ICT Minister Attends Graduation Ceremony of NTI Cybersecurity Academy First Cohort
Date: November 17th, 2024
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has attended the graduation ceremony of the Cybersecurity Academy for Juniors and Youth program’s first cohort, at the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) headquarters in Smart Village.
Launched in August in collaboration between NTI and the Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Team (EG-CERT) of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the program aims to raise community awareness about safe Internet usage by providing training in cybersecurity skills and fundamentals, including methods to prevent cyber-attacks and protect privacy and data. The program offers free training to youth from various age groups, ranging from 12-year-olds to university students and graduates from different academic disciplines and universities across Egypt.
The ceremony was attended by the Vice ICT Minister for Institutional Development Ghada Labib, NTRA President Mohamed Shamroukh, and the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher, along with officials from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and NTRA.
In his speech during the ceremony, the ICT Minister emphasized that the training program has focused on cybersecurity given its significance as one of the most vital fields within the ICT sector. He underscored the importance of fostering early awareness of the necessity to protect data, ensuring it is shared only with trusted entities, and adopting effective methods to protect against cyber threats.
Talaat pointed out that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity share a key commonality: data. AI systems, he explained, rely on vast amounts of data to function effectively, necessitating data protection. Data has emerged as the new natural resource for nations, societies, and individuals, Talaat remarked. He highlighted that prioritizing cybersecurity reflects societies’ ability to embrace different technologies while safeguarding data.
The ICT Minister underlined that the training program, tailored to various age groups, marks the beginning of a broader focus on the importance of cybersecurity. He mentioned that the next year’s plan involves increasing the number of trainees, extending the training duration, and diving deeper into this field.
For his part, NTI Director Ahmed Khattab reviewed the key outcomes of the program, which trained and qualified approximately 1,496 students and graduates from 13 governorates. Participants included 549 students from 327 schools, 654 undergraduates from 41 universities and 46 academies and institutes, and 293 graduates from 61 different specializations.
Carried out in three phases, the program equipped students with essential technical skills in cybersecurity, enabling them to protect themselves and their data in the digital world, Khattab underscored. He highlighted that the training covered specialized topics, including securing social media accounts, avoiding risks associated with public Wi-Fi networks, addressing cyber harassment, understanding social engineering techniques, enhancing online safety, and securing QR codes. The program also featured practical elements through a boot camp, where comprehensive awareness activities on cybersecurity were organized, and hands-on projects were presented at the end of each phase to reinforce soft skills and improve knowledge retention.
Furthermore, NTI Director mentioned that the Institute has developed rich, informative training materials and resources, tailored specifically to meet the needs of youth. This is in addition to providing interactive activities and VR-powered games, designed to raise cybersecurity awareness and implemented for the first time in Egypt. He pointed out that NTI is expanding training hubs across various governorates through Creativa Innovation Hubs, with ongoing support from specialized companies to qualify future academy graduates.
It is worth noting that the program also featured practical activities aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity. At the end of each phase, students showcased practical projects designed to hone their soft skills and apply the acquired knowledge. Moreover, an awareness session was organized to educate parents and guardians about the potential cyber risks their children may face.
The Academy’s first phase outcomes for trainees aged 12-17 include advanced training scheduled for the upcoming mid-year vacation, supplemented by supportive educational resources and the development of communication and presentation skills. Furthermore, 15 participants aged 12-15 embarked on a four-month Python programming course, culminating in cybersecurity-related graduation projects.
Around 70 trainees received training on real projects in partnership with CyberX, the Academy’s sponsor. Three outstanding trainees will be selected for employment at the company. In addition, approximately 50 graduates have been enrolled in the Egyptian Talents Academy (ETA), supported by MCIT in collaboration with Huawei Egypt. They will receive advanced, specialized training and be certified as cybersecurity specialists.
The Academy’s program has included age-specific competitions and sessions led by experts from NTRA, NTI, CyberX—a cybersecurity awareness leader—and BARQ Systems, a provider of cybersecurity and IT infrastructure solutions.
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