The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), convened a high-level stakeholder engagement on the protection of children online to discuss strategies for creating a safer digital environment for children in Nigeria.
In his speech, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, described the protection of children online as a national priority and a shared responsibility. He noted the growing influence of digital platforms on children’s attention, behaviour and information consumption, while warning of risks such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content and digital addiction. He cited stakeholder survey findings showing strong public support for enhanced child online protection measures, calling for a balanced approach that combines regulation, public awareness, parental guidance, school involvement and civil society participation.
In his remarks, the National Commissioner/CEO 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 highlighted 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. He also emphasised the value of stakeholder engagement in shaping policies and interventions that will safeguard children in the digital space.
A presentation on the comprehensive public consultation survey, capturing the views of Nigerians on the regulation of children’s access to social media platforms, was delivered at the event.
The event was attended by relevant stakeholders, including representatives of government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, industry innovators, school students and academia, who also made valuable contributions to discussions at the event.
