Foundation Calls for More Online Protection of Children

Emma Okonji

As part of this year’s children day celebration, which held at the weekend, 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 youths, has called for improved physical and online protection of children. 

Speaking during the occasion of Children’s Day 2022 celebration, the Foundation observed that the exponential growth of technology has created tremendous opportunities for children and young people globally, adding that it enables them to learn, share and communicate expressing themselves freely without inhibition or border.  

Nigeria has 145.9 million internet users out of a population of 211.4 million, according to statistics released in March this year by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

With more subscribers having access to the internet every day, Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF) emphasised 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, the Chairperson, Ndukwe Kalu Foundation, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, called on stakeholders to combine efforts to facilitate continuous awareness and protection campaigns for children online. 

She said policies and other regulatory instruments should be accorded same level of priority to both the physical and online safety of children.  

Odusote hinted that the Board of the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation 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.”