The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has convened a high-level stakeholder engagement aimed at creating a safer digital environment for children across the country.
Minister Highlights National Priority
Opening the conference, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized that protecting children online is both a national priority and a shared responsibility. He noted the growing influence of digital platforms on children's attention, behavior, and information consumption, highlighting risks such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and digital addiction.
Dr. Tijani cited findings from a stakeholder survey that showed strong public support for enhanced child online protection measures. He called for a balanced approach combining regulation, public awareness, parental guidance, school involvement, and civil society participation.
NDPC Commissioner Calls for Coordinated Approach
The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, stressed the need for a coordinated approach to protecting children online, noting that the Internet has become a natural part of children's daily lives. He emphasized the importance of strengthening legal awareness, promoting a duty-of-care model for digital platforms, addressing privacy and age-verification concerns, and ensuring greater accountability by platform providers.
Dr. Olatunji also underscored the imperative of stakeholder engagement in shaping policies and interventions to safeguard children in the digital space.
Public Consultation Survey Presented
A presentation on the comprehensive public consultation survey, which captured the views of Nigerians on regulating children's access to social media platforms, was delivered at the event. The survey results are expected to inform future policy decisions.
Diverse Stakeholders Participate
The event was attended by representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, industry innovators, school students, and academia. All participants made valuable contributions to the discussions, reflecting a broad consensus on the need for urgent action to protect children online.
