IPNEWS: A three-day digital training of stakeholders from diverse professional backgrounds on ways to use the internet for livelihood and business growth, and as well as transform the society, have officially ended in Monrovia.
The Internet Society Liberia Chapter in collaborating with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MOPT), and Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), hosted a dialogue on the improvement of the digital economy of Liberia. It was held under the theme: “Internet as a tool for economic growth: digital transformation in the digital economy of Liberia.”
The in-person forum which took place on Friday, November 25, 2022, at the Corina hotel, was an integral component of the dialogue held from November 23-25, 2022. It brought together dozens of Internet users.
The event offered an intensive learning progression or experience covering a wide range of topics on digital transformation in the digital economy. For example, Digital transformation and the main concept, to include infrastructure, E- Business, E- Commence, and E-Governance, was interspersed with questions and answers between the facilitators and participants.
Speaking at the opening of the in-person event, the President of the Internet Society Liberia Chapter, paid homage to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MOPT), Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) for the level of partnership always to provide training and education to individuals on internet ecosystem.
Mr. Matthew Roberts averred that the workshop aimed at sharing best practices and building capacity for individuals in a diversity of sectors in Liberia, as he mentioned that the training will brighten the minds of internet users and further enhance their skills on the unlocking of the digital economy in Liberia through digital transformation.
The objective of the dialogue according to Mr. Roberts, was to inform and create awareness of the use of Internet/ICT in support of the digital economy and society; Share international best practices on Digital Transformation; and Build capacity and skills development in the digital era through digital transformation. It is also to build capacity and information on tools needed for digital transformation in the digital economy.
“This training that will enable you to use your devices especially smart phone to improve your own life by generating income that will help you and your household. We have been targeting small and medium businesses, journalists, network operators, and government institutions responsible for ICT among others”, Mr. Roberts told the gathering.
Speaking further about the training, Mr. Roberts noted it has been designed to enhance the understanding of participants of newest technologies and innovation methodologies and also strived to make Liberia an improved digital economy with telecommunications/ICT tools being the vehicle by which socio-economic development is achieved.
“It is observed that Liberia’s businesses, institutions, and people use digital technologies for different purposes. However, the ability to use digital technologies as a transformational tool to grow the economy has a slow pace. This would be due to the lack of education in using digital technologies to grow one economy. The three days of the comprehensive workshop covered everything from core terminology to how digital transformation in the digital economy is important in branding, content creation, e-commerce, e-banking, e-governance, the gig economy,” he narrated.
Making further emphasis on the core value of the dialogue, he highlighted that in their effort to improve information technology, digital transformation, and digital economic growth in Liberia, to educate individuals about the possibilities and opportunities that technology possesses, the workshop targeted building the capacity of diverse groups from business institutions, universities, government, and civil society.
In brief remarks, the Director of Telecom at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (MOPT), Mr. Lawrence G. Sando expressed joy to partner with the Internet Society Liberia Chapter and encouraged participants to always make use of events organized by the institution. He acknowledged Internet Society programs bring insightful moment on how individuals can develop themselves in the digital space.
Director Sando was followed by Jarsay Burphy, Public Relations Officer at the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), who expressed commitment of the LTA to continue to work with the Internet Society Liberia Chapter, to provide the needful training to relevant stakeholders. She hoped for such capacity building engagement at a bigger level.
At the concluding stages of the workshop, participants received certificates and termed as impactful and vowed to use the day digital education acquired to impact their personal lives, geared towards equitable economic growth and sustained livelihood development.
