By Ajong Mbapndah L
Cybastion has officially opened its office in Gabon, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expanding African footprint and reinforcing its long-term commitment to helping African nations build secure, sovereign, and inclusive digital ecosystems.
The launch event in Libreville brought together senior Gabonese government officials alongside U.S. private sector leaders, highlighting the strategic importance of the initiative at a time when digital sovereignty, cybersecurity resilience, and workforce readiness have become central to national development agendas across Africa.
The opening of the Gabon office also marked the official introduction of Antonia Oliveira as Managing Director, a leadership appointment that signals Cybastion’s focus on strong local execution and sustained institutional engagement. In her role, Oliveira will oversee country operations, lead business development and stakeholder relations, and manage day-to-day activities as the company rolls out major digital infrastructure and skills initiatives in Gabon.
Cybastion’s engagement in the country is anchored by the construction of a state-of-the-art sovereign data center, a cornerstone project designed to strengthen national control over data, enhance cybersecurity operations, and enable the secure delivery of advanced digital services. Through its Digital Fast Track program, the company will support Gabon’s broader digital transformation agenda by strengthening core infrastructure, expanding access to advanced digital solutions—including a national digital identity ecosystem—and building long-term local capacity.
Speaking at the launch, Oliveira emphasized that Cybastion’s approach goes beyond infrastructure deployment, placing people at the center of digital development. “This event marks more than a program launch,” she said. “It reflects a deep conviction that human capital is the primary infrastructure for digital development in Africa.”
A seasoned professional in project management and strategic communications, Oliveira brings deep institutional experience to the role. She previously served for six years as Marketing and Communications Director at ANPI-Gabon, where she led the country’s global visibility strategy with international economic partners, coordinated sector monitoring activities, and helped organize major investment forums. Her background, Cybastion executives say, aligns closely with the company’s execution-driven model and emphasis on global-local collaboration.
“Antonia brings a modern, international, and execution-focused approach that we value at Cybastion,” said Dr. Thierry Wandji, President and CEO of Cybastion. “Her communications and project management expertise, strong local connections, and proven ability to convene global partners align perfectly with Cybastion’s mission to build secure, resilient digital ecosystems.”
Oliveira is a graduate of Florida International University in strategic communications and holds certifications in foreign direct investment from the Wavteq Institute and in results-based project formulation from the International Trade Center.
A central highlight of the Libreville event was the launch of Africa DigiEmpower in Gabon, Cybastion’s flagship digital workforce initiative administered by the THEYA Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, in partnership with Gabon’s Agence Nationale des Infrastructures Numériques et des Fréquences. Launched on January 27, the program will equip 1,000 young Gabonese people and women with in-demand digital skills through free, accredited training courses delivered via the Cisco Networking Academy, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
Alberto Mounguengui Moudoki, Director General of ANINF, underscored the agency’s role in supporting the rollout of training programs and technology camps nationwide, emphasizing the importance of public-private collaboration in building a future-ready digital workforce. During the event, Fatima Kourouma, Program Manager for the THEYA Foundation, announced the official opening of the registration platform, enabling participants to enroll in upcoming training cohorts through Gabon’s dedicated Africa DigiEmpower portal.
The Gabon office launch comes at the close of what Dr. Wandji described in his year-end message as a pivotal year for Cybastion—one defined by strategic expansion, deep partnerships, and decisive execution. In 2025, the company expanded into four new markets—Gabon, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola—while advancing major digital transformation projects across West and Central Africa through a growing consortium of U.S. and local technology partners.
A flagship achievement during the year was the rollout of Cybastion’s Digital Fast Track program, an accelerated national transformation model that integrates sovereign data centers, cybersecurity solutions, digital platforms, and workforce development to address both infrastructure and human-capital gaps critical to Africa’s long-term competitiveness. Construction also began on Côte d’Ivoire’s national data center, while digital modernization efforts progressed within the country’s Ministry of Finance and Industry. Programs in Benin and Burkina Faso advanced to critical stages, with new initiatives planned for launch in Gabon and Guinea in 2026.
Beyond infrastructure, Cybastion deepened its commitment to inclusive development through the launch of the THEYA Foundation and Africa DigiEmpower. Since its first cohort in Côte d’Ivoire, the initiative has reached more than 10,000 youth and women across 12 cities, delivering training both online and in person. A three-month Learn-a-Thon trained 1,824 participants in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and networking, culminating in a competitive final in mid-December.
Another landmark achievement was the opening of the Cybastion Tech Academy in Abidjan, now designated as an official Cisco Networking Academy partner and Academy Support Center, positioning it as a regional hub for advanced technology training and talent development.
As Cybastion enters 2026, the opening of its Gabon office—and the appointment of Antonia Oliveira as Managing Director—signals the next phase of the company’s Africa strategy. With sovereign infrastructure projects underway, large-scale digital skills programs launching, and leadership rooted in both local expertise and global engagement, Cybastion’s growing presence in Gabon reflects a broader shift across the continent—one in which digital transformation is no longer aspirational, but actively being built, securely and inclusively, with African nations firmly in control of their digital futures.
