Published: November 3, 2025
Paynesville — More than 200 students and young professionals from Monrovia, Paynesville and nearby communities were trained in cybersecurity and digital safety during the second National Youth Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium, held Friday in Monrovia.
The event, hosted by the West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet-Liberia) in partnership with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, marked the close of Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Liberia’s observance of Global Encryption Day. This year’s theme was “Empowering the Next Generation: Strengthening Cybersecurity Skills Among Liberia’s Youth.”
Participants — including senior high school and university students as well as youth organization representatives — received practical training in cyber hygiene, data privacy, encryption tools and responsible digital behavior. Nearly half of the attendees were young women, reflecting WAICTANet’s effort to expand opportunities for women in technology.
“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 at Paynesville Community School.
LTA Commissioner Angelic Weeks delivered the keynote address, calling on young people to take the lead in protecting Liberia’s digital space.
“Our youth must not only connect — they must protect,” Weeks said. “Cyber safety is now a national security concern and an essential life skill.”
WAICTANet presented Weeks with a Special Citation of Honor, naming her Cybersecurity Awareness Champion 2025 for her advocacy in promoting digital trust and safety.
The symposium comes amid increasing cyber incidents across West Africa, which have risen by more than 30% annually, according to INTERPOL. Fewer than 10% of African students have formal cybersecurity training, even as internet use expands rapidly. Liberia has an estimated 1.84 million internet users — about 32.4% of the population.
“Liberia cannot build a digital economy without digital trust,” said Peterking Quaye, WAICTANet’s regional director for programs and projects. “This symposium shows that our youth are ready not just to connect, but to protect — and to lead in building cyber resilience.”
Three regional experts led sessions on threat detection, data protection, encryption and digital citizenship, including hands-on simulations on identifying phishing attempts and securing online accounts.
A major highlight was the launch of the Youth Cyber Ambassadors Network (YCAN-Liberia), which will establish school-based cyber safety clubs nationwide and work with the Ministry of Education to introduce basic cybersecurity into school curricula beginning in 2026.
The event ended with participants pledging to champion safer digital habits in their schools, homes and communities.
WAICTANet says it plans to replicate the program in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire under its Mano River Union cybersecurity initiative to strengthen regional cooperation on digital safety.
“Every time a young person verifies a link before clicking or enables two-factor authentication, they are strengthening the nation’s digitaldefencee,” Quaye said.
WAICTANet-Liberia is part of a regional civil society network promoting digital inclusion, data governance reforms, and cybersecurity awareness across the MRU and ECOWAS region.
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