The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Meta (Facebook’s parent company), Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Initiative (ACSAI) and others have pushed for more action on digital access and online safety.
The experts made the call during an Online Safety Forum organised by the Techsocietal Social Enterprise in Lagos. The forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, policymakers, and experts with theme: Connected and Protected: Ensuring Digital Access for All.
The event highlighted the need for digital access, literacy, and safety, particularly for women and children in Nigeria.
Acting Director of Regulations and Compliance at NITDA, Emmanuel Edet, stressed the need for robust local policies regulating digital access.
“Providing access isn’t a problem, but providing meaningful digital access is the challenge,” he said during the opening panel discussion.
Edet urged policymakers to engage in dialogue with tech communities to enhance understanding of local online safety concerns.
A panel session entitled: “Building Stronger Partnerships for Platform Accountability: A Collaborative Approach to a Safer Digital Ecosystem” further emphasized the necessity for accountability among digital platforms. Speakers, including the Executive Director of Techsocietal, Temitope Ogundipe, and Head of Safety Policy for Meta in Africa, Sylvia Musalagani, called for collaboration among civil society, government, tech companies, and researchers.
“Transparency and accountability are vital for building user trust,” Ogundipe said, highlighting the need for partnerships to address issues such as misinformation, online violence, and privacy breaches.
Program Director at ACSAI, Juliet Ohahuru Obiora, stressed the importance of leveraging technology to protect children. “Educating children sometimes isn’t enough, that is why we have to have other remedies especially using the same technology to see that we are providing some level of protection for children,” she explained, advocating for multi-faceted approaches to safeguard young users.
Senior Manager at Paradigm Initiative, Adeboye Adegoke, echoed the same sentiment by calling for a comprehensive approach to digital literacy. “It’s not just about teaching people how to operate a computer; it’s about equipping them with the knowledge and context to use it safely,” he noted.
The forum included workshops aimed at enhancing online safety and protecting youth from online risks, particularly online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). As children’s engagement with digital platforms increases, safeguarding them from harmful content has become a critical priority.
A hotline for reporting child sexual abuse materials was introduced, underscoring the roles of parents, educators, civil society, law enforcement, and government in ensuring digital safety.
Speakers from organizations such as the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), TechHerNG, and Paradigm Initiative showcased successful initiatives aimed at promoting digital inclusion and safety for vulnerable populations.
Ogundipe stressed the commitment of Techsocietal to reducing digital inequalities, adding that it has been instrumental in empowering marginalized groups by promoting safety and human rights online. This year’s forum focused on the challenges and opportunities in navigating Nigeria’s digital landscape, with an emphasis on safeguarding end users.