By Ajong Mbapndah L
For Cybastion and its leadership, its five years of trailblazing accomplishments and business growth could not have earned any better recognition than the invitation of its CEO Dr Thierry Wandji to join outgoing US President Joe Biden for his historic trip to Angola. As part of the business delegation accompanying President Biden, Dr. Wandji provided valuable insights on how to leverage U.S. technology and expertise to drive Africa’s digital transformation and accelerate economic growth.
“For Cybastion, this visit underscored our role in advancing the U.S.-Africa economic partnership through digital transformation. With operations in several West African countries, Cybastion is strengthening regional digital ecosystems through digitalization, infrastructure development, cybersecurity, and training,” says Dr. Wandji.
Created in 2019, Cybastion has grown from a small team of four to over two hundred employees and consultants in the USA and Africa.
“Today, our company’s name is globally recognized, reflecting our influence and reputation in the global tech sector. We have operations in more than 10 African countries and partnership agreements in nearly all West and Central African countries,” says Dr Thierry Wandji.
By leveraging our local knowledge and global expertise, Cybastion empowers African governments and businesses to enter the digital era with confidence. We support the continent’s journey toward digital sovereignty and sustainable growth, Dr Wandji says.
“Our deep understanding of Africa’s local context and challenges sets us apart. As an African Diaspora-led company, we combine global expertise with local insights to ensure tailored solutions that meet the region’s unique needs and offer a holistic pathway to digital transformation,” says Dr Wandji as he looks forward to future with optimism.
You were in Angola for the historic visit of President Biden; could you share the experience with us and what it meant personally for you and for Cybastion?
The African continent is embracing digital transformation and unlocking its immense potential. U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s historic trip to Angola signifies a growing recognition of Africa’s potential as a global partner in trade, innovation, and digital transformation. As an American of Cameroonian origin, I was deeply honored to join a high-level U.S. delegation to draw attention to the U.S. commitment to deepening the U.S.-Angola relationship and increasing U.S. investment across Africa.
For Cybastion, this visit underscored our role in advancing the U.S.-Africa economic partnership through digital transformation. With operations in several West African countries, Cybastion is strengthening regional digital ecosystems through digitalization, infrastructure development, cybersecurity, and training. Dr. Wandji will provide valuable insights on how to leverage U.S. technology and expertise to drive Africa’s digital transformation and accelerate economic growth.
For those who may not be familiar with Cybastion, can you introduce the company and the services it offers?
Cybastion is an American technology company that delivers world-class cybersecurity and digital solutions to accelerate digital transformation in Africa. Our mission is to empower Africa’s digital future by creating secure, resilient, and reliable digital ecosystems that drive innovation, growth, and long-term prosperity.
We stand at the forefront of cybersecurity and digital innovation. By leveraging our local knowledge and global expertise, Cybastion empowers African governments and businesses to enter the digital era with confidence. We support the continent’s journey toward digital sovereignty and sustainable growth.
It has been five years since Cybastion was created. May we know some of the significant achievements of the company?
Over the past five years, Cybastion has achieved milestones that we are proud of. Since our founding in 2019, we’ve grown from a small team of four to nearly 200 employees and consultants in the U.S. and Africa.
Today, our company’s name is globally recognized, reflecting our influence and reputation in the global tech sector. We have operations in more than 10 African countries and partnership agreements in nearly all West and Central African countries.
In partnership with African governments, Cybastion manages a range of multiyear digital and cybersecurity programs and digital infrastructure projects worth millions of dollars across the continent. We are now poised to launch new initiatives in several African countries.
By 2030, it is projected that 230 million jobs in Africa will require digital skills. To meet this urgent demand, the Cote d’Ivoire-based Cybastion Tech Academy is bridging the skills gap by offering training, certifications, and diplomas tailored to the needs of Africa’s workforce.
Through partnerships with the U.S. tech sector and universities, this regional training center will equip a new generation of skilled professionals with the tech skills and know-how to ensure the continent remains competitive in today’s digital economy.
During the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, U.S. President Biden’s remarks shined a spotlight on Cybastion and our partner Cisco as drivers of the ICT promise in Africa. Cisco is a key partner of the Cybastion Tech Academy, where collectively, we will work towards building a skilled tech workforce and vibrant digital ecosystem across the continent.
We also launched DigiFemmes to offer women tech entrepreneurs the technological skills and business know-how to thrive in a digital environment.
For a country like Angola that you were in with President Biden, what potential do you see there for Cybastion, and what kind of specific services could Cybastion offer that country?
Angola offers tremendous potential, especially in harnessing the opportunities presented by a rapidly evolving digital economy across Africa. Cybastion delivers an innovative digital ecosystem that aligns with a country’s modernization and digitalization goals. Our cutting-edge solutions, robust network integrity, comprehensive training opportunities, and workforce development will build a secure, resilient, and dependable digital environment.
Cybastion supports African countries in building secure digital infrastructures, such as data centers, and delivering cybersecurity solutions to safeguard critical systems.
Additionally, we can help modernize government services through digitalization and provide training programs to upskill the local workforce. These efforts align with Angola’s aspirations for economic diversification and digital advancement.
Our accelerated, fast-track digital transformation plan is designed to deliver in one-year a robust digital infrastructure, anchored by a sovereign data center, to support a suite of innovative e-services from e-Visa options to digital banking.
May we also know about the current scope and geographical spread of your services in Africa?
Cybastion operates across several African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Central African Republic, Guinea (Conakry), and Niger, among others in West Africa. Our reach is expanding into Southern and East Africa, where we aim to create resilient digital ecosystems.
Our transformative approach to digital transformation is structured around four key pillars: infrastructure; modernization and expansion, digitalization, cybersecurity, and training. Our projects range from building data centers to providing digital and cybersecurity solutions to ensure a wide impact across the continent.
What makes the services of Cybastion unique and distinct from those of similar companies out there?
Our deep understanding of Africa’s local context and challenges sets us apart. As an African Diaspora-led company, we combine global expertise with local insights to ensure tailored solutions that meet the region’s unique needs and offer a holistic pathway to digital transformation.
In terms of cost, how affordable are your services and products, especially for challenged countries and entities in Africa that may be interested in them?
We are committed to delivering scalable and cost-effective solutions in Africa. We work closely with governments and companies to identify funding opportunities and create customized packages. We can also help catalyze innovative financing from a range of partners, including American and African public and private institutions.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in growing the company to where it is today?
Like any growing company, we have encountered some challenges in navigating regulatory environments when we enter new markets and securing financing for large-scale projects. However, we see these obstacles as tremendous opportunities to refine our strategies, build resilience, and establish new partnerships that have strengthened our mission.
Any advice or success tips you could share with other African immigrants who may want to emulate your success story with Cybastion?
My advice is to leverage your unique perspective and connections as a member of the African Diaspora to contribute to your home country. As you build strong partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, you should remain adaptable and always prioritize your deep understanding of the local context. Your passion, persistence, and clear vision are essential to achieving success in any industry.
A new administration will be taking over in 2025. What would be your expectations or wishes for U.S.-African business ties?
As an American tech company, we believe the U.S. tech sector offers global competitiveness unparalleled to any country in the world. So, we will continue to deepen our engagement with the new Administration and U.S. government agencies to demonstrate the immense business and investment opportunities in Africa’s tech sector and drive digital transformation on the continent.
Africa is an emerging market for U.S. companies.
By 2030, internet access on the continent is expected to reach over 300 million new users. We hope the next Administration will continue to strengthen the U.S.-Africa commercial relationship, support trade agreements like AGOA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and foster public-private partnerships. The U.S. has the opportunity to further Africa’s digital transformation goals while creating shared prosperity.
*Culled from December Edition of PAV Magazine
