Liberian Youth Take the Lead in Cyber Defense: WAICTANet Announces 2nd Youth Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium on October 31
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.”
