In a bid to increase the uptake of Artificial Intelligence within entrepreneurs and students, Africa Cybersecurity and the AI foundation (ACAIF) is targeting to train at least 1000 entrepreneurs across Africa including 200 from Kenya in the cyber challenge.

According to ACAIF chairperson Evalyn Oloo, who is also A Cyberschool CEO, the initiative which is aimed at enhancing skills and creating more jobs, will offer students pursuing cyber security and AI a one-year fellowship grant program.

This was disclosed during the Acyberschool Advanced Cybersecurity Fellowship (AACF) and Cybersecurity and AI Acceleration Program (CAAP) seminar at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo Campus on Wednesday.

 “As a foundation what we are doing across the continent is capacity building and connecting that capacity to meaningful engagements. 

“We have training in terms of scaling individuals who are able to support institutions to better their cyber security posture. 

“We are also equipping individuals with skills to protect themselves while transacting, engaging online, or taking advantage of the digital economy that is currently growing in Africa. So the challenge is what we have launched today,” Oloo said.

For Oloo, ACAIF has significantly enhanced cybersecurity and AI capabilities across Africa. Additionally, it has bridged the gap between academic knowledge and real-world cybersecurity challenges, providing hands-on experience and practical skills to final-year students and recent graduates.

While the Cybersecurity and AI Innovation Challenge Africa (CAICA) supports and showcases promising innovations from across the continent, Oloo says their collaboration with ACAIF has seen them advance cybersecurity and AI in Africa, thus playing a critical role in building a resilient digital economy

“So through Africa’s Cybersecurity and AI Foundation, a Cyberschool has launched two projects. One geared to increase entrepreneurship in cyber security and AI, and another geared to increase what we like to call skin in the game or a badge of, hey, I have done this at work, and I’ve just not done it in theory, so I’m actually good to go,” she said.

“So the first one, SICA, or the Cybersecurity and AI Challenge, is for innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers working on novel ideas in cyber security or AI. 

“So it doesn’t have to be AI; it can be AI in agriculture or anything else that is solving a problem for Kenya, for East Africa, for Africa, or even for the world at large.”

On his part, Liquid Intelligent Technologies’ Chief Technology and Innovation officer Ben Roberts urged institutions to start embracing AI.

“As we speak about AI in companies and businesses, it should be embraced; however, it may lead to both job creation and job losses, but over a long period, it’s the way to go,” said Roberts.

ACAIF operates as a grant-making foundation and a recipient of grants from other foundations.