• Rwanda launched a CyberHub in Kigali to train 200 graduates annually, with at least 30% women, in cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
• The project is led by the National Cybersecurity Authority with Cisco and GIZ as partners.
• Rwanda’s digital sector grew 19% in Q1 2025, becoming the country’s second-largest GDP growth driver.

The Rwandan government has made digital adoption a pillar of its economic transformation. Cybersecurity and emerging technology training now stand as key components to secure infrastructure and drive local innovation.

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCSA), in partnership with Cisco and German development agency GIZ, inaugurated the CyberHub on October 2 at the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology in Kigali. The center includes a cybersecurity academy, an innovation hub and advanced technology laboratories.

PRESS RELEASE: RWANDA’S NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY AUTHORITY LAUNCHES CYBERSECURITY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (CYBERHUB)#RwandaCyberHubLaunch pic.twitter.com/M4J61BmUFE

— National Cyber Security Authority (@Cybersec_Rwanda) October 2, 2025

The NCSA issued a statement conveying their delight over the inauguration of the CyberHub, which they identified as a key undertaking to develop specialized expertise in cybersecurity and data protection, thereby supporting Rwanda’s cybersecurity infrastructure. They also conveyed their objective to address vital skills gaps and cultivate a digitally capable workforce through the hub's modern facilities and customized training programs.

The CyberHub will provide access to the Cisco Networking Academy, which offers training in digital literacy, artificial intelligence and advanced cybersecurity certifications. It will also allow students and industry actors to explore emerging technologies, including Cisco’s AI- and machine learning-enabled tools for threat detection, investigation and response.

The initiative targets 200 graduates per year, with women making up at least 30% of the intake.

The project forms part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration program (CDA), launched in East Africa in 2023. The CDA spans more than 1,600 projects in 50 countries and aims to create inclusive innovation ecosystems, strengthen digital resilience and build technology skills.

The CyberHub is expected to play a central role in consolidating Rwanda’s digital sector, which the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda said expanded 19% in the first quarter of 2025, making it the second-largest contributor to GDP growth. The center also seeks to reduce Rwanda’s cybersecurity skills gap, improve digital resilience and support the creation of qualified jobs in emerging technologies.

Rwanda is already recognized as a continental model in cybersecurity. The country achieved Tier 1 status in the International Telecommunication Union’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index with a score of 98.08 out of 100. The CyberHub is set to further consolidate this position by strengthening local expertise and enhancing the security of Rwanda’s digital ecosystem.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum