A total of fourteen police personnel were certified by Sky Vision College on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, after completing an intensive ethical hacking and cybersecurity course at the institution

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu, during the certification ceremony affirm that the institution is making significant contributions to the Sierra Leone Police’s strategic objectives in innovation and technology, as well as supporting key initiatives outlined in the agenda of President Julius Maada Bio.

In his address to the graduands and the college principal, IGP Sellu noted that while the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) initially approached cyber security with caution, significant progress has been made thanks, in part, to the assistance of Jerry – a retired U.S. soldier military officer, who helped enhance the police’s ability to successfully investigate and prosecute cases, including the events surrounding the August 10, 2022, incident, and the attempted coup on November 26, 2023.

“To equip personnel for success, it is essential to provide them with the requisite knowledge and skills,” Sellu stated, explaining the rationale behind the partnership with Sky Vision College of Digital Technology and Management. He expressed his commitment to investing in cyber security initiatives, emphasizing that South Africa currently leads in this field and seconded by the Sierra Leone Police. “We must continuously improve our cyber security capabilities, as criminals are always evolving their tactics,” he added.

IGP Sellu underscored the importance of continuous learning and urged police personnel to apply the knowledge gained from the ethical hacking course to their work environment. He noted that this course positions the SLP for future successes and mentioned his upcoming trip to Ghana, where he plans to share the achievements of the SLP’s cyber unit with the Ghanaian police, who have expressed interest in their work.

“Having completed a course like this, I expect to see a positive change in your conduct and approaches,” Sellu told the graduands, highlighting his desire for Sky Vision College to leave a lasting impact on the country and expressing gratitude for their contributions to the development of the SLP’s Cyber Investigations Unit.

IGP Sellu also extended his sincere appreciation to the principal of Sky Vision College, Shekhar Kadam, for the support provided to the police on training initiatives. He reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering the Cyber Investigations Unit to ensure effective service delivery and successful prosecution of cyber security cases.

Meaningful contributions were made during the ceremony by the college’s marketing officer and Principal Shekhar Kadam, who thanked the Police management for their collaboration, emphasizing the dedication and intelligence of the officers involved in the completion of the ethical hacking course.

Earlier, the IGP presented a letter of appreciation to the management of the Sky Vision College of Digital Technology and Management for their contribution to enhancing the capacity of personnel attached to the Cyber Unit.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the graduands and group photo with IGP Sellu.