As the world commemorates the 2019 Safer Internet Day, Paradigm Initiative, PIN, has urged Nigerians to adopt safer internet practices.

The pan-African digital rights and inclusion advocacy organisation made this call in a statement at a media parley held Monday, in Lagos.

According to Sodiq Alabi, the organisation’s Communications Officer, “The Safer Internet Day is a day set aside to raise awareness of emerging online issues, and leveraging these to help improve the safety of internet users, especially children and youths. Paradigm Initiative has been empowering youth with digital skills in Nigeria for over a decade, and we have always been conscious of the need to train internet users on the responsible use of the tool.”

The organisation noted that it has embarked on a digital literacy campaign targeted at young people in Abia, Lagos and Kano, the three states where it currently runs training centres dedicated to information, communication, and technology skills acquisition among underserved youth.

“The digital literacy campaign includes classes on digital security for youth, media outreach and roadshows. The campaign is aimed at encouraging internet users in the country to make positive use of the Internet”.

“This is a crucial time to embark on this campaign as Nigeria heads to the polls in a matter of days. Young people are especially impressionable. We want them to recognize that issues of false news, hate speech and cyber harassment are phenomena that can negatively affect peace and security, but also the integrity of an election.  We believe internet users’ education is one of the ways to combat these phenomena, Tosin Abolaji, Paradigm Initiative Digital Inclusion Program Manager.”

“Our message to youth is to be more discerning in how they consume content on social media and other platforms. That something is online does not make it true. We encourage all users to acquire fact-checking skills so they don’t fall prey to misinformation campaigns and they don’t themselves unwittingly spread misinformation,” Abolaji added.

According to Facebook which is currently partnering with more than 20 African NGOs for Safer Internet Day 2019, “Paradigm Initiative Nigeria is running workshops on safer internet use as part of its LIFE program in Kano, Lagos and Aba”.

“Facebook’s Safe Online trainers will run two-hour workshops in both PIN’s LIFE Centres and at schools in Kano and Lagos for this initiative”.

“Working with Facebook on online safety aligns with our focus on driving digital inclusion and educating the youth about their digital rights,” Tope Ogundipe, Director of Programs at Paradigm Initiative Nigeria said. “This programme promises to equip the children who participate with skills and knowledge that will enable them to make confident use of the Internet in their day to day lives.”

This year’s celebration is themed: “Together for a Better Internet”.