Bauchi Launches Cybersecurity Training for 100 Youths

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

Bauchi State Government has launched a groundbreaking partnership with Protexxa and the Cyber Nation Foundation to train 100 young people in cutting-edge cybersecurity skills, a move aimed at positioning the state as an emerging ICT hub in Nigeria and Africa.

The six-month hybrid programme, unveiled during the official launch of the Cyber Nations initiative on August 12, 2025, will equip participants with globally recognised certifications, including a post-secondary certificate from a Canadian institution, CompTIA Security+, and industry badges from Cisco, Splunk, and other partners.

Rick Huijbregts, Chief Operating Officer, Protexxa Inc. Appreciating Bauchi First Lady Hajia Lami Bala Mohammed while the governor watches at the background

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Shehu Usman, hailed Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s visionary leadership for driving Bauchi’s digital transformation agenda under the “My Bauchi Project.” He described the initiative as a milestone in human capital development, with the potential to enhance efficiency, accuracy, cost savings, and global competitiveness.

“This program is a testament to our Governor’s foresight in placing Bauchi State on the path to a new face of development. I call on our youths — the key players in this initiative — to seize this rare opportunity to gain the skills needed to thrive in the digital age,” Usman said.

Also speaking, Hayatudeen Babamaji, the Director General Bauchi State Bureau for ICT and Digital Economy disclosed that the state has 152 ICT centers managed across all the 20 local governments

Babamaji, who disclosed that the state has trained over 5,000 people on digital programmes, said it has 25 official partnerships with stakeholders and 100 ICT training companies recognized in Bauchi State.

Claudette McGaulin, founder and CEO of Protexxa addresses trainess virtually

“In partnership with Galaxy Backbone, we are trying to provide network across all the MDAs in Bauchi State through fiber optics,” the DG stated.

” His Excellency has approved the renovation and upgrade of the Professor Yahaya Abubakar ICT Hub, which is first of its kind, to serve as an ICT hub for the entire region, not just Bauchi.

“In few days to come, with the number trained, Bauchi State will be an ICT hub. Currently, no state has this number of certified cybersecurity experts, not just in the region, but in the entire country”

In a virtual address, Claudette McGaulin, founder and CEO of Protexxa and the Cyber Nation Foundation, noted the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals — estimated at over four million unfilled jobs in 2025 — and praised Bauchi’s ambition to become a regional ICT hub.

“Cybersecurity is not just a career path, it’s a calling. The world needs defenders, and this program will give students the knowledge, certifications, and real-world exposure they need to protect governments, businesses, and communities,” McGaulin said.

Governor Bala Mohammed welcomed dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, academic leaders, heads of commissions, traditional rulers, and participants, declaring the launch as the dawn of a new digital era for the state.

He stressed that digital literacy is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and outlined a core pillar of the “My Bauchi Project 2” to empower youths and civil servants, creating a globally competitive workforce.

“The primary objective is to create productive jobs that combat poverty and neglect, forming the core of our economic development focus,” the Governor said. “Our vision is to transform Bauchi into a digitally inclusive, economically viable, and innovation-driven hub, leveraging technology for economic diversification and human capital development.”

He further revealed plans to build an “army of experts” in advanced digital skills and cybersecurity, with the aim of making Bauchi a “Mecca of cybersecurity and digital literacy” and supporting its youth to become globally certified experts.