Programme, ACDF 2025
Theme: Towards a Secure and Sovereign Digital Africa
WORKSHOPS29 – 30 September
Venue: Orchid Room, Kigali Marriott Hotel
Note: All workshops and Cyberlympics run in parallel. Please choose one workshop
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cyber Security Defense
Daniel Ehrenreich
ICS-OT-IIoT Cyber Security Consultant
SCCE – Secure Communications and Control Experts
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Enabling Capacity and Adoption of RF Spectrum Sharing for Africa
Leonard Mabele
Lead Research
AFRALTI
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Digital Forensic Tools and Techniques
Tunji Adefehinti
Lead DFIR Engineer
Financial Institution
Giles Otomewo
DFIR and IT Professional
Beazley Security
CYBERLYMPICS RWANDA 202530 September
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Cyberlympics Rwanda 2025
GALA DINNERTuesday 30 September
Venue: Seminar+Isaro Room, Marriott Kigali
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
7:00PM – 7:30PM
Arrival and Welcome Cocktails
7:30PM – 8:00PM
Opening Remarks by Chairman of ACDF Advisory Board
8:00PM – 10:00PM
Gala Dinner and Networking
DAY 1Wednesday 1 October
8:00AM – 9:00AM
Registration, Badges Collection and Morning Coffee
WELCOME ADDRESS
9:00AM – 9:30AM
Setting the stage for a Secure and Sovereign Digital Africa
William Baraza
Chairman
Africa Cyber Defense Forum (ACDF) Advisory Board
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
9:30AM – 9:40AM
Keynote Address
Dr. Emmanuel C. Manasseh
Regional Director
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for Africa
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
9:40AM – 9:55AM
Harmonizing Cybersecurity Policies for Sovereignty
John Omo
Secretary General
African Telecommunications Union
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
9:55AM – 10:10AM
Keynote Address
Hon. Paula Ingabire
Minister of ICT & Innovation
Government of the Republic of Rwanda
20-minute photography and coffee/tea break
PANEL DISCUSSION
10:30AM – 11:15AM
Strengthening Regional Cybersecurity Collaboration
Orhan Osmani
Acting Head at the Cybersecurity Division for Telecommunication Development Sector
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
David Kanamugire
Chief Executive Officer
National Cyber Security Agency of Rwanda
Colonel (Dr.) James Kimuyu
Director
National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4)
Dr. Samir Gaber
Head of Cybersecurity Industry Development
Egyptian National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA)
Dr. Martin Koyabe [Moderator]
Senior Advisor
GFCE
15-minute coffee/tea break
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
11:30AM – 12:00PM
Turning Policy into Practice: Embedding Cybersecurity Culture Across African Institutions
José Luis Carrera Jr
GRC Subject Matter Expert
Beacon Red
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
12:00PM – 12:30PM
GenAI in the SOC: Transforming Threat Detection Without the Hype
Marvin Ngoma
Principal Security Architect
Elastic
TRACK: SOLUTIONS / TECHNICAL
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 IN VIRUNGA+MUHAZI
11:30AM – 12:00PM
Creating a Live Threat Intelligence Feed from Scratch
Olakanmi Oluwole
SOC Manager
CyberSOC Africa
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 IN VIRUNGA+MUHUZI
12:00PM – 12:30PM
Digital Drumbeats: The Rhythm of AI Powered DFIR Response to recent African Cyber Attacks
Tunji Adefehinti
Lead Digital Forensic Engineer and Investigator
Financial Institution
60-minute lunch break
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
1:30PM – 1:55PM
Future Proofing Africa: Practical Cyber resilience Strategies for AI and Quantum Era
Kwame Numapau
Director Technology and Innovation
National Signal Bureau
BREAKOUT SESSION 4 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
1:55PM – 2:20PM
Shadowserver’s Threat Intelligence at No Cost: Securing Africa’s Digital Future
Andy Chadwick
Director for Africa
Shadowserver Foundation
TRACK: SOLUTIONS / TECHNICAL
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 IN VIRUNGA+MUHUZI
1:30PM – 1:55PM
Securing Open Source with Policy Frameworks
Faith Machuka
Cybersecurity Assurance Engineer
Safaricom PLC
Judith Chekpemoi
Cybersecurity Assurance Engineer
Safaricom PLC
BREAKOUT SESSION 4 IN VIRUNGA+MUHUZI
1:55PM – 2:20PM
Time as a Weapon: Tactical Execution in the Age of Cyber Velocity
Victor Wanyama
Cyber Security Researcher
Beaver Pulse Technologies
FIRESIDE CHAT IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
2:20PM – 3:05PM
AI-Driven Cybersecurity for Africa’s Telecom Industry
Joan Mburu
Chief Information Security Officer
Airtel Kenya
Joel Kazoba
Head of Cybersecurity
Vodacom Tanzania Plc
Annette Wanjiru
Cyber Threat Researcher
Safaricom PLC
Meriem Slimani [Moderator]
ICT Development Director
African Telecommunications Union (ATU)
20-minute coffee break
SESSION 5: KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
3:25PM – 4:00PM
Building Africa’s Cybersecurity Future: Local Talent, Global Standards
Steven Mwesige
Ag. Chief Information Security Officer
PostBank Uganda Limited
SESSION 6: CASE STUDY IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
4:00PM – 4:30PM
Fostering Digital Sovereignty through National Cybersecurity Frameworks: Case study Nigeria Cybersecurity Framework
Engr. Babagana Digima
Head, Cybersecurity & Internet Governance
Nigerian Communications Commission
SESSION 7: KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
4:30PM – 5:00PM
Building Cyber Resilience for Africa’s Evolving Defence Landscape: Governance, Talent, and Trusted Technology
Guy Hermann Ngambeket Ndiandukue
Secretary and Board Member
ISC2
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP
5:00PM – 5:30PM
Switch Under Siege: When Trust Breaks
Patricia Rotich
Senior Manager Cyber Defense
Safaricom PLC
Trey Mujakperuo
Director
Hunter McKenzie
IT’S A WRAP
5:30PM – 5:40PM
Networking and End of Day 1
DAY 2Thursday 2 October
8:00AM – 8:45AM
Morning Coffee and Networking
8:45AM – 9:00AM
Opening Remarks: Recap of Day 1 and Outlook for Day 2
PANEL DISCUSSION IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
9:30AM – 9:45AM
Tackling Transnational Cybercrime: Strategies for Effective Cross-Border Investigations
Dr. Robinson Tombari Sibe
CEO and Lead Forensic Examiner
Digital Footprints Ltd, Nigeria
Adv Jacqueline Fick
Chief Executive Officer
Vistrat Solutions South Africa
Richard Lim
Project Manager, AFJOC
Interpol, Singapore
Denis Onuoha
Cyber Innovation Director
Cyber Chain Alliance
15-minute coffee break
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
10:00AM – 10:30AM
Adversarial Machine Learning: The Silent War in AI
Dr. Zelalem Mengistu
CEO & Director, Global Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech Advisory
RASBYTE
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
10:30AM – 11:00AM
Leveraging on KINDNS framework to improve the security of DNS infrastructures
Yazid, AKANHO
Technical Engagement Manager, MEA Region
ICANN
TRACK: SOLUTIONS/TECHNICAL
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 IN VIRUNGA+MUHUZI
10:00AM – 10:30AM
Building Cyber Resilient institutions: Advancing Local solutions for Africa’s Digital Future
Rahabu Sakilali
Head of ICT and Statistics Unit
Morogoro Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority, Tanzania
TRACK: SOLUTIONS/TECHNICAL
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 IN VIRUNGA+MUHUZI
10:30AM – 11:00AM
AI-driven Solutions to Enhance Webservices Protection Against Attacks
Mohammed Serrhini
Professor
Mohamed First University, Oujda, Morocco
TECH SHOWCASE AT KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
11:30AM – 12:00PM
Fortifying Africa’s Digital Future: A Strategic Approach to Ransomware Resilience
Tuna Dabak
Solution Engineer
SOCRadar
60-minute lunch break
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
1:00PM – 1:30PM
Cybersecurity Culture is Your Best Control — Not Just Your Tech Stack
Thulani Mubaza
Cybersecurity Consultant: Team Lead | Head
Orange Cyberdefense
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 4 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
1:30PM – 2:00PM
Fostering Digital Sovereignty through AI and Cybersecurity Education: Perspectives from African Academic Institutions
Prof. Cecil Naphtaly Moro Ouma
Academic Manager, Resident Researcher & Professor – Extraordinary
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Research & Innovation Centre
Prof. Assane Gueye
Professor
Upanzi Network, CMU-Africa
Trey Mujakporue
Director Consulting Services
Hunter-Mckenzie
TRACK: POLICY
BREAKOUT SESSION 5 IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
2:00PM – 2:30PM
A Practical Glance of What Next for African States in Order to Improve their Cybersecurity Posture
Lenah Chacha
Lab Manager – Research
Upanzi Network & CyLab-Africa
TRACK: SOLUTIONS/TECHNICAL
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 IN VIRUNGA+MUHUZI
1:00PM – 1:30PM
PhotoGnark is a Gnark-based implementation of PhotoProof by Assa Naveh and Eran Tromer
David Mberingabo
Security Lead
RMsoft
TRACK: SOLUTIONS/TECHNICAL
BREAKOUT SESSION 4 IN KILIMANJARO
1:30PM – 2:00PM
AfricaCERT Standards Framework
Kwadwo Gyamfi Osafo-Maafo
Consultant
AfricaCERT
30-minute coffee & networking break
CLOSING KEYNOTE IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
3:00PM – 3:30PM
ACDF Declaration
Dr. Martin Koyabe
Senior Advisor
GFCE Africa
CLOSING CEREMONY IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
3:30PM – 3:45PM
Summary of Key Takeaways and Call to Action
Gilbert Nyandeje
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Africa Cyber Defense Forum (ACDF)
FAREWELL NETWORKING SESSION IN KILIMANJARO BALLROOM
3:45PM – 4:30PM
Final Opportunity for Connections and Collaboration
DAY 3Friday 3 October
10:00AM – 6:00PM AT KIGALI GOLF RESORT & VILLAS
ACDF Golf Open
All players must register in advance with our secretariat.
Green Fee: Applicable to non-members, payable directly to Kigali Golf Resort on-site.



Tunji Adefehinti
Giles Otomewo
William Baraza
Dr. Emmanuel C. Manasseh
John Omo
Hon. Paula Ingabire
Orhan Osmani
David Kanamugire
Colonel (Dr.) James Kimuyu
Dr. Samir Gaber
Dr. Martin Koyabe [Moderator]
José Luis Carrera Jr
Marvin Ngoma
Olakanmi Oluwole
Kwame Numapau
Andy Chadwick
Faith Machuka
Judith Chekpemoi
Victor Wanyama
Joan Mburu
Joel Kazoba
Annette Wanjiru
Meriem Slimani [Moderator]
Steven Mwesige
Engr. Babagana Digima
Guy Hermann Ngambeket Ndiandukue
Patricia Rotich
Trey Mujakperuo
Dr. Robinson Tombari Sibe
Adv Jacqueline Fick
Richard Lim
Denis Onuoha
Dr. Zelalem Mengistu
Yazid, AKANHO
Rahabu Sakilali
Mohammed Serrhini
Tuna Dabak
Thulani Mubaza
Prof. Cecil Naphtaly Moro Ouma
Prof. Assane Gueye
Lenah Chacha
David Mberingabo
Kwadwo Gyamfi Osafo-Maafo
Gilbert Nyandeje