Published: November 3, 2025
MONROVIA, Liberia – Starz University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, has made history by hosting the country’s first-ever Cybersecurity Hackathon, a landmark event designed to build national capacity in digital defense and innovation. Starz is one of Liberia’s leading institutions in technology education
Held Friday, October 31, at the university’s main campus in Airfield, the competition drew enthusiastic participation from students, highlighting Liberia’s growing pool of young tech talents eager to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Teams engaged in hours of intense coding, strategy, and problem-solving, showcasing both technical expertise and creativity. After a highly competitive session, Zero Day Squad emerged as the top winner, followed by F-society, 707 Error, and Smartcircle—the latter recognized as the best all-female team, reflecting the increasing participation of women in Liberia’s technology sector. The winners received medals, certificates, cash prizes, and special recognition for their outstanding performance.
Building Liberia’s Digital Defense
Ambassador Latim Dathong, Founder and Board Chairman of Starz University, described the Hackathon as a turning point in the advancement of ICT education in Liberia. “This fosters a new generation of cybersecurity experts prepared to tackle the evolving digital challenges facing businesses, organizations, and communities,” he said.
Dathong, a former Deputy Education Minister with more than two decades of experience in education both in Liberia and abroad, underscored the need for sustained national investment in technology and youth empowerment. “I am always inspired whenever I support the young generation because they are the ones who will take over this country,” he stated. “If we don’t support them now—especially in advanced technology, we risk weakening our nation’s future.”
Importance of Hackathons in Technology
Technology experts describe hackathon as innovation accelerator, a collaborative event that brings together programmers, designers, and problem-solvers to create technology-based solutions to real-world challenges within a limited time. They are known to strengthen critical thinking, teamwork, and practical skills, while also identifying emerging talent for national and global tech ecosystems.
In Liberia’s context, experts say such events can play a vital role in strengthening national cyber defense and positioning the country to respond effectively to the global rise in digital threats.
A Vision Beyond Competition
Students showcasing their talents in technology
The event’s organizers, including the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and Cyber Warriors, praised all participants for their ingenuity and drive. Starz University extended appreciation to sponsors and partners for their support in realizing the initiative. “This pioneering Hackathon is not just a competition—it’s an educational milestone and a celebration of Liberian youth ingenuity,” Ambassador Dathong said. “It sets the stage for future tech-focused events and creates new opportunities in cybersecurity across the nation.”
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