Senegal Launches Role Model Program in Cybersecurity and Innovation for Young Entrepreneurs
The initiative targeted young people aged 18 to 29, with 30 students selected from a pool of 187 candidates for intensive training in cybersecurity, digital law, public policy, digital entrepreneurship, and cybercrime awareness.
The Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications and Digital, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and partner TETHER, has launched a pilot program to strengthen cyber resilience and digital skills among Senegalese youth. The initiative targeted young people aged 18 to 29, with 30 students selected from a pool of 187 candidates for intensive training in cybersecurity, digital law, public policy, digital entrepreneurship, and cybercrime awareness.
Through the program, participants developed six innovative projects, with three finalists receiving financial support of 5 million FCFA each to help establish startups and create skilled jobs. The initiative is aligned with Senegal’s Vision 2050 and the four pillars of the New Technological Deal (horizon 2034), focusing on digital sovereignty, public service digitalization, digital economy development, and African leadership.
The certificate and funding award ceremony is scheduled for December 18, 2025, under the leadership of Minister Alioune Sall, with participation from institutional, technical, and academic partners. The program is designed as a model initiative for Africa, promoting youth empowerment, innovation, and cybersecurity across the continent.
