Nigeria has been topped the winner of the 4th ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon 2026, demonstrating excellent innovation, technical experience and resilience all through the competitors and successful the coveted prize of $10,000.
The four-day regional occasion, organized by the ECOWAS Fee in collaboration with the Ghana Cyber Safety Authority (CSA), introduced collectively West Africa’s most proficient cybersecurity consultants, moral hackers, software program builders and digital innovators beneath the theme “Regional Cooperation by Know-how: Constructing a Digitally Resilient West Africa Collectively”.
This 12 months’s hackathon introduced collectively members from 12 ECOWAS international locations – Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo – to compete to develop modern options to the area’s most urgent cybersecurity challenges.
Over an intensive 48 hours, the groups labored collectively to design and current sensible cybersecurity options geared toward combating ransomware assaults, phishing scams, on-line fraud, digital extortion, and threats to vital nationwide infrastructure.
The climax of the occasion got here in the course of the closing ceremony when the Nigerian crew, which competed beneath the title ‘Error’, was introduced as the general winner. The crew, made up of Ige Adekunle, Mark Uchechukwu, Ezekiel-Inyele Victor, and Olawale Abdulrasheed, impressed the judges with their creativity, technical sophistication, teamwork, and skill to handle real-world cybersecurity threats.
For the Nigerian crew, this victory was significantly significant because it marked the end result of 4 consecutive years of participation in regional competitions and highlighted the fruits of perseverance, steady studying and innovation.
The “Escadron” crew from Benin secured the runner-up spot, whereas the “RedTeam TG” from Togo took second place for offering a robust and modern resolution in the course of the competitors.
The hackathon additionally highlighted the rising participation and affect of girls in cybersecurity throughout the area. In recognition of their excellent contributions, Kojia Fifame of Benin’s Escadron crew, Badom Grace of Liberia’s Cyber Warriors crew, and Gailaine Marie of Ivory Coast’s Again 2 Routes crew had been acknowledged as excellent feminine members.
In his closing remarks, the Director-Basic of the Ghana Cyber Safety Authority, Divine Selase Agbeti, counseled the members for his or her professionalism, technical excellence and collaborative spirit all through the occasion.
“Over the previous 4 days, we’ve got witnessed the most effective of West Africa’s innovation, expertise and collaborative spirit,” he stated.
Agbeti stated the hackathon reaffirmed that cybersecurity is not only about expertise, however extra importantly about individuals: younger innovators, moral hackers, and cybersecurity professionals who’re dedicated to growing accountable options to real-world challenges.
“The options devised throughout this competitors are a testomony to the creativity and ingenuity that’s thriving in our area,” he stated. “West Africa has the expertise and potential it must safe its personal digital future.”
He referred to as on members to take care of the relationships and partnerships constructed in the course of the occasion and proceed to work collectively to strengthen the area’s cybersecurity resilience and drive innovation throughout the ECOWAS area.
Mr. Agbeti additionally expressed his gratitude to the ECOWAS Fee for entrusting Ghana to host the competitors, and acknowledged the contribution of technical associate DoubleOSec, sponsors, judges, media companions and the Cyber Safety Company crew who ensured the success of the occasion.
The profitable internet hosting of the hackathon will additional strengthen Ghana’s place as a number one advocate of cybersecurity cooperation, digital resilience and technological innovation in West Africa, because the area faces more and more refined cyber threats amid speedy digital transformation.
