SecDojo played a pivotal role at the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference (NCSC 2025), held on July 9 and 10 in Abuja, where government officials, industry leaders, and tech talents converged to explore innovative strategies for safeguarding Nigeria’s digital landscape. With the theme “Building a Resilient Digital Future: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience,” the two-day conference underscored the need for a united approach to cybersecurity.
SecDojo collaborated with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as a capacity-building partner and the official sponsor of the conference’s hackathon competition, injecting over ₦10 million in prize funding to support and spotlight emerging cybersecurity talent in the country.
Immersive cyber drills: Hackathon powered by SecDojo
In a 24-hour hackathon that began around 5:30 p.m. on July 9, SecDojo deployed its cutting-edge simulation platform to test the real-time responsiveness and technical acumen of participating teams. The firm designed the cyber drills to mirror real-world attacks, tasking six teams with identifying and resolving complex cyber incidents under pressure.
The competition was judged based on accuracy, speed, and number of drills completed. Team Err0r emerged as the top performer, amassing over 1,400 points. PWNxROOTS and PWN_ng followed as first and second runners-up, scoring over 800 and 700 points respectively.
SecDojo awarded ₦5 million to Team Err0r (Ige Paul Adekunle, Mark Uche, Abdulrasheed Olawale, Ezekiel Victor), ₦3 million to PWNxROOTS and ₦2 million to PWN_ng.
At the awards gala on Thursday evening, SecDojo’s leadership, including CEO Younes Benzagmout and executive Zacharis Zrig, presented the prizes and commended all participants for their endurance, teamwork, and problem-solving capabilities.
In addition to the prize money, SecDojo will provide advanced cybersecurity training to the winning team as part of its broader mission to upskill and support Africa’s cyber workforce.
Building cyber capacity
Beyond the hackathon, SecDojo facilitated two major sessions at the conference, including a keynote address and a simulation workshop.
In his keynote, titled “People First: Turning Human Risk Into Cyber Resilience,” Mr Benzagmout explored the dual nature of human behaviour in cybersecurity both as a vulnerability and a strength. He offered strategies to build awareness, accountability, and resilience within organisations.
The company also led a “Cyber Crisis Simulation” workshop, immersing participants in a live-response scenario that tested their decision-making and coordination under the pressure of a simulated large-scale cyber incident.
Empowering cyber teams
SecDojo offers immersive simulations to help IT and operational technology (OT) teams sharpen their response to cyber incidents. The company likens its training approach to a “flight simulator” for cybersecurity, enabling professionals to learn through realistic digital emergencies.
Its platform supports:
Custom training paths aligned with international frameworks such as NICE, ECSF, and MITRE ATT&CK
Scenario-based learning in both IT and OT environments
DevSecOps, secure coding, and system hardening workshops
Skill-based assessments to support cyber career development and hiring
With a focus on measurable outcomes, SecDojo equips organisations with tools to identify skill gaps, track performance via KPIs, and implement targeted upskilling programmes.
Laying the groundwork for a resilient cyber future
NCSC 2025 marked a milestone in Nigeria’s cybersecurity evolution, and SecDojo’s involvement signalled a growing commitment to hands-on, scalable training in the sector. By combining competitive drills with strategic training sessions, the company is helping shape the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in the country.
