The Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF), a non-for-profit organization aimed at promoting knowledge in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and proper use of internet among the youth, has called for improved and equal physical and online protection of children.
According to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) statistics, as at March 2022, Nigeria has 145.9 million Internet users out of a population of 211.4 million.
With more subscribers having access to the Internet every day, NKF emphasized that it has become pertinent and necessary to address the technology in the lives of young Internet users, especially as groups actively involved in the SDGs 16.2 which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, violence and torture against children by 2030.
Highlighting these points, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, the Chairperson, Ndukwe Kalu Foundation, called for stakeholders to combine efforts to facilitate continuous awareness and protection campaigns to protect children online.
She said that policies and other regulatory instruments should be accorded same level of priority to both the physical and online safety of children.
Mrs Odusote hinted that NKF Board has approved the Child Online Safety, Protection and Report Abuse (COSPRA) Mandate and “has identified among others collaborative ideas, signs and symptoms of online abuse through the use of Internet and how best to deal with such situations; providing needed promotional awareness, guidance and support to children and affected young victims”.
“As part of achieving the COSPRA mandate, the Foundation is planning three key events; first, Annual Online Child Safety and Protection Summit in collaboration with multi- stakeholder groups facilitating the exchange & circulation of information and preventive tools for best practices;
“Secondly , we are going to conduct ‘Train the Trainers’ Training Programme at the six (6) GeoPolitical Zones in Nigeria to increase safe practice awareness in schools; and thirdly Promote open discussion, debates, events, programs etc., during conversations with key multi-stakeholders and partners globally”.
The Chairperson, listed COSPRA’s mandate as “To ensure a safer and more secure online environment for children and youth; to participate in active campaigns between all stakeholders in knowledge and experience sharing; to encourage procedures for the improvement of legal regulations as well as self- regulation instruments towards Child Safety online; amongst others.
She also said that the Foundation is positioned to promote safe activities on the Internet and how issues affecting the lives of its young users and the digital environment are protected.
ITREALMS recalls thst Ndukwe Kalu Foundation is a non-profit, non-political organization and special purpose vehicle established in April 2013 by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) as its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm with the sole purpose of driving developments in the technology space in memory of late Engr. Ndukwe Kalu – NiRA’s pioneer president who dedicated his life in driving Nigeria’s Information Technology.
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