Cyber Academy Founder Champions Digital Safety for All

Aliyu Ibrahim Usman honed his hacking skills at age 14, concealing them from family and friends despite acting ethically, and later decided cybersecurity could be a career when he founded the Cyber Cadet Academy at 19. He describes the academy as a training and research centre for university students and professionals interested in pursuing cybersecurity careers, a venture he runs solo and currently teaches with up to 20 students.

Usman also founded and organised this month’s inaugural BSides cybersecurity conference in Kano, Nigeria, aiming to bring stakeholders together from universities, the police, and national agencies. He emphasises the need for basic cybersecurity knowledge, warning that many people encounter online threats such as OTP social engineering and other online safety risks.

The Cyber Cadet Academy officially registered last year as a legitimate company, though it operated for three years prior, and Usman continues to oversee and expand the centre with plans to train students to become staff. He hopes to raise awareness of online safety, particularly for younger audiences, and to strengthen Africa’s training and research capacity in cybersecurity.