Liberia: LTA to Provide Digital Skills to Over 10K Liberian Youth in 3 Months

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA)  says it is potentially poised to begin the digital literacy program aimed at empowering about 10,000 youths and students through digital skills training. It will be known as the “Liberia Digital Skills Project.” 

The Commissioner General of the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), Edwina Crump Zackpah, said the training will be in attestation of the statement made by President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr, during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Capitol on January 29.

“In our quest to expand the economy we will leverage Information Communication Technology (ICT) in creating jobs, especially for our youth. To achieve this, my Administration will train up to 10,000 young people in various digital skills in the first half of 2024,” the President said Monday, January 29, 2024.

The Chairperson of the LTA Board of Commissioners told members of the House of Representatives in Chamber on February 6 that Information Communication Technologies (ICT) will cover a range of essential skills.

They include mobile skills, e-commerce, e-learning, and other tools necessary for over 10,000 youths from the 15 counties of Liberia to thrive in the digital age.

“Digital transformation is a significant step towards building the nation and making our future brighter,” Madam Zackpah indicated.

She added that Liberians who are trained will  gradually become digital citizens. 

Following Madam Zackpac’s PowerPoint presentation, the House of Representatives voted for the House/s Committee on Post and Telecommunication to quiz the Board of Commissioners (BOC) of the Liberia  Telecommunications Authority (LTA)  on “how”  its Digital Skills Project will train 10,000 young people in various digital skills in three months.

Also, they asked her to state the ways and means, including recruitment and venue for training among others.

The LTA Commissioner’s presentation was in response to a communication from Maryland County District #1 Representative, P. Mike Jury.

Representative Jury recounted the State of Nation Address by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., who announced plans to expand the economy.

He said President Boakai promised to leverage Information Communication Technology in creating jobs, especially for Liberian youth.

“To achieve this, my Administration will train up to 10,000 young people in various digital skills in the first half of 2024,” the lawmaker said, quoting the President.

According to the lawmaker, in this regard to achieve the laudable policy established by the President, time is of essence.

“It is important that LTA gives the people’s deputies a clear strategy and how inclusive it will be to cover the nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, February 8, the National Security Committee of the House of Representatives gave its comprehensive report in Executive Session (closed door) relating to a despicable and embarrassing security breach by Executive Protection Service (EPS) which rendered President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.,  completely exposed to attack, when an unidentified man penetrated their shield and reached for the chest of the President.
Details of the report are not known but an excerpt of the report, copy of which is in the possession of the Daily Observer, says, “Liberia’s topmost and elite security force, the Executive Protection Service (EPS), which is statutorily and entirely responsible for the presidential protection duties, embarrassingly failed to deter or clampdown an attack on President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.”