Team Shell X Roots from Côte d’Ivoire emerged as the winner of the 3rd edition of the ECOWAS Regional Security Hackathon held in Abuja, receiving a cash prize of $10,000 and laptops for each member. Team M3V7R from Benin Republic secured second place, earning $8,000 and laptops, while Nigeria’s ERROR team finished third, taking home $6,000 and laptops for their members.
The hackathon, which featured participation from 12 West African countries, aimed to empower youth and enhance cybersecurity in the region. This edition followed previous competitions held in Benin Republic and Togo.
The event was organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other stakeholders. It focused on developing the skills of West African youth to protect the region’s cyberspace.
During the closing ceremony, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Oladejo Olawumi, emphasized the need to harness youth talent to combat cybercrime and pledged ongoing support for future initiatives. He highlighted the importance of fostering healthy competition in the technology sector to channel youthful energy towards cybersecurity efforts.