Author:

The West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet), in collaboration with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, is proud to announce the 2nd Youth Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium, scheduled for Thursday, October 31, 2025, in Monrovia. With the theme, “Empowering the Next Generation: Strengthening Cybersecurity Skills Among Liberia’s Youth,” this year’s event builds upon the strong foundation of last year’s inaugural forum, which successfully introduced hundreds of students to cybersecurity fundamentals. The 2025 edition will move beyond awareness toward practical skill-building, positioning youth as active defenders in Liberia’s digital transformation journey.

The upcoming forum is part of WAICTANet’s commitment as a leading member of the Global Encryption Coalition (GEC)—a global alliance that promotes and defends strong encryption as essential to privacy, innovation, and digital trust. As the recognized national convener of Cybersecurity Awareness Month across Liberia and the Mano River Union (MRU) region, WAICTANet continues to lead initiatives that empower young people to be safe, informed, and resilient digital citizens. The event is in collaboration with major youth organizations, with the participation of over 150 students expected from senior high schools, universities, and youth groups. Ahead of the main event, WAICTANet will run daily and weekly online safety tips under the campaign #CyberSmartYouth, focusing on practical cybersecurity habits for young users.

The 2nd Youth Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium aims to strengthen the digital resilience of students through practical, hands-on cybersecurity education while fostering responsible and ethical use of social media and digital platforms. The symposium also supports the implementation of Liberia’s national cybersecurity policy framework, aligning its goals with broader ECOWAS and African Union (AU) Data Policy objectives to ensure that young Liberians are equipped with the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to thrive securely in an increasingly connected digital environment.According to Peterking Quaye, Regional Director of WAICTANet, “This year’s youth forum is more than an awareness event—it’s an empowerment movement. We’re equipping Liberia’s young people not just to protect themselves online, but to become leaders in promoting a culture of cybersecurity in their schools and communities. From password hygiene to encryption, they’ll walk away with real-world skills that matter.”

The event aligns with Liberia’s National ICT & Cybersecurity Strategy, championed by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which calls for inclusive digital literacy programs and the strengthening of national cybersecurity capacity. It also supports regional goals outlined under the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Agenda and African Union’s Data Policy Framework. Shadrack Metowah, Technical Lead at WAICTANet, emphasized the hands-on nature of the training:” We’re introducing interactive cybersecurity labs—students will learn how to detect phishing emails, secure their social accounts, use multi-factor authentication, and understand why encryption is their strongest ally online. Our goal is to turn awareness into action.”

The 2nd Youth Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium will feature a dynamic blend of expert talks and youth-led panel discussions bringing together cybersecurity specialists, policy leaders, and educators from government, academia, and civil society to share insights on digital safety and innovation. Participants will engage in interactive workshops covering core topics such as Cyber Hygiene 101, Encryption and Privacy Basics, Phishing and Fraud Prevention, and Safe Social Media Practices, designed to build practical understanding and everyday cybersecurity habits. The event will also include an exciting Youth Challenge Session, where participants will take part in the “PhishSpotter Challenge”—a hands-on exercise to identify fake websites and scam attempts, reinforcing their ability to recognize and respond to real-world cyber threats.

Liberia’s youth are among the most active users of social media and mobile internet in the MRU region. However, limited cybersecurity education leaves many vulnerable to online fraud, misinformation, and identity theft. This forum directly addresses these challenges by fostering early cybersecurity literacy and advocacy among young people—the future custodians of Liberia’s digital economy. WAICTANet extends an open invitation to government agencies, corporate entities, and development partners to support and co-fund this youth-driven initiative. Contributions will help expand the program to all 15 counties, deliver cybersecurity training kits to schools, and sustain the CyberSmart Youth Campaign throughout the year. “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility,” said Quaye. “By investing in our youth, we are securing Liberia’s digital future. We invite partners and donors to join us in scaling this impact nationwide.”

Empowering Girls through ICT: Unlocking Potential, Driving Change

The West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child 2025, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to promoting girls’ empowerment through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across Liberia, the Mano River Union (MRU), and West Africa.

As a regional leader in digital inclusion and gender-focused ICT development, WAICTANet has invested significant resources into programs that equip girls and young women with digital skills, STEM education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Through these initiatives, WAICTANet aims to bridge the digital gender divide and create a pipeline of female innovators and changemakers across the region.

“Empowering girls with ICT skills is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic investment in the future of our societies,” said Peterking Quaye, Regional Director of WAICTANet. “When girls are equipped with digital tools, they become creators of solutions, leaders in innovation, and catalysts for economic transformation.”

WAICTANet’s ongoing projects, including digital literacy bootcamps, safe online learning spaces, mentorship programs, and STEM advocacy, reflect its long-term strategy to build inclusive, technology-driven communities. The organization also works closely with governments, academia, and civil society to advocate for gender-responsive digital policies that ensure equitable access to technology and education.

As the world celebrates this year’s theme, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” WAICTANet calls on policymakers, development partners, and the private sector to increase investment in girls’ digital education and protection online, ensuring that no girl is left behind in the global digital transformationThe West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child 2025, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to promoting girls’ empowerment through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across Liberia, the Mano River Union (MRU), and West Africa.

As a regional leader in digital inclusion and gender-focused ICT development, WAICTANet has invested significant resources into programs that equip girls and young women with digital skills, STEM education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Through these initiatives, WAICTANet aims to bridge the digital gender divide and create a pipeline of female innovators and changemakers across the region.

“Empowering girls with ICT skills is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic investment in the future of our societies,” said Peterking Quaye, Regional Director of WAICTANet. “When girls are equipped with digital tools, they become creators of solutions, leaders in innovation, and catalysts for economic transformation.”

WAICTANet’s ongoing projects, including digital literacy bootcamps, safe online learning spaces, mentorship programs, and STEM advocacy, reflect its long-term strategy to build inclusive, technology-driven communities. The organization also works closely with governments, academia, and civil society to advocate for gender-responsive digital policies that ensure equitable access to technology and education.

As the world celebrates this year’s theme, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” WAICTANet calls on policymakers, development partners, and the private sector to increase investment in girls’ digital education and protection online, ensuring that no girl is left behind in the global digital transformation..

9 October 2025—WAICTANet joins the world in observing World Post Day, honoring the founding of the Universal Postal Union and recognizing the Post’s vital role in connectivity, inclusion, commerce, and social welfare. This year’s UPU theme, “Postal Innovation for Sustainable Development”, invites us to accelerate the postal transformation that supports climate resilience, digital access, and equitable service.

In Liberia, the Post is evolving fast. The government’s commitment to the National Digital & Postal Addressing System (NDPAS)—developed in partnership with SnooCODE—has already assigned unique, shareable digital addresses to thousands of households. This foundation supports e-commerce, emergency services, logistics, and financial inclusion. As WAICTANet, we have supported community awareness and stakeholder training in pilot counties to promote adoption. In the MRU region, cross-border trade and diaspora remittances remain underserved by postal systems. Strengthening postal interoperability among Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea can enhance trade, parcel delivery, and trust in the regional economy.

Globally, postal networks include over 679,000 offices and employ some 4.6 million people—yet many still lack digital transformation for the 21st century. In Africa, parcel volumes are growing year over year by 15–20%, yet many rural communities remain unaddressed or have no reliable access. Liberia must seize this moment to leapfrog with modern postal infrastructure.

Peterking Quaye , Regional Director for WAICTANET added is of the view that “The Post is more than parcels—it is identity, dignity, and economic lifelines. In Liberia and across the MRU, a modern, people-centered Post can power e-commerce, reach the last mile, and include those left offline. Our task now is simple: finish the basics, scale what works, and make trust the new delivery standard.” To strengthen Liberia’s postal sector and align it with global best practices, the country must prioritize a few practical actions.

First, complete the nationwide rollout of the National Digital and Postal Addressing System (NDPAS) and ensure its integration across courier platforms, government services, and utilities, allowing citizens to use their addresses seamlessly in daily life. Next, promote universal postal service with transparency by publishing delivery performance dashboards and grievance mechanisms that build public trust. Liberia should also empower MSMEs and women entrepreneurs by developing digital postal hubs for e-commerce, facilitating returns, affordable parcel rates, and regional trade. Additionally, it must invest in secure, green, and data-respecting operations—modernizing logistics, strengthening postal cybersecurity, and embedding privacy-by-design in digital systems. Finally, through Mano River Union (MRU) cross-border cooperation, Liberia can work with sister postal services such as SALPOST to pilot simplified regional delivery routes and tracking systems that benefit traders, students, and small businesses. Together, these measures can transform the postal system into a driver of inclusive growth, connectivity, and citizen trust across Liberia and the MRU region.

From exam papers to vaccines, market goods to social welfare distribution, the Post remains a backbone of daily life. On World Post Day, WAICTANet reaffirms a vision: a Liberia where the Post is reliable, inclusive, tech-enabled, and trusted—a service reaching every community and opening doors to opportunities.

Let us commit, today and beyond, to building a postal system that supports our digital future and strengthens our region.

As Global Encryption Day 2025 approaches on 21 October, WAICTANet is spearheading a bold effort in Liberia—hosting a national youth cybersecurity symposium in Paynesville to fuse advocacy, skills development, and public policy direction. As a proud member of the Global Encryption Coalition, WAICTANet aims not only to celebrate encryption’s role in digital security, but to catalyze policy change—particularly pushing for a Personal Data Protection & Privacy Act and a stronger legal stance on encryption in Liberia.

Speaking from insights gained during recent training hosted by CIPESA in Namibia as part of this year’s digital rights circuit, Shardrack Mentowah—Technical Lead at WAICTANet—notes, “The Namibia training reinforced how encryption undergirds trust in digital systems. Here in Liberia, youth must grasp both the technical foundations and policy implications. Our symposium is a platform to bridge that knowledge gap and prepare a generation ready to defend privacy from the ground up.”

The event is designed as a bottom-up capacity building approach: through hands-on labs, peer learning, real case analysis, and awareness sessions, young people will gain cyber hygiene, cryptography awareness, safe communications, and data protection practices. This empowers not just students, but civil society and government staff to converge around shared norms and technical standards.

Moreover, this symposium aligns with regional and global momentum: the Global Encryption Coalition continues to rally civil society, tech platforms, and governments to defend strong encryption in policy forums. Global Encryption Coalition In this context, WAICTANet’s event is both timely and strategic—creating a pipeline of informed youth, motivating legal reform, and reinforcing Liberia’s voice in Africa’s encryption debates.

We call on the Liberian government to act decisively: finalize and enact national data protection legislation and adopt policies that defend strong encryption without weakening safeguards. As our digital future unfolds, the voices, skills, and choices of youth will anchor whether Liberia safeguards privacy—or risks exposure.