Kumasi’s Methodist Technical Institute (MTI) has emerged the zone two winners of the first edition of the National Cyber Champions Competition (NCCC) geared toward cybersecurity development.

They beat their fierce contenders from 7 other senior high schools from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions to emerge victorious.

After rounds of a competitive practical presentation on ethical hacking, Methodist Technical Institute (MTI), garnered the highest score of 93.70 with Sunyani SHS and Yaa Asantewaa girls SHS trailing behind with 91.80 and 90 average scores respectively.

The other participating schools were OLA Girls SHS (Kenaase), St. Louis Girls SHS (Kumasi), Sunyani SHS (Sunyani), Yaa Asantewaa Girls SHS (Kumasi), and Kumasi High School.

The maiden edition of the National Cyber Champions Competition (NCCC) is organized by raw the  CyberGhana, to inspire Secondary School students to pursue careers in cybersecurity or related Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines for accelerated development. 

The competition also aims to raise awareness of cybersecurity’s best practices for students to stay safe online, seek career opportunities, and develop a cybersecurity culture among the youth. 

Programmes Coordinator for CyberGhana, Bright Edujih Kuleke, explains the competition will help blossom cyber talents. 

“We have been having a symposium for the various schools that have cyber clubs. This time we decided to bring them together in the form of a competition to see who mastered what we have been teaching them over the years.

“The program is aimed to address the global shortage of cybersecurity talents, and cyber programs that will motivate students to learn advanced concepts,” he said. 

Director of International Programmes and Institutional linkage and a Senior Lecturer at Computer Science Department-Koforidua Technical University (KTU) Dr. Patricia Ghann believes that, nurtured youth in cyber security will address youth unemployment. 

“This will also help reduce the unemployment rate we are having in the country. I will personally encourage more girls into ICT.

“Because I have seen that there is a phobia of girls entering into ICT, which I believe the girls in this competition have the potential that, if we give more attention to them, the country will move forward and we can technologically compare ourselves to other countries outside,” she said. 

The winners from Methodist Technical Institute and participants were all awarded certificates. 

This part of the competition forms part of three other zonal competitions across the country. 

Eight schools that will score the highest will progress to the grand finale scheduled for April in Accra.