Khartoum: In light of the growing security challenges and the importance of securing digital infrastructure, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Mohamed Hassan Dahab, held a meeting with Major General (Police)-Ret- Dr. Suleiman Mustafa, author of the book “Cybersecurity,” in the presence of Professor Awad Haj Ali and a number of ministry leaderships.
According to Sudan News Agency, the meeting involved an extensive discussion on ways to instill a culture of cybersecurity in academic and governmental institutions and to leverage the book’s content to raise awareness of growing cyber risks. Prime Minister Professor Kamil Idris announced his donation of a large number of copies of the book to be distributed to ministries, universities, and official institutions in support of digital protection efforts.
The meeting addressed several important issues, including data protection, backup, privacy, service continuity, and countering cyberattacks. Dr. Suleiman Mustafa emphasized the importance of developing institutional frameworks for cybersecurity, reviewing the technical and organizational guidelines included in his book to enhance the protection of digital systems in institutions.
Prospects for using artificial intelligence in higher education and scientific research were also discussed. The meeting emphasized the need to establish clear controls to regulate its use to ensure the quality of academic and research outputs. Professor Awad Haj Ali highlighted the importance of expanding specialized academic programs in cybersecurity within Sudanese universities to keep pace with rapid developments in this field.
In efforts to build the capacity of graduates and prepare them for the digital age, the attendees discussed including courses in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence as university requirements for all majors. At the conclusion of the meeting, Professor Mohamed Hassan Dahab affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening information security, noting the Ministry’s success in restoring its electronic services since the outbreak of the war, contributing to the continuity of the educational process despite the exceptional circumstances facing the country.
Dr. Babiker Hussein Ahmed, Director General of the General Administration of Information Technology and Networks, explained that the ministry has been working to distribute network services to a number of centers in the capital and the states, and to expand the use of cloud computing, fog, and artificial intelligence technologies. This effort aims to enhance digital security and ensure the continuity of service provision under both normal and exceptional circumstances.