In their efforts to sensitize the students of secondary schools in Nigeria on
internet safety and security, the Centre for Information Technology and
Development (CITAD), in collaboration with Avocats Sans Frontières
France (ASF France) and Spaces for Change (S4C) under their e-Rights
project supported by the European Union in Nigeria has flagged-up the
training of more than 500 secondary school students in Kano State. The
CITAD
beneficiaries of the program were selected from 10 different secondary
schools in the state.
It has been observed that there are millions of children who are using
online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Tiktok etc. for
different purposes. While many of these children are using it for social
interaction, businesses, academic others are using these platforms for
pleasure. However, while some of the these children are being guided on
how to use these platforms by either their parents, guardians or teachers,
many are being left on their own which expose them to danger and
vulnerability of meeting bad people who in many instances bullied them,
sexually abused them or introduced them to bad behaviors or cultism. To
reduce these harms, the e-RIGHTS project sensitized these vulnerable
students in Kano State on Internet Safety and Security
The aim of the program is to sensitize and build the capacity of the
students on internet safety and security.
The sensitization which was started on the 2 nd of November, 2023 ran up
to the 24 th of November, 2023. The benefiting schools were Fatima
Muhammad Secondary School, Government Girls Secondary School Dorayi
Karama, Kofar Nasarawa Secondary School, Government Girls Secondary
School Unguwa Uku, Government Girls Secondary School Hausawa,
Government Girls Secondary School Sharada, SAS Kano, Government Girls
Secondary School Yakasai, Government Secondary School Tudun Maliki
(School for the disabled children) and Government Secondary School
Unguwa Uku.
Areas covered during the sensitization include Malware; Phishing;
Impersonation; Individual’s Online Safety; Internet Safety and Security;
How To be safe online which include practicing safe browsing, keeping
privacy settings on, keeping personal information professional and limited,
being careful of what and where to download, making sure internet
connection is secure, using a secure virtual private network (vpn)
connection, choosing strong passwords, and being careful of what you
post. Also issues of sexual harassment, cyberbullying, blackmail and other
online harassment were covered during the sensitization.
Speaking at the sensitization, many of the students confessed that they
had in one way or the other encountered one or two aspects of
cyberbullying while surfing the internet. According to the students, they
identified blackmail and harassment as some of the frequent challenges
they face on the internet.
The sensitization not only benefitted the targeted students but also the
teachers of the schools visited. In most cases, in some schools up to five
teachers joined the sensitization and learned from the discussion. Giving
feedback, some of the teachers stated that the sensitization has updated
CITAD
their knowledge on internet safety, particularly on issues of scammers and
identity theft, especially in this contemporary era where almost everyone
is utilizing various social media platforms for e-commerce. They also
identified the issue of sexual harassment which is now rampant on the
internet as a topic that they will ensure other students who were not in
attendance at the sensitization due to the limited number of the selected
students benefit from what they have learned.
CITAD in collaboration with other partners would continue to sensitize
teenagers including those out of schools in the area of internet safety and
security as the number of young people who are using the internet
especially social media is everyday increasing.
Feedback and
recommendations
Speaking at the sensitization, many of the students confessed that they
had in one way or the other encountered one or two aspects of
cyberbullying while surfing the internet. According to the students, they
identified blackmail and harassment as some of the frequent challenges
they face on the internet.
The sensitization not only benefitted the targeted students but also the
teachers of the schools visited. In most cases, in some schools up to five
teachers joined the sensitization and learned from the discussion. Giving
feedback, some of the teachers stated that the sensitization has updated
their knowledge on internet safety, particularly on issues of scammers and
identity theft, especially in this contemporary era where almost everyone
is utilizing various social media platforms for e-commerce. They also
identified the issue of sexual harassment which is now rampant on the
internet as a topic that they will ensure other students who were not in
attendance at the sensitization due to the limited number of the selected
students benefit from what they have learned.
