IPAM Hosts Meeting On Cybersecurity Curriculum Development

By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
As part of a strategic initiative to build national cybersecurity resilience under the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, the Institution of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) hosted a consultative meeting to discuss the country’s cybersecurity skills gap and the urgent need for a cybersecurity degree program.
In her statement, the National Cybersecurity Coordinator Madam Marima Yorma emphasized that the development of a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum is essential to protect Sierra Leone against cyberattacks. She noted that while technology has made life easier, it also brings negative impacts on society. Madam Yorma highlighted the rapid improvement of cyberspace, citing the national digital switch as evidence of technological advancement. However, she warned that crimes in cyberspace are on the increase, making it a platform for criminals to exploit people daily.
She disclosed that there are currently no degree programs in cybersecurity in Sierra Leone and urged universities and colleges across the country to adopt such programs. According to Mrs Yorma, it is urgent for educational institutions to train Sierra Leonean students in cybersecurity to better protect the nation’s digital infrastructure. “We are raising awareness on cybersecurity issues in order to position Sierra Leone on the global stage,” she stated.
In his address, Mr. Josephus Sawyer, Administrator Manager at the Tertiary Education Commission, pointed out that cybersecurity has become a global threat and stressed the need to train the next generation of cybersecurity experts. He expressed expectations for curriculum developers to engage technical colleges in the process.
Speaking at the event, Professor Marian Conteh Morgan described the initiative as a great opportunity for students to make themselves relevant in the emerging technological world. She called for the involvement of experts, including sociologists, in the curriculum development process and urged the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NC3) to partner with agencies to fund the project. Professor Morgan noted that universities face constraints in implementing such programs, as curriculum development alone is insufficient without proper resources.
“There is an urgent need to provide resources and bring in foreign experts to train lecturers and students in cybersecurity programs,” she emphasized. She advised NC3 to begin with certificate or diploma courses in cybersecurity and later transition to degree programs, arguing that certificates and diplomas introduce students to the basics of cybersecurity more quickly, while degree programs take longer to complete. Professor Morgan also highlighted IPAM’s leadership in management sciences in Sierra Leone and affirmed that cybersecurity programs would strengthen the country’s defense against cybercrime and reduce reliance on foreign experts.
In his submission, the Vice Chancellor of Ernest Bai Koroma University, Professor Edwin Momoh, expressed gratitude for the initiative and stressed that the curriculum should be fit for purpose in addressing the country’s cybersecurity challenges. He noted that institutions are grappling with cybersecurity issues and many still rely on analog technologies while facing emerging challenges with artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Momoh stated that AI is here to stay and that necessary measures must be taken to address the ethical use of AI.
He reiterated that technology is frequently used to scam and defraud people, underscoring the need for Sierra Leonean students to study cybersecurity so that the next generation is informed about contemporary threats in cyberspace.
He explained that after the consultation process, the proposed curriculum document would be sent to the university senate before submission to the Tertiary Education Commission for validation.
In his presentation the CEO of Knowledge Network Solutions (KNS) Desmond Macfoy said that BSc in Cybersecurity will help produce a new generation of highly skilled, ethically grounded, and industry-ready cybersecurity professionals. He noted that this will help technical experts in cybersecurity to strengthen their principles. He noted that the skills in digital forensics and incident response will advance problem-solving capabilities. He emphasized that strong ethical framework and principles will help strengthen the country’s cybersecurity capabilities.
He reiterated that this will build the sovereign capability to address Sierra Leone’s critical cybersecurity challenges. This is a strategic Initiative to that will help to build National Cyber Resilience Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project he concluded.