Monrovia: TECHz Magazine – News Desk
The Government of Liberia, in partnership with US technology firm Cybastion and networking leader Cisco, has launched a nationwide initiative to establish five women’s technology and business innovation hubs. Formally announced as the Liberia Women’s Digital and Economic Empowerment Program, the agreement aims to bridge the digital divide by equipping Liberian women with essential technological skills, entrepreneurship training, and critical business development support.
The agreement was officially signed by Liberia’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gbeme Horace Kollie, and Cybastion CEO Dr. Thierry Wandji Ketchiozo during the Corporate Council on Africa’s Trade and Investment Roundtable on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The initiative will establish a flagship technology campus in the capital, Monrovia, alongside four regional centers in Voinjama, Gbarnga, Kakata, and Buchanan. These campuses are explicitly designed to expand economic participation across several key sectors.
According to Liberia’s Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, the hubs will heavily support women in agriculture, empowering female farmers to boost production, access real-time market and weather data, utilize artificial intelligence tools, and integrate into broader supply chains. Through a collaboration with Cybastion’s philanthropic arm, Theya Foundation, and Cisco, women and youth at the hubs will receive formal technical training via the Cisco Networking Academy.
A defining feature of the initiative is the inclusion of modern, on-site childcare centers at every campus. Recognizing that childcare responsibilities often prevent women from pursuing ongoing education and business training, these integrated daycare facilities ensure mothers can fully participate in the program’s offerings without being hindered by caretaking limitations.
“Liberian women are a vital force in the country’s economic and social development. By bringing digital skills, entrepreneurship support and modern child care together in one place, these technology innovation hubs will create pathways for women to build stronger businesses and participate more fully in Liberia’s digital economy.” Dr. Thierry Wandji Ketchiozo, CEO of Cybastion
The hubs will provide participating women with structured pathways for professional and economic growth. This includes digital skills training delivered in partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy to prepare women for the digital economy, alongside business development support for strengthening management capacity and entrepreneurial skills. Additionally, the program offers market integration tools to connect local businesses and agricultural workers to new markets and vital financial services, backed by ongoing mentorship for sustainable business expansion.
The launch of the women’s digital hubs marks Cybastion’s second major agreement with the Liberian government, following a broader five-year “Digital Fast Track” program aimed at building new data infrastructure, establishing cybersecurity frameworks, and connecting the nation to an additional subsea cable.
