghana to advance Cybersecurity Education
The University of Ghana has taken a significant step in advancing cybersecurity education and research with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Cybersecurity Laboratory.
This facility, commissioned for the Department of Computer Science, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), was made possible by a generous donation from Virtual InfoSec Africa Limited, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
This initiative represents a significant milestone in the University’s commitment to providing its students with the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Mr. Emmanuel Sekyere Asiedu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Virtual Infosec Africa and alumnus of the University of Ghana (Class of 2002), emphasised the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in addressing cybersecurity challenges. “The future of cybersecurity is in our hands. The skills acquired in this laboratory will not only shape careers of our students but also play a critical role in safeguarding our digital world,” he remarked.
As part of their commitment to skills development, Virtual Infosec Africa has promised to offer free access to EC-Council examination vouchers and LogRhythm NextGen SIEM training and certification to 50 female students and an additional 100 students.
The CEO also announced that Virtual Infosec Africa will provide internship and employment opportunities for the top five students from the Department of Computer Science after graduation, to provide them with hands-on experience in cyber defense.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, praised the initiative and noted its alignment to the University’s strategic priorities, particularly UG’s commitment to providing a Transformative Student Experience as well as fostering Engagement and partnerships with industry and other publics.
Prof. Appiah Amfo called for stronger collaboration between academia, government and the private sector. “Cybersecurity is not just a government or private sector issue; it requires a collective effort,” she noted. “This lab will bridge the gap between research, education and industry.”
The Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, recounted benefits the College has enjoyed from industry and other stakeholders, highlighting that the laboratory is one of many fruits of effective academia-industry collaboration for a common cause.
Prof. Yidana took the opportunity to thank the government and other stakeholders for their contributions and donations towards the College and called for assistance to acquire a space to house the Department of Computer Science.
Vice-President of the SRC, Mr. Jeffrey Adu Yeboah, emphasised the significance of the laboratory in contributing to the Ghanaian cybersecurity landscape. He encouraged all students to take an active interest in cybersecurity, regardless of their field of study. He also proposed the establishment of an ultra-modern computer laboratory at the Accra City Campus.
The Cybersecurity Laboratory is expected to provide students with hands-on experience and real-world scenarios to develop professionals capable of defending Ghana’s digital infrastructure. With a total investment of approximately 3 million Ghana Cedis, the laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge tools and software to support cybersecurity education and research.
