The Tekana Online “Be Cyber Smart” campaign today brought together the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), CEOs and industry leaders from across Rwanda’s financial ecosystem at the Cyber Hub for the Cyber Resilience in Finance workshop.

Rwandans increasingly rely on digital systems to save, pay and transact. The discussion focused on how the sector can protect money, systems and sensitive customer data, and make cyber resilience the foundation of every digital transaction.

Opening the event, BNR Deputy Governor Nick Barigye said that innovation and new technology also bring vulnerabilities. He called on the sector to work together to protect the financial system and customer data while making full use of digital channels.

NCSA CEO Mr. David Kanamugire said this year’s campaign focuses on resilience, which means staying firm in the face of growing cyber threats. He said NCSA’s role is to build a secure and dynamic cyber ecosystem, especially in the financial sector.

A panel discussion followed under the theme “Enhancing cyber resilience for the financial sector”, bringing together leaders from the central bank, banking and insurance.

Mr. Bertrand Ndengeyingoma, Executive Director of ICT at BNR, said cyber resilience is only as strong as the people behind the systems. Technology and regulation are essential, he noted, but without a well-trained, cyber-aware workforce, even the strongest safeguards can be undermined.

Mr. Jean Luc Minega, Director of Information Security at Bank of Kigali, said that understanding the threats specific to the sector puts institutions in a better position to set security controls. He added that security practices must be built in from the start when developing applications.

Mr. Javan Uwizeye, Head of ICT at MUA Insurance, said that the more the sector goes digital, the more it must focus on cybersecurity. Customer data is in institutions’ hands and some vulnerabilities come from users, which is why MUA is investing heavily in awareness. Strong tools mean little without people who understand cybersecurity, he said, and every sector must hold the others accountable for keeping Rwanda’s cyberspace safe.

The audience also shared their thoughts, with three CEOs adding perspectives from across the sector:

• Ms. Louise Kanyonga, CEO of Zigama CSS, urged vigilance against insider threats. She called for raising awareness among internal teams and building their capacity to respond.

• Ms. Carine Umutoni, CEO of Ecobank Rwanda, said that as Rwanda strengthens its cybersecurity and data protection frameworks, contracted third-party providers should also be required to maintain robust cybersecurity.

• Mr. Alex Bahizi, CEO of BK Insurance, highlighted the need to upskill staff, noting that the right teams and tools are critical to resilience.

Tekana Online continues throughout October. Follow the campaign at #TekanaOnline and #BeCyberSmart.