Telecom
Cybersafe Foundation Launches Global API Security Training for Women Aged 20–40
CyberSafe Foundation, leading purpose-driven organisation working to bridge the digital divide by empowering underserved communities with transformative cybersecurity and AI skills, has announced that it will open up applications for its API Academy training.
The CyberSafe API (Application Programming Interface) Security Training Program is a 12-week intensive learning experience designed to equip aspiring cybersecurity professionals with the skills to secure APIs. Participants gain hands-on training in API fundamentals, authentication, encryption, and advanced penetration testing techniques. Through expert-led instruction and practical labs, learners build technical expertise and develop the confidence to thrive in global cybersecurity careers.
Speaking on the next Cohort, Executive Director, CyberSafe Foundation, Confidence Staveley, disclosed that, unlike the first Cohort, this next Cohort will accommodate, not only the CyberGirls Alumni Community, but all interested women.
She announced: “Looking ahead, this October, Applications will reopen for our API Academy. And for the first time, we will be admitting women, not only from the CyberGirls Alumni Community, but from anywhere in the world, from ages 20-40, who want to master the art of securing APIs. So keep an eye out for our Call For Applications, until then, stay Cyber Safe.”
She further noted: “At cybersafe Foundation, we envision a future where every woman trained at our API Academy, is not just skilled, but empowered to lead, innovate and transform the way APIs are secured across industries.”
Reflecting on past cohorts, Staveley disclosed that the programme has been highly impactful and successful, especially going by the testimonials of the participants from across Africa.
She said: “The journey has been nothing short of transformative. In fact, a participant shared that although she was employed in a GRC role, she was recently tasked with testing a web application with API calls. Thanks to the training we provided her, she identifies dozens of vulnerabilities that have now been remediated by her company.
Several other participants who had never touched API testing tools before, are now working at expert level proficiency, and some others have even decided to pivot their careers into application securities building on the solid foundation this programme has given them.”
According to Staveley, to achieve this result, students went through an intensive hands-on journey covering API security fundamentals, OWASP API Security Top 10, Authentication, Documentation best practices, securing API servers, Gateway Security best practices, PCI Compliance, APIs Security for connected cars and fleets, penetration testing, securing LLM and NLP APIs and API products management.
“This was, no doubt, a high pressure, high accountability programme where every participant submitted weekly technical reports on their security tasks.
So today, I am super proud to celebrate the incredible women who successfully completed the programme,” she concluded.
Also speaking, CyberSafe Foundation Trainer and CyberGirls Alumna, Damilola Abiona said: “Leading the CyberSafe API Academy has been a deeply rewarding experience. Watching women who started with little to no offensive security background grow into confident vulnerability hunters in just twelve weeks shows how powerful structured and hands-on learning can be. This program is not only breaking barriers in cybersecurity education but also positioning Africa as a hub for the next generation of API security leaders.”
Aside the CyberSafe API Security Training Program, CyberSafe Foundation also organises CyberGirls+, an advanced professional development program by CyberSafe Foundation, in partnership with the SANS Institute, designed exclusively for CyberGirls Fellowship alumni.
Other programmes in the Foundation’s kitty are:
- CyberGirls Fellowship, a free 1-year cybersecurity training, mentorship, and placement program for young African women, which has empowered 1500+ girls and women from 27 African countries with globally sought-after cybersecurity skills, positioning them to start a career in cybersecurity.
- The PCI DSS Academy, a flagship women practitioner bootcamp and capacity building hub across emerging markets, empowering businesses, cybersecurity professionals, and payment ecosystem stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve and maintain global payment security standards.
- The HerAI Fellowship, designed to close the gender and opportunity gaps in emerging tech fields, is an initiative aimed at equipping 5,000 underserved young women across Africa with advanced skills in AI and cybersecurity, including AI development and governance.
Launched in 2019 with its flagship initiative #NoGoFallMaga, CyberSafe Foundation has in recent past launched cybersecurity awareness campaigns reaching over 20,000,000 people, organised cybersecurity awareness training for over 4000 SMEs, educating over 11000 employees of these organisations, upskilled over 17,000 women and girls in 27 African countries, launched Africa’s first storified cybersecurity awareness handbook and possibly Africa’s first afrobeat cybersecurity awareness song. These, and many more contributions to technology education and empowerment, have earned it global recognition.
“Through hands-on training, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, we are building a safer, more equitable future, ensuring that no one is left behind in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. By equipping underserved communities with the knowledge and tools to excel in cybersecurity and AI, we are fueling local innovation, expanding career pathways, and strengthening digital resilience across Africa, Asia, and beyond,” a statement from the Foundation reiterated. The Foundation will announce the application and opening dates for the API Academy.
House of Representatives, during Tuesday’s plenary, approved the sum of N479.508 billion budget for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the 2026 fiscal year.
The resolution was passed after the clause-by-clause consideration of the report at the Committee of Supply.
While giving synopsis of the report, Peter Akpatason, chairman, House Committee on Communications, explained that the total sum of N479,508,260,000 is to be issued from the Statutory Revenue Fund of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Out of the issued sum, N124,440,652,000 is meant for Recurrent Expenditure; N26,779,045,000 is for Capital Expenditure; N32,011,492,000 is for Special Projects, while the sum of N20 billion is for Transfer to Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), N276,277,071,000 is for Transfer to Federal Government for the financial year ending 31st December, 2026.
National Consumers Advocacy Network (NCAN), a consumer advocacy group focused on protecting the rights of consumers, has commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),for introducing a policy compelling telecom operators to compensate subscribers for poor network service.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Dr Tobi Olanrewaju, its president, the group described the directive as a bold and consumer-focused intervention.
The group noted that the move, which has already seen major telecom operators begin compensating subscribers with airtime credits, marks a shift from what it described as regulatory leniency to measurable accountability.
“For years, Nigerian telecom subscribers have endured suboptimal service quality with little or no consequence for operators,” the statement read.
“What we are witnessing under Dr Aminu Maida is a clear assertion that regulatory oversight must translate into tangible benefits for consumers. This is not merely about compensation; it is about restoring trust in the system.”
According to Olanrewaju, the policy’s provision for automatic compensation without requiring subscribers to lodge complaints demonstrates a strong understanding of the challenges faced by many Nigerians.
“This intervention acknowledges a fundamental principle that the burden of service failure should not rest on the consumer,” he said.
He added that linking compensation directly to actual service disruptions at the local level sets a new standard in regulatory practice.
The group also praised the Commission’s decision to monitor service quality at the Local Government Area level, describing it as a step towards capturing real user experiences rather than relying on general national data.
Olanrewaju further commended the Commission’s simultaneous push for telecom operators to invest in network upgrades, noting that the approach addresses both immediate and long-term concerns.
“While consumers receive immediate value for past deficiencies, the root causes of poor service are being systematically addressed,” he said.
The advocacy group urged telecom operators to embrace the directive as an opportunity to rebuild consumer trust and improve service delivery.
It also called on other regulatory agencies to adopt similar people-centred approaches in tackling systemic challenges across sectors.
“Dr Maida has demonstrated that regulation, when properly executed, can serve as a powerful tool for social and economic justice,” Olanrewaju added.
The group reaffirmed its support for the Commission’s ongoing reforms and called for sustained collaboration between regulators, operators, and consumers.
It added that the true success of the policy would be measured by lasting improvements in network performance across the country.
Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have reportedly recovered over N2 trillion from subscribers in a sweeping debt recovery campaign that has left millions unable to make calls due to unpaid airtime and data loans.
The aggressive enforcement follows new compliance requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which telecom operators reportedly failed to meet, according to The News Chronicle.
This led to the suspension of airtime and data lending services and triggered a nationwide push to recover outstanding debts.
As part of the measures, indebted subscribers have had their lines restricted from making calls until their loans are fully repaid.
The move has disrupted daily life across Nigeria, particularly for small business owners and workers who depend heavily on mobile connectivity.
The lending service, valued at over N400 billion annually, has long served as a financial lifeline for many Nigerians, especially those without access to formal credit systems.
However, its sudden suspension has forced users to seek alternative means to clear their debts or abandon their lines altogether.
Meanwhile, a legal dispute involving Nairtime Nigeria Limited has added another layer of complexity.
A Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria to maintain access to key telecom infrastructure, including USSD and SMS services linked to the platform.
Despite the court’s interim injunction, lending services tied to the platform remain unavailable, indicating ongoing tensions between telecom providers, regulators, and fintech firms.
Industry stakeholders warn that the disruption highlights deeper challenges within Nigeria’s digital economy, where telecom infrastructure increasingly supports financial services.
Millions of users who rely on airtime and data borrowing remain disconnected, caught between regulatory policies, corporate disputes, and the need for affordable communication.
As pressure mounts, both regulators and telecom operators are expected to seek a resolution that balances consumer protection with uninterrupted access to essential digital services.
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