PIN introduces Curbing Cybercrime essay

Information and Communication Technology ((CT) driven non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Lagos, the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), has introduced ‘Curbing Cybercrime in Nigeria’ essay contest for students in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan, disclosed this last weekend and said that there are an increased concern over Internet safety.

“Especially as those who never had access are increasingly now being connected through their computers, mobile phones and other devices,” he said

Sesan noted that while the prevalence of social networking websites, online communities and internet-enabled processes should be of great news for individual, corporate and government users, but the concern for safety remains a major source of worry for ICT enthusiasts.

According to him, the 2007 Internet Crime report listed Nigeria as number three on the world’s top 10 online crime spots, stressing that the prevalence of cybercrime among a sizeable number of young Nigerians goes to show the need for immediate concern, mostly with the recent boom in mobile service provision and online payment platforms in the country.

With support from Microsoft Nigeria, Nigeria Computer Society and Teledom Group, PIN, he said, is proud to announce an essay competition as part of its ongoing Microsoft-sponsored social campaign against cybercrime.

He explained that essays are invited only from students of tertiary institutions in the country and the theme to be explored is “Curbing Cybercrime in Nigeria,” with a focus on what must be done to redirect the energy of young Nigerians towards productive online engagements.

Submission, he said, must be in Microsoft Word document attachment to essay@pinigeria.org on or before11:59pm on October 19, 2008.
Sesan further said, the winning essay would be announced at the campaign event holding in Lagos on October 25, 2008.

“So all those whose essays go past the first screening exercise would be invited to attend the event,” he said, while prizes to be won include Laptops, Multimedia Desktop Personal Computer (PCs) and Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS)-enabled Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) wristwatches.

ITRealms Online recalls that few weeks back, PIN launched its ISSPIN campaign in search of youthful Internet Ambassadors to aid in sensitization of youths on cyber crime.



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