Uniting for a secure future: Empowering African women in cybersecurity 

Sumaiyya from Kenya, a graduate of the African Girls Can Code  initiative, now works as a security consultant at Cyber Ranges. "Taking the SANS certification, which is the foundation of cybersecurity, really laid out a foundation for me. I was really honored and humbled to be a part of that," she said. She is also the co-founder of a Cybersecurity Awareness Initiative that focuses on creating awareness on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)

Lucide from Rwanda also discovered the Allianz Cyber Talent Academy through the African Girls Can Code initiative. She was drawn to cybersecurity because the field was new for her. "Once I got into the program, it was something new for me. It triggered a part of myself that I did not know existed; one that loves cybersecurity and wants to know more," she explained.

Linet from Kenya, joined the program at 18, despite being discouraged by her peers. "People perceive cybersecurity to be difficult in Kenya. But, I really found it interesting  to see cybersecurity  in everything. After completing the program, I aspire to become a cybersecurity analyst," she stated.

Maria from Kenya has a unique background in law, but was always drawn to IT. She joined the program through a disability support group. "Even though I was doing law, I also wanted to do cybersecurity. You can do a lot of things if you are enthusiastic about it," she said. She wants to venture into tech law as well and pay it forward by teaching the group about online safety.

Mariama from Senegal is completing a master’s in Big Data Analytics and holds certification as a solution architect. "Cybersecurity is very important for me because I want to be a data analyst. The group mentoring was also helpful for me because I learned how to speak in front of a lot of people and how to be self-confident," she shared. She is looking forward to building these skills through Cyber Talent 2025.

Trinita from South Africa, at just 18 years old, has already made significant strides in the field. Despite being in high school, she completed the cybersecurity curriculum with Siemens. "I've always wanted to do ICT. Cybersecurity and software development are something I am looking forward to learning in university," she mentioned.

The six young women have not only gained technical skills but have also grown as individuals. They all agree that they want to pay it forward by creating awareness and mentoring others in their communities. Their journey is a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and determination in breaking barriers and empowering women in the field of cybersecurity.

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