The Association of Information Security Professionals of Benin (APSI-BJ) has partnered with the Cyber Africa Forum (CAF) to strengthen the capacities of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and Information Technology directors in Africa. This strategic partnership aims to address the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals on the continent. As part of this collaboration, APSI-BJ members will join the CAF CIO/CISO Club, which brings together CISOs and IT directors from various African countries.
The partnership comes at a critical time when cyber threats are increasing in Africa. According to Interpol's Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025, cybercrime accounts for over 30% of reported offenses in West and East Africa. The report also notes that an African organization faces an average of 3,153 attack attempts per week, 60% more than the global average. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cyber attacks is also on the rise, making the role of CISOs and IT directors more challenging.
The APSI-BJ and CAF partnership aims to address these challenges by providing a platform for CISOs and IT directors to share experiences and best practices. The partnership will also offer training and capacity-building programs to enhance the skills of these professionals. Wilfried Juste Ahouandjinou, President of APSI-BJ, noted that the partnership will enable members to join the CAF CIO/CISO Club, where they can interact with peers who have faced similar incidents and learn from their experiences.
The CAF CIO/CISO Club was established to bring together CISOs and IT directors to discuss current and future challenges facing their roles. The club has three main objectives: creating a discussion forum on priority topics, facilitating connections between CISOs and IT directors from different countries and sectors, and encouraging the sharing of solutions to the challenges transforming their roles.
The partnership between APSI-BJ and CAF will also focus on raising awareness about cybersecurity among non-technical stakeholders. The two organizations will conduct sensitization programs to educate employees in organizations about the importance of cybersecurity and the role they can play in preventing cyber attacks.
Benin has made significant progress in cybersecurity, ranking second in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). However, the country still faces challenges in developing a robust cybersecurity culture. The partnership between APSI-BJ and CAF aims to address these challenges by building the capacities of CISOs and IT directors.
The first joint initiative between APSI-BJ and CAF will take place during the CAF 2026 event in Cotonou. The event will feature a session on the future of CISOs and IT directors in the era of AI, focusing on the evolution of their roles, required skills, and new risks associated with AI.
Key points
- The partnership aims to enhance the skills of African CISOs and IT directors to address the growing cyber threats on the continent.
