(CIBEROBS) - The second edition of the Cyber Africa Forum (CAF) will be hosted by Abidjan on 9 and 10 May 2022, under the high sponsorship of His Excellency Patrick Achi, Prime Minister of Ivory Coast and in the presence of a number of key cybersecurity players, including representatives from Huawei, Deloitte, Orange and Ecobank. It is co-organised by Ciberobs, one of Africa’s foremost cybersecurity companies, and Jeune Afrique Media Group, leading pan-African media and events management group. 

The theme of this edition will be “Digital sovereignty and data protection – levers driving economic growth across the African continent”, – and it will be an opportunity to look at the emergence of new cybersecurity risks facing African companies as they digitalise their practices (remote working, digital and / or decentralised finance, online retail, sovereignty against a background of geopolitical tensions, etc.). These are themes that are of direct relevance to a number of major economic players, such as Atos, CCDOC, Cybastion and ESET Africa, which operate in Africa and will participate in the Forum alongside many other public players (political leaders, multilateral organisations, etc.) and private ones.

“Economic risks related to cybersecurity are a reality in Africa. The purpose of the Cyber Africa Forum is to serve as the leading forum for discussion on the continent, bringing together both African and international cybersecurity players so that the cyber risk can be tackled as the core issue that it is in Africa – an issue with which the continent is grappling as it develops”, said Franck Kié (photo), President and Founder of Ciberobs.

“For ten years now, particularly via the AFRICA CEO FORUM, we have been closely involved with the problems facing the private sector, and the situation is clear: unlike major companies across the world, the CEOs of African companies are aware of the potential offered by data and digital technologies, but all too often, they ignore the cyber risk – despite it being one of the biggest ones operationally”, explain Frédéric Maury, Deputy Managing Director of Jeune Afrique Media Group. “That's why we have decided to work alongside Ciberobs and make the Cyber Africa Forum an unmissable platform for discussing this issue”.

Altogether, decision-makers from more than 25 countries will be attending this leading cybersecurity event in Africa, which will feature 23 panels and more than 80 speakers.

“Our role is to serve as facilitators, providing concrete information and solutions to cybersecurity issues for decision-makers across sub-Saharan Africa”, added Nathalie Kienga, deputy CEO of Ciberobs.

The 2022 Cyber Africa Forum will also feature a number of initiatives to showcase African talent in cybersecurity: (1) “Cyber Africa Women” which promotes and supports women working in cybersecurity and with digital technologies; (2) prizes awarded to people who have worked hard to bolster cybersecurity across Africa; and (3) a new award which will go to the cybersecurity start-up of the year.

Some 30 or so candidates will get together to play CTF (Catch the Flag) as part of a hackathon, and the first three to complete the challenge will win prizes.

It's worth remembering that the 2021 Cyber Africa Forum proved extremely popular with people right across the cybersecurity ecosystem – both from the private sector and the public sector. 700 people attended on site (and more than a thousand via Facebook and YouTube Live), it involved more than 50 partners and sponsors, 60 countries were represented, and more than 150 business meetings were held.

Representatives of authorities, company leaders and cybersecurity specialists are invited to take part in this event. You can register today at www.cyberafricaforum.com

About Ciberobs – Make Africa Safe 

Founded in 2019, Ciberobs – Make Africa Safe is a leading cybersecurity platform. It engages in media activities (Ciberobs.com), in building expertise and creating opportunities (Cyber Africa Community) and provides a consultancy service (Ciberobs Consulting). Ciberobs is also the creator of the Cyber African Forum, Africa's leading cybersecurity event, with more than 700 attendees, 50 partners and sponsors, 60 countries represented and 150 business meetings held during the 2021 edition. Ciberobs – Make Africa Safe was founded by Franck Kié, Director of the Cyber Africa Forum and Managing Partner of Ciberobs Consulting.

About Jeune Afrique Media Group

Since 1960, Jeune Afrique Media Group has been supporting Africa through key stages in its development and showcasing them on the international stage. Jeune Afrique Media Group is Africa’s leading specialist media group and is a key player involved in organising events, providing consultancy and in publishing. In particular, it is behind the AFRICA CEO Forum, a leading platform for the private sector in Africa, and it publishes both Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, the continent's most popular international publications. www.cyberafricaforum.com