What Should I Do?

[Luay]

I am in my final year of high school. I plan to pursue cryptography in university. However, it seems like the only country offering cryptography courses in Africa is South Africa. I am from Kenya which boasts of having the eighth best university in Africa yet even they don't offer cryptography. What should I do? I personally met with a software developer today and he told me to pursue a degree in maths and computer science (combined) then pursue a degree in cryptography. I feel like that would be a waste of time and unnecessary since I don't believe that the syllabus would overwhelm me without the background in maths and computer science as he suggested. Our high school syllabus in itself is very broad and difficult yet I manage to score A's in most of the subjects I take. What should I do? I am open to any suggestion.

[Buenchico]

The advice you've been given seems to make sense to me. Here in the UK cryptography isn't offered as a first degree. To study it at university you need to gain a first (Bachelors) degree in a relevant subject, or combination of subjects, and then go on to take a Masters degree in cryptography. That appears to be roughly the same path that's been suggested to you.

I'd suggest that it's Pure Mathematics, rather than Computer Science, that's at the heart of cryptography, as you need a really good grasp of number theory. See 'Career Opportunities' here:
http://mathematics.uonbi.ac.ke/node/1819