Confidence Staveley has made a name for herself as Africa’s Most Celebrated Female Cybersecurity Leader. As the founder of the CyberSafe Foundation, she has dedicated her career to educating individuals and organisations about the importance of safeguarding their digital space. Through her foundation, she is helping to protect the most vulnerable people and businesses in African communities.
Staveley’s transition into cybersecurity was accidental, as she already had an admission letter to study medicine at the university. However, she found her place in tech during her gap year when she took computer training at an institute that awoke her love for the digital field.
Luckily, she convinced her parents to let her forfeit her admission. Then, she continued her training at the institute, got a diploma certificate in software engineering, and later went abroad for her first degree in software engineering.
The tech enthusiast later studied IT and Business Information Systems at the University of Middlesex, where she graduated with a first-class degree. She also studied IT Management at the University of Bradford and bagged a distinction. During this period, she realised how much she wanted to protect others from the growing tide of cyber threats. She recognised that many individuals and organisations needed more knowledge and resources to defend themselves effectively in the digital age and wanted to fix this. Hence, the CyberSafe Foundation was born in 2019.
The mission of the CyberSafe Foundation is to combat the rising tide of cyber threats across Africa and create a safer digital environment by equipping people with essential cybersecurity skills. It is a leading non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving inclusive and secure digital access in Africa. Through workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns, the foundation bridges the cybersecurity knowledge gap and teaches people all they need to know about digital safety.
Confidence Staveley believes that knowledge is the first defence against cyber threats. So, through the CyberSafe Foundation, she has launched various initiatives to educate individuals and organisations about best practices for online safety.
The NoGoFallMaga Confam Am Again, loosely translated as “Don’t become a victim,” is another campaign that significantly reduces cybercrimes and financial fraud in Nigeria. Through this, they create awareness content and messages in four major Nigerian languages.
How about DigiGirls? It was designed to improve the socio-economic well-being of 76,000+ girls and women (15-40 years old) living in underserved communities in Nigeria. It empowers these ladies with employable digital skills and equips them to secure internship/job placement or entrepreneurship opportunities.
In six years, the impact of CyberSafe Foundation’s outreach has reached over 200 million people across 27 African countries. With 89,000 people trained and 4,400 SMEs impacted, CyberSafe has launched 741 awareness campaigns. They have also placed over 1500 talents and trained over 16,000 girls and women across Africa.
After finishing my degree, landing a role felt impossible because the job market was brutal. The first few months post-graduation were demoralising. Despite being highly motivated to join the cybersecurity field, my skills needed further development to align with available opportunities. Just when I was on the verge of giving up on my dream career, I discovered the CyberGirls Fellowship, and everything changed….” Stella Ndiritu from Kenya shared #HerCyberStory
Confidence Staveley has been recognised with awards for her impact on digital safety. She was named a 2021 African Obama Leader and is an awardee of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) Impact Award, among many others.
She looks forward to an Africa where every individual, from schoolchildren to business leaders, possesses the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape safely. Staveley plans to expand the CyberSafe Foundation’s initiatives as she looks ahead, incorporating the latest technologies and more creative training methods.
