{"id":112007,"date":"2025-10-03T13:53:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T13:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rwandas-cyberhub-a-new-era-in-digital-security"},"modified":"2025-10-03T14:52:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T14:52:04","slug":"rwandas-cyberhub-a-new-era-in-digital-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/rwandas-cyberhub-a-new-era-in-digital-security","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda\u2019s CyberHub: A New Era in Digital Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>A national centre of excellence in cybersecurity and data protection was launched in Kigali on Thursday, October 2. Government officials and partners called it a milestone in building the country\u2019s talent pool and strengthening resilience against growing digital threats.<\/p>\n

The CyberHub, which is hosted at University of Rwanda\u2019s College of Science and Technology, is equipped with high-functioning computers provided by Cisco, an American multinational corporation, and other partners. It will serve as both a training ground and an innovation space for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.<\/p>\n

Minister Paula Ingabire and other officials during a guided tour of the newly launched centre<\/p>\n

Speaking at the launch, Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, said the CyberHub represents more than defence against cyber risks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we invest in cybersecurity, it\u2019s not just about defence. We are creating jobs, we are creating services, we are creating startups,\u201d Ingabire said. \u201cOur metrics will not be how many people we train. Our metrics will be how the industry is growing, and how resilient our systems are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last month, the government rolled out a flagship initiative dubbed \u201cPositioning Rwanda as a Regional Digital Entrepreneurship Hub\u201d which will empower local startups and entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs) with strategic guidance and funding.<\/p>\n

The CyberHub, which is hosted at University of Rwanda\u2019s College of Science and Technology, is equipped with high-functioning computers provided by Cisco, an American multinational corporation, and other partners.<\/p>\n

Why it matters<\/b><\/p>\n

As cyber threats become more complex, officials and partners agreed that CyberHub will not only strengthen Rwanda\u2019s defences but also unlock opportunities in a growing global industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not something we\u2019re building just for the government,\u201d Ingabire said. \u201cIt\u2019s for the private sector, academia, and entrepreneurs who can turn skills into thriving businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ingabire stressed that people remain the weakest link in digital security, underscoring the hub\u2019s focus on human capital. Rwanda plans to train 200 specialists through the centre in the short term, while also working toward broader national targets, including 500,000 ICT professionals within five years.<\/p>\n

A delegate from Cisco, the lead technology partner, described the CyberHub as one of their flagship projects under its global Country Digital Acceleration programme.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Cisco, we believe in the power of technology to connect, secure, and transform lives,\u201d said Dima Kandelhaft, Senior Director. \u201cThis hub will directly address the skills gap and build future-ready talent capable of working with AI in a safe and secure environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cisco has been working with Rwanda since 2009, after scooping a partnership award to Rwanda Development Board in recognition of its outstanding capacity building efforts in collaboration with Cisco IT initiatives.<\/p>\n

Through its long-standing Networking Academy, more than 28,000 Rwandans, 30 percent of them women, have been trained. The new centre is expected to raise those numbers while providing practical access to cutting-edge cybersecurity tools.<\/p>\n

David Kanamugire, CEO of the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA), said the hub is a response to Rwanda\u2019s pressing challenge of building credible security for its digital future.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this centre, students will have access to some of the world\u2019s best technologies to gain hands-on skills in cybersecurity,\u201d Kanamugire said. \u201cOur hope is that graduates from here will address the skills shortage in Rwanda and beyond, while also driving innovation in the sector.\u201d<\/p>\n

It will serve as both a training ground and an innovation space for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.<\/p>\n

Alongside the officials, IT experts demonstrated how the technology will work. Joel Kashaija, CEO of Shield Tech Hub, explained that one of their key innovations\u2014Threat Informant\u2014monitors dark web markets for leaked data, alerting clients before breaches cause damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cRwanda is a country that is heavily digitized, so these threats are going to keep rising,\u201d Kashaija told The New Times. \u201cThat\u2019s why proactive solutions and training are critical not just for companies here, but also for the international partners we work with.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that their role is to train NCSA\u2019s partners, including students and corporate IT professionals, with the goal of equipping them with practical, hands-on knowledge that will help them flourish in their careers and excel as they take on job positions.<\/p>\n

Rwanda plans to train 200 specialists through the centre in the short term, while also working toward broader national targets, including 500,000 ICT professionals within five years.<\/p>\n

Rwanda plans to train 200 specialists through the centre in the short term, while also working toward broader national targets, including 500,000 ICT professionals within five years.<\/p>\n\r\n