Partnership and call for participation: APSI-NE × ACRC 2026 cohort
ACRC partners with APSI-NE for the second edition of the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Programme and invites cybersecurity professionals to speak to the cohort's 500 learners.
ACRC (Africa Cybersecurity Resource Center) is proud to announce its partnership with APSI-NE, the Niger association of information security professionals, for the second edition of the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Programme.
This initiative aims to strengthen cybersecurity skills across the African continent by supporting the next generation of digital defenders.
The programme
- 500 talents
- 16 African countries, plus Haiti
- 27 weeks of intensive training
- 150 professional certifications
- Hands-on labs, CTF competitions and support for innovative projects
ACRC's contribution
The programme is run by APSI-NE with the support of ACRC, its main sponsoring partner:
- 6 million CFA francs (FCFA) of funding for the roll-out of the programme: hands-on labs, the CTF platform, the closing ceremony and the awards;
- masterclasses and talks by ACRC experts throughout the programme;
- 150 AFP certifications offered to the best learners of the cohort, selected on performance;
- awards for the 3 best final projects.
The learning path
Six months of training, from May to November 2026, 100% online on Moodle and Zoom, with weekly quizzes and practical projects. APSI-NE issues an official certificate on completion of the programme.
- A compulsory core module on cybersecurity fundamentals: Linux, networks, Python and Bash, SQL, ethical hacking, CTF, Red Team, Blue Team and GRC.
- Seven specialisations: governance and risk management (GRC), penetration testing, SOC, IoT and industrial systems, digital forensics, DevSecOps, and AI and cybersecurity, new in 2026.
- A CTF platform for practice: web, cryptography, forensics, reverse engineering, binary exploitation (pwn) and OSINT challenges.
- A final project, individual or in pairs, supervised by an APSI-NE mentor and presented to a jury (September to November 2026).
- The APSI-NE Talent Pool, which connects graduates with recruiters and cybersecurity opportunities.
Timeline: online training sessions from May to August 2026, projects and certificates from September to November 2026, Talent Pool and diplomas in November 2026.
Call for participation
In this spirit, ACRC is also calling on all cybersecurity professionals, experts, enthusiasts and practitioners to take part.
Through webinars and masterclasses, share your experience, your advice and your lessons from the field with the 500 learners of the 2026 cohort. One talk can inspire, guide and transform a career.
The full programme presentation by APSI-NE: Cohort 2 launch (PDF, in French)
About the programme: APSI-NE, contact@apsi.ne, apsi.ne.
