Ugwu: Why Parents Must Protect Children from Cyber Predators

Noela Ugwu is a growth coach who trains employees of corporate organisations on soft skills and organises personal development programmes for children. In this interview with Funmi Ogundare, she explained why bridging the technology gap for the girl-child and for parents to protect their children from cyber predators is important. Excerpts:

What are the soft skills you teach children?

I teach them etiquette, self-leadership, time management, organisation skills, self-awareness or self-discovery, how to handle peer pressure and bullying and anything that will help children to develop as responsible people and help them navigate the complexities of life. This time around, we want to do something different; to introduce secondary school girls to the world of tech. There is this general notion that tech is for boys. Each time we talk about tech, we usually see boys at the forefront, and the girls feel it is not for them. The global statistics of male to female in tech is that women represent below 30 per cent. It is a gap that we want to fill by introducing the girls at a very young age to the world of technology and letting them understand that it is not just for their male counterparts, and they can open their minds to that. We also want to show them the opportunities available in tech so that if they decide to study such a course at the university, they already know what they will do with it. 

Why do you think it is important to introduce technology to girls early?

The reason people don’t embrace tech is because they don’t understand it and how relevant it will be to what they are going to do. If they are introduced to the world of tech on time, by the time they want to choose their course of study, they are well informed about the trajectory they want to follow and know what to do with the learnings by the time they leave the university. We also want to present to them female role models in tech so that they can see the women who are already excelling in the field. To accomplish this, we are hosting a one-day tech conference in the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). We have always had our personal development programme for young people at the university. We want to touch rural areas. What I plan to teach the children in Nsukka is what I teach others in metropolitan cities, but they can’t afford our fees.

Hence the reason why we are taking it to them free of charge. We are also taking it round the country, but we need to fine-tune our strategies to touch other locations. The tech conference is aimed at introducing tech to girls, demystifying the world’s assumption of male suitability for tech and showing them the opportunity that is available globally, as well as how technology can enhance their learning so that every time they have a device in their hands, they don’t just go snooping around social media platforms. They should know that they can actually learn a lot with a phone. After the conference, we plan to choose a few girls and train them on real tech skills, such as how to design e-banners. Imagine if they can use this during the holidays, and it becomes their own vacation job, they can make some money. We also want to teach them blogging, creating websites and video editing. These are things that people can do from their bedrooms. They can be equipped with these skills and make money during the holidays for themselves. As they are doing that, they are honing their skills in these areas. 

Why focus these skills on the girls and not the boys?

There is this gender gap when it comes to tech. The boys are in it already. Less than 30 per cent of the professions globally are held by women, so we need to close that gender gap. We want to bring girls to the level where the boys are. Guys are naturally interested in technology, but girls don’t think this thing is meant for them, and that is why we are intensifying action where they are. UNN has given us a space for the conference, and it’s coming up on September 2. They are partnering us to train the girls on video editing, banner designs, etc.

How soon do you intend to spread the message across underserved areas in Nigeria?

As a matter of fact, next year, we are looking at a tour of four cities, such that each quarter, we can plan a tour of one city each. We are calling on everybody that can support us to help us actualise this vision. We are also planning a hub where the girls can learn these skills. If we hold the conference without teaching them the skills, then we have not completed a cycle. So we are counting on support from corporate organisations because we need to get them devices like laptops that we are going to be using for learning.

The world is gradually shifting to Artificial Intelligence (AI). What is your view about it?

Artificial Intelligence is where the world is. One of the speakers, Eze Anesioba, is an AI expert. He has created animations using AI and tells stories using African folklore. These are some of the things that we want the girls to see. We also have other experts on tech coming for the conference. They will be speaking from the point of experience to equip the girls with the skills.

Now that schools are on holiday, what do you think the girls should be doing, and how do you think parents can keep a check on them online?

Girls should actually have the opportunity to develop themselves in things that they find interesting and exciting, and technology is one thing that children naturally are endeared to. This generation loves gadgets, and that is why we want to meet them at the point of their excitement. We are also going to create something productive for them using gadgets. When a teenager picks up her parent’s handsets, she is doing something productive. She is not just surfing from one platform to another. So when the parents see that the girls are developing these skills, enlightening and keeping them busy, they should encourage them. With that, they can stay out of trouble, which becomes a win-win for everybody. These are potential earning opportunities for these children.

However, cyber behaviours, etiquette, and security issues arise. These are some of the things I also teach in my holiday programmes. We teach children how not to behave online. We teach them who to or not to talk to. There are issues every day. Sometimes when you organise programmes like this, even for free, you don’t see parents insisting their children attend. The problem we seem to have in Africa is that we take in what the West has told us hook, line and sinker. We don’t ask ourselves if these things adapt to our situation. Parents should know when to call our authority and give your child instructions. I teach leadership. It is not every decision that a leader democratises. In times of crisis, you don’t have time for consensus, and we live in a crisis period. Teaching your child what will protect them from cyber predators is not something you should negotiate because when the chips are down, it is a matter of life or death. You should know when to use the democratic or autocratic style of leadership. That is the real test of leadership skills. Everything is not debatable. 

What is the way forward on your initiative?

We are looking for people to partner with us to actualise this vision and achieve something significant. We are looking at rural areas, especially children from public schools. Children from private schools already have access to these things; learning on tech is part of their curriculum. When I think that children who don’t have access to this knowledge are actually meant to compete with children who have access to it in this same world, will you call it an unfair advantage? That is what it is. Life is not fair, but we can try to bridge that gap.