The Liberia Information Technology Students Union (LITSU) has come out in support of what is believed to be a landmark agreement between the Government of Liberia and the US-based Cybaston Institute of Technology.
The pro-advocate for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) group is commending the administration of President Joseph Boakai for entering into an agreement with the US-based Cybaston Institute of Technology to implement the Digital Fast Track (DFT) program in Liberia.
LITSU expresses profound gratitude and admiration for the recent strides made by the Government of Liberia in advancing the nation’s digital infrastructure and technology capabilities.
According to LITSU, the signing of a five-year agreement with the US-based Cybaston Institute of Technology to implement the Digital Fast Track (DFT) program is a monumental achievement that will propel Liberia towards becoming a regional digital hub.
The organization believes the forward-thinking initiative will not only address the critical digital gaps Liberia faces today but will also empower future generations by enhancing connectivity, streamlining public sector services, and fortifying cybersecurity.
“We particularly welcome the commitment to building Liberia’s internet resilience through enhanced undersea cable connections, increased bandwidth, and the establishment of a scalable data center to support the government’s digital services,” a released statement indicated.
As a body of students dedicated to the study and advancement of information technology, LITSU says it is excited about the opportunities the project will create. The Liberia Information Technology Student Union (LITSU) asserts that the project will increase accessibility to reliable internet, improve government services, and emphasize cybersecurity, which will open new doors for Liberian youth.
This, LITSU notes, will enable the youthful population to innovate, collaborate, and thrive in the global digital economy. LITSU also takes pride in the global recognition of President Joseph Boakai with the Alpha Phi Alpha Merit award in New York, United States of America.
In its press release, the group states: “We also take great pride in the global recognition of H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. with the Alpha Phi Alpha Merit Award in New York.” According to them, this not only speaks to the leadership of the current administration but also to the unwavering commitment of the government to position Liberia as a leader in digital transformation and good governance.
LITSU says it stands ready to support these initiatives through active participation, advocacy, and collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure that its peers are well-equipped to embrace the opportunities this transformation will bring. The student-based organization adds that it is interested in working closely with educational institutions, the private sector, and the government to ensure that Liberia’s IT students are at the forefront of these changes, benefiting from the skills and knowledge needed to be competitive in the tech industry.
LITSU concludes its release by stating: “Once again, we commend the Government of the Republic of Liberia for this bold and visionary step, and we look forward to seeing Liberia’s digital future unfold with success.”
The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), recently announced that it has signed a master service framework agreement with the US-based technology firm, Cybaston Institute of Technology, for the implementation of a Digital Fast Track (DFT) program in Liberia.
Under the agreement, Cybaston will implement a series of activities aimed at addressing the digital deficit the country currently faces. Cybaston will conduct a comprehensive assessment of Liberia’s current digital capabilities and design a tailored action plan to address the country’s technology gaps.
During the five-year period of the agreement, Cybaston will support the development, coordination, and implementation of a connection to an undersea cable to enhance Liberia’s international connectivity, redundancy, and bandwidth. The connection will also aim to position Liberia as a regional digital hub.
According to MICAT, the undersea connectivity will increase Liberia’s internet resilience and connectivity, with an additional capacity of up to 1 Tbps. Cybaston will also design, build, and implement a scalable data center to host the consolidated portfolio of existing and future e-government services and public infrastructure.
The firm will implement selected digital government services to enhance citizen interaction, streamline business processes, and modernize public sector operations, including services such as e-visa, e-taxes, and e-tourism, among others.
In a MICAT press release, it is indicated that Cybaston plans to develop and implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect Liberia’s digital assets, including citizen data and the critical infrastructures to be developed during the period.
The Ministry said the firm will establish a security operations center with capabilities to monitor, detect, and respond to cyber threats. A computer security incident response team will also be established to manage and mitigate security incidents associated with the digital infrastructure to be established.
Additionally, MICAT informed the public that Cybaston will hand over the digital capabilities to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications at the end of the five-year agreement period in September 2029.
