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About HackWara

Building Kwara State's most vibrant cybersecurity community, where learners, professionals, and enthusiasts grow their skills, collaborate, and defend our digital future together.

Vision

Build the most vibrant cybersecurity hub in Kwara State, where learners, professionals, and enthusiasts can grow their skills, collaborate, and defend our digital future together.

Mission

Democratize access to cybersecurity knowledge, create a pipeline of talent from Kwara into national and global cyber ecosystems, and foster innovation through community-driven projects, workshops, and real-world challenges.

Who We Are

HackWara is a community of students, professionals, security enthusiasts, and everyday people united by a common goal: making Kwara State digitally safer. We’re not a company or institution. We’re a grassroots movement built by and for the people of Kwara.

Our members come from diverse backgrounds. We have university students from UNILORIN and KWASU exploring cybersecurity careers, working professionals looking to upskill, small business owners protecting their enterprises, and concerned citizens who simply want to understand digital threats. What brings us together is the belief that cybersecurity knowledge shouldn’t be locked behind expensive courses or technical jargon. It should be accessible to everyone.

Why We Exist

Nigeria’s digital economy is growing at an unprecedented pace. Mobile money, online banking, e-commerce, and digital government services have transformed how we live and work in Kwara State. But with this digital transformation comes new risks. Phishing scams, SIM swap fraud, WhatsApp scams, fake bank alerts, and data breaches are no longer abstract threats. They affect real people in our community every day.

Yet despite these growing threats, cybersecurity awareness and education remain limited. Many people don’t know how to spot a phishing email, secure their passwords, or protect their business data. Small enterprises can’t afford expensive security consultants. Students interested in cybersecurity careers don’t know where to start.

We exist to bridge this gap. We focus on the threats that matter to our community: local scams, social engineering tactics targeting Kwara residents, fintech vulnerabilities affecting our banks, and practical defense strategies that everyday people and SMEs can implement.

Our Community Pillars

Learn

Knowledge is our foundation. We organize training programs, workshops, and Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions that build practical cybersecurity skills. Whether you’re taking your first steps into cybersecurity or you’re an experienced professional looking to sharpen your skills, there’s a place for you in our learning programs.

Our approach emphasizes hands-on experience over theory. We believe in “show, don’t tell.” Every concept we teach comes with practical demonstrations, real-world examples, and opportunities to apply what you’ve learned.

Build

We’re not just learning about cybersecurity. We’re actively building solutions for our community. Our members work on open-source security projects, develop local security tools tailored to Kwara’s needs, and conduct research on cybersecurity challenges specific to our region.

From analyzing local threat patterns to creating awareness materials in languages our community speaks, we’re building resources that make a tangible difference in Kwara’s digital security landscape.

Defend

Awareness and advocacy drive real change. Through our Cyber Clinics, we analyze real threats affecting Kwara residents and publish accessible reports on what we find. Our Security for All initiative brings cyber hygiene education directly to underserved communities: market traders, local neighborhoods, youth groups, and anyone who needs it.

We’re not waiting for threats to come to us. We’re proactively reaching people where they are, helping them understand risks, and empowering them to protect themselves.

Our Values

Open, Inclusive, Humble

No gatekeeping. Ever. Cybersecurity has a reputation for being exclusive and intimidating. We’re changing that. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced professional, you’re welcome at HackWara. We foster a safe learning environment where questions are encouraged and everyone is treated with respect.

Show, Don’t Tell

Knowledge without application is just theory. Everything we teach comes with practical demonstrations and real-world examples. We believe the best way to learn cybersecurity is by doing, not just reading or listening.

Practical Focus

We prioritize real-world application over academic theory. Our content, training, and projects focus on threats that actually affect our community and solutions that people can implement today. Local context and relevance guide everything we do.

Community-First

We succeed together. Collaboration, mentorship, and mutual support are at the heart of HackWara. We celebrate each other’s wins, help each other through challenges, and build lasting connections that extend beyond individual events.

Our Impact Goals (September 2025 - September 2026)

We measure success not just in numbers, but in tangible community impact. Over the next twelve months, we’re committed to:

  • Train 100+ students and enthusiasts in cybersecurity basics through workshops, training programs, and hands-on sessions
  • Host 4 major events including meetups, CTF competitions, and community workshops that bring together learners and professionals
  • Establish presence in 3 institutions across Kwara State (UNILORIN, KWASU, and local polytechnics), creating consistent touchpoints for students interested in cybersecurity careers
  • Publish at least 2 Kwara-focused security reports addressing issues like phishing in local fintechs, SIM swap scams, WhatsApp fraud, and NIN link scams
  • Launch grassroots awareness campaigns reaching underserved communities who face digital threats but lack access to security education

But numbers only tell part of the story. Our real measure of success will be the culture we build: open, inclusive, collaborative, with no gatekeeping. We want to create an environment where anyone can learn, contribute, and grow.

Our Structure

Core Team

Our Core Team handles strategic direction and day-to-day operations:

  • Coordinator - Overall vision and community leadership
  • Programs Lead - Training, workshops, and educational initiatives
  • Partnerships Lead - Institutional partnerships and collaborations
  • Technical Lead - Technical projects and infrastructure
  • Communications/Design Lead - Branding, content, and outreach

Working Groups

Our Working Groups drive specific initiatives:

  • Training - Develops and delivers educational programs
  • Research - Conducts security research focused on Kwara
  • Outreach - Community engagement and awareness campaigns
  • Events - Plans and executes community gatherings

The HackWara Spirit

“We learn. We build. We defend.”

This isn’t just a tagline. It’s the spirit that drives everything we do. We’re learners who never stop growing. We’re builders who create solutions. We’re defenders who protect our community.

Kwara State has incredible potential to become a recognized hub for cybersecurity talent and awareness in Nigeria. With HackWara, we’re creating the foundation for that future, one workshop, one report, and one community member at a time.

Join Us

HackWara is built by the community, for the community. Whether you want to learn, teach, build projects, or simply connect with like-minded people, there’s a place for you here.

Ready to get involved? Visit our Get Involved page to learn how you can join the community, attend events, contribute to projects, or partner with us.

Together, we’ll learn, build, and defend Kwara’s digital future.