Recognized for Transformational Impact in Cybersecurity Education and Industrial Training
Babcock University’s SIWES Directorate has conferred an Award of Excellence on Ambassador Ikem Michael Uche, Director of ThinkCyber Nigeria, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to industrial training, cybersecurity capacity building, and youth technical empowerment across Nigeria.
Since 2024, Ambassador Uche has played a pivotal role in reshaping the university’s SIWES cybersecurity training ecosystem through the ThinkCyber Nigeria Industrial Training Program. His leadership has directly elevated the standards, outcomes, and global readiness of students who passed through the program.
A Transformational Partnership Since 2024
Ambassador Uche’s intervention began with the TCN2401 Cohort, marking a new era of experiential cybersecurity training at Babcock University. Built on real-world cyber simulator technology, the program introduced hands-on, battle-tested competencies that moved students beyond theory into practical, industry-ready expertise.
Impact Highlights:
🎓 Over seven (7) First-Class graduates emerged from the very first cohort (TCN2401), demonstrating the academic and technical excellence of the program.
🎓 TCN2501 participants are currently in their final year, entering industry with advanced Tier-2 skills in SOC Analysis, Digital Forensics, Network Security, and Penetration Testing.
🎓 TCN2601 is scheduled to commence on January 12th, 2026, expected to expand the program’s reach and impact even further.
Through ThinkCyber’s ecosystem—Cyberium Arena, Specto, Titan Sessions, and the Kaizen Program—Ambassador Uche has consistently inspired students to push beyond limits, developing grit, excellence, and mastery of core cyber defense and offensive capabilities.
Raising a New Generation of Cybersecurity Experts
Ambassador Uche’s work has helped groom some of the finest cybersecurity talents in the region.
Under his leadership, students have:
Solved over 36 vulnerability machines manually, as showcased in the Kaizen Program performance videos.
Demonstrated competence in penetration testing, threat hunting, digital forensics, malware analysis, SOC operations, and secure coding.
Developed the discipline and resilience expected of professionals in high-stakes cybersecurity environments.
Since 2021, ThinkCyber Nigeria—founded and led by Ambassador Uche—has successfully trained and placed graduates in:
Major banks and financial institutions
Leading MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers)
Telecom operators
Technology companies
International cybersecurity teams
This track record forms a key basis for his recognition by the University.
A Vision for the Future: Preparing Students for the World Stage
In his remarks upon receiving the award, Ambassador Ikem Michael Uche emphasized that 2026 will mark a new horizon in advancing the technical capability of Nigeria’s young cybersecurity professionals.
His vision for the next SIWES cohorts includes:
Training students to achieve Tier-2 capability before graduation
Ensuring students begin Bug Bounty programs early, applying their skills to real-world platforms
Expecting every trainee to have identified and resolved at least one to two vulnerabilities on reputable platforms such as YesWeHack and HackerOne
Positioning students for global cybersecurity roles through world-class readiness and practical competence
According to him, the next phase will focus on “launching students from the first step to the world stage,” ensuring that every graduate leaves the program with demonstrable, industry-validated cybersecurity skills.
A Well-Deserved Honor
The Award of Excellence symbolizes Babcock University’s acknowledgment of Ambassador Uche’s consistent dedication to:
Raising the standard of cybersecurity education
Empowering the next generation of cybersecurity leaders
Driving innovation in cyber simulation-based training
Strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity workforce pipeline
His contributions since 2021 have remained a cornerstone of ThinkCyber Nigeria’s mission and continue to shape the trajectory of cybersecurity talent development across Africa.