—as Liberia Marks Global Encryption Day and Concludes Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 with Youth Empowerment
Monrovia, Liberia – October 31, 2025: Liberia has taken a decisive step toward a more digitally secure future, as over 200 students and young professionals from Monrovia, Paynesville, and nearby communities participated in the 2nd National Youth Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium.
The event was organized by the West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet—Liberia Chapter) in partnership with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPT).
It served as both the climax of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 and Liberia’s official observance of Global Encryption Day, under the theme “Empowering the Next Generation: Strengthening Cybersecurity Skills Among Liberia’s Youth.”
Empowering the Next Generation
Participants—drawn from high schools, universities, and youth organizations—received hands-on training in digital safety, cyber hygiene, data privacy, and encryption tools. Nearly half of the attendees were young women, underscoring WAICTANet’s commitment to inclusive technology education.
“This training changed how I see my phone and social media—I learned that one careless click can put all my data at risk,” said Precious Togba, a student from Paynesville Community School.
Leadership and Recognition
Angelic Weeks, Commissioner of the LTA, delivered the keynote address, urging youth to become the country’s “first line of defense in the digital age.”
“Our youth must not only connect—they must protect. Cyber-safety is now a national-security concern and an essential life skill,” she affirmed.
WAICTANet presented Commissioner Weeks with a Special Citation of Honor, naming her Cybersecurity Awareness Champion 2025 for her advocacy in promoting digital trust and safe innovation.
Addressing a Regional Challenge
With cyber incidents in West Africa rising by over 30% annually (INTERPOL 2025) and fewer than 10% of African students having received formal cybersecurity training, Liberia’s growing internet population—now 1.84 million users (32.4%)—faces increasing risks.
As a proud member of the Global Encryption Coalition, WAICTANet joined more than 70 global organizations in advocating for strong encryption as the foundation of privacy, trust, and economic opportunity.
“Liberia cannot build a digital economy without digital trust,” said Peterking Quaye, Regional Director for Programs & Projects at WAICTANet. “Our youth are ready not just to connect but to protect—and to lead our sub-region in cyber resilience.” Training Highlights and New Initiatives: Three regional experts led intensive sessions on:
Cyber Hygiene & Threat Detection, Data Protection, Encryption & Online Privacy, Digital Citizenship & Youth Leadership in Cyber Resilience.
Participants engaged in simulations and demonstrations on phishing detection, account protection, and responsible digital behavior.
A major highlight was the launch of the Youth Cyber Ambassadors Network (YCAN–Liberia)—a national initiative to establish school-based cyber-safety clubs across all 15 counties. YCAN will work with the Ministry of Education to integrate basic cybersecurity education into school curricula starting in 2026.
Commitment to Regional Impact
The symposium concluded with a youth pledge to promote safe digital behavior among peers and families. WAICTANet also announced plans to expand the initiative across Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire under its Mano River Union (MRU) regional program.
“Every time a young person verifies a link or enables two-factor authentication, they strengthen our nation’s digital defense,” Quaye added.
About WAICTANet – Liberia Chapter
The West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet) is a regional civil-society platform advancing digital inclusion, data-governance reform, and cybersecurity awareness across the MRU and ECOWAS regions.
WAICTANet partners with governments, the private sector, and youth organizations to promote digital trust, responsible innovation, and online safety for all.
