MoU Signed Between GCTU and NERASOL Ghana Ltd to Establish National Cybersecurity Training Centre
GCTU has once again demonstrated its leadership role in the area of IT training when it took a significant step towards bolstering cybersecurity in Ghana by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NERASOL Ghana Ltd, an IT company belonging to the Jospong Group of Companies.
The signing ceremony, which took place on August 2 at the GCTU campus, was attended by top officials from both institutions.
The MoU aims to establish a world-class National Cybersecurity Training Centre to bridge the gap between academia and industry, enhance practical skills, and counter cyber threats in the country.
Prof. Afoakwa expressed his excitement at finally signing the agreement, which had been eagerly anticipated for some time. He highlighted the importance of the collaboration, stating, “We are very excited to have the opportunity finally to sign this long-awaited agreement. We’ve told the council a long time ago about this partnership, and they keep asking us why it is not yet signed. So I’d be happy to report back to Council that today, we’ve been able to sign.”
The Vice-Chancellor also shed light on the university’s mission to become the Silicon Valley of Ghana and how the partnership with NERASOL aligns perfectly with that vision. “As part of our mandate, we have to establish ourselves as the ICT University for the country and have a special vision of transforming this university into the Silicon Valley of Ghana,” he emphasized.
Speaking about the specific focus of the partnership, Prof. Afoakwa stated, “As part of the agreement we’re going to set up what we call the Cybersecurity Training Centre. And this is going to be a national world-class cybersecurity training centre.” He also revealed that the centre will be established with the help of experts from Israel, who are well-versed in the field of cybersecurity.
During a media interaction after the signing, the Vice-Chancellor was asked if the partnership would be long-term, to which he replied, “Yes, this is going to be a long-term partnership. Of course, we should have the period to start with, so the first phase will be about five years, and then it can be renewed.”
Mr. Wisdom Elvis Ativoe, the Managing Director of NERASOL, shed light on the company’s mission and the reason behind their partnership with GCTU.
“NERASOL is a technology company that is wholly Ghanaian. Our objective is to be a business efficiency solutions provider in Africa,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry, particularly in the field of cybersecurity, which has become a pressing concern due to the increasing digitization agenda in Ghana.
When asked about NERASOL’s previous involvement in academia, Mr. Ativoe revealed that this is not their first collaboration with GCTU.
“This is about the second time that we had to develop the human capacity of the country in the area of IT, in general, and cybersecurity in particular,” he stated.
He also elaborated on the vision behind the partnership, stating, “As a company that also has the vision to be an emerging IT company in Africa, we felt that this partnership is the right way to go. And so we are very happy to associate with the school, and as an IT company, we have the capacity and the ability to provide training not only for the students but also for the lecturers as well.”
Mr. Ativoe further hinted at the possibility of extending the cybersecurity training to other schools in Ghana, saying, “It’s a possibility but the initial agreement we have seems to be exclusive. So if the Vice-Chancellor would permit – I know he’s one man that has the nation at heart – If he will be flexible enough to give an opening so that his other colleagues in other universities will also benefit from this training, I think that as a business we’ll be open to do that.”
The MoU signing between GCTU and NERASOL marks a pivotal moment in Ghana’s efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities and produce a skilled workforce to counter cyber threats in the nation. With a five-year initial phase and a commitment to a long-term partnership, this collaboration is set to leave a lasting legacy in the country’s ICT landscape.
