Google is offering 2000 African scholarships for a Career Certificate in cybersecurity

Did you know that according to the Digital Sprinters report, Africa has the potential for accelerated economic growth through digital transformation?

One key aspect is focusing on skills development, especially in the field of cybersecurity. The demand for cybersecurity skills is soaring worldwide, with around 3.5 million job vacancies in this field, a growth of 350 per cent from one million openings in 2013, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.

In Africa alone, preventing cybercrime could save a whopping $4 billion annually.

But there's an issue: the shortage of trained cybersecurity experts, which is holding back progress. Thanks to a new Google Career Certificate in Cybersecurity specifically for Sub-Saharan Africa, learners can get the skills needed for a successful career in cybersecurity.

The programme covers a wide range of topics, from identifying risks and mitigating threats to gaining hands-on experience with Linux, SQL, Python, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.

To make things even better, Google is teaming up with distribution partners in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa to provide 2,000 scholarships. These scholarships will help learners to access the Cybersecurity certificate and receive ongoing support throughout their learning journey.

This new certificate is a fantastic addition to Google's existing lineup of certificates in fields like data analytics, digital marketing, and IT support. They're all about giving individuals flexible and affordable opportunities to gain valuable skills that are in high demand.

So far, over 20,000 people have graduated from the Google Career Certificates programme in Sub-Saharan Africa, and it's had a tremendous impact on their careers. Within six months of completing the program, more than 80% of graduates reported positive career changes, such as new jobs, higher pay, or promotions.

With this new cybersecurity certificate, Google aims to tackle the skills gap in Africa head-on. The company want to empower job seekers to solve local challenges and open doors to global opportunities.