IPNEWS: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Liberia’s digital transformation agenda during the Liberia Tech Summit 2026, held at the EJS Ministerial Complex under the theme “Government Digital Transformation: Building a Smarter Liberia.”
The Summit brought together government leaders, development partners, private sector innovators, entrepreneurs, academia, and young technology leaders to advance a shared vision for Liberia’s digital future.
His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that digital transformation is no longer optional but essential to effective governance, economic competitiveness, transparency, job creation, and national development.
The President announced July 21 as ‘Technology Day’ in Liberia and highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving innovation and building a modern, citizen-centered government that leverages technology to improve service delivery and expand opportunities for all Liberians.
As a sponsor and strategic partner of the Summit, UNDP underscored that Liberia’s digital future will be shaped by investments in people, innovation, institutions, and partnerships. In remarks delivered during the opening ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Aliou Mamadou Dia emphasized that technology is not merely about digital tools, but about empowering people, creating opportunities for young Liberians, and positioning Liberia as a creator of solutions, enterprises, and knowledge in the global digital economy.
“Liberia’s greatest resource is the intelligence, imagination, and ambition of its young people,” Dia stated, noting that investments in skills such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, coding, data science, entrepreneurship, and innovation will determine the country’s long-term competitiveness and prosperity.
UNDP highlighted in a display video, several flagship initiatives that are helping to build Liberia’s innovation ecosystem, including the UNIPOD Innovation and Digital Hub, partnerships with the University of Liberia to develop advanced programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, collaboration with Orange Liberia to expand digital skills, and support to entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems.
These efforts are designed to equip young Liberians with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
The Summit also captured inspiring examples of the transformative power of education and opportunity. Among the young professionals recognized was Ms. Helen Momo, now employed by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) whose educational journey to pursue studies at Harvard University was supported by President Boakai before he was elected president of Liberia.
At the CBL, Helen invented a banking system ‘First Sovereign AI Infrastructure for Predicting Macroeconomic Forecasting and Financial Intelligence in the Region’ which the bank is currently using.
Her story reflects the immense potential of Liberia’s youth and demonstrates how strategic investments in education can create future leaders capable of contributing to national development.
UNDP Resident Representative further welcomed President Boakai’s continued leadership in advancing Liberia’s digital agenda, particularly through Executive Order No. 163, which established the Office of Technology, Digitalization and Innovation (OTDI) as the central coordinating authority for whole-of-government digital transformation
Dia commended the President’s vision, describing the establishment of OTDI as a significant step toward building a more efficient, transparent, and technology-enabled government.
Through its work on AI for Government, GovTech, and Digital Public Infrastructure, UNDP is supporting Liberia’s efforts to modernize public institutions, strengthen digital governance, improve service delivery, and enhance citizen engagement.
The UN agency reaffirmed its readiness to deepen collaboration with the Government of Liberia and other stakeholders to accelerate the country’s digital transformation journey.
The Liberia Tech Summit 2026 demonstrates growing momentum around innovation as a driver of national development. Participants explored opportunities to strengthen digital infrastructure, expand entrepreneurship, improve cybersecurity, foster technology-enabled public services, and build an innovation economy capable of creating jobs and attracting investment. The discussions reinforced a shared commitment to ensuring that technology serves as a force for inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development.
