The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged parents and guardians to monitor and manage the engagement of their children online.
It stated that the uncontrolled exposure to cyberspace is fraught with a lot of negativities to children’s wellbeing.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta, said these during the recent First Web Rangers Nigeria Summit in Abuja.
The summit, with the theme, “Navigating the Responsibility of Online Safety Between Users, Providers and Regulators”, discussed measures for addressing challenges posed by online criminal activities as they affect children and youths.
The summit was a Google’s initiative that focuses on developing digital literacy and equipping telecom consumers with the knowledge they require for their online safety.
Danbatta, in a release by NCC Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said “it is imperative to know what our children are doing in the cyberspace.”
The NCC Executive Vice Chairman was represented at the summit by the Director, New Media and Information Security (NMIS), Dr. Haru Alhassan.
Danbatta said the Commission is committed to supporting the governance and security of the nation’s cyberspace, as well as facilitating the adoption of innovative technologies and acquisition of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills.
He said the telecom regulator is aware of the responsibilities entrusted on it in ensuring safety in the digital ecosystem, which informed its establishment of the NCC Computer Security Incidence Response Team (CSIRT) that was inaugurated in 2021.
He explained that CSIRT responds to computer security incidents to regain control and minimise damage, providing or assisting with effective incident response and recovery, and inhibiting computer security incidents such as malware, virus, and online child threats.
He also recalled the Commission’s establishment of the Internet Industry Code of Practice (ICP) in 2019, which was designed to secure the country’s cyberspace against imminent threats from cyber attackers as well as addressing issues such as online child protection, privacy and data protection, among others
He noted that the Commission is a member of the National Committee on the Development of a Unified National Strategy on Child Online Protection (COP) in Nigeria.
Danbatta emphasised that NCC regularly sensitises parents and children on cybercrime trends such as cyberbullying, phishing, and online identity theft.
Dawn Dimowo, Manager, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google Nigeria, stated that the summit was an opportunity for strengthening the advocacy for digital safety and allowing the youth to share their innovation.
The maiden web ranger summit was anchored by the Public and Private Development Center (PPDC), through the Digital Inclusion and Safer Internet (DISI) programme.
The PPDC has successfully pioneered safer internet and digital inclusion practices and activities in some schools and among many stakeholders in Nigeria.
Some of these initiatives included the development of the Online Safety Curriculum, the Web Rangers Clubs, online safety training for staff and students, and the annual celebration of safer internet day in collaboration with the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council (NERDC).
•••Commends Collaboration Among Government Agencies
In another development, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended the existing collaboration between government agencies, noting that it jas contributed to a healthy approach to meeting the strategic objectives of different organisations.
Enugu Zonal Controller of the Commission, Ogbonnna Ugama, said this when he received the leadership of the Enugu chapter of the Association of Heads of Federal Government Establishments (AHFGEs), on behalf of the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Danbatta.
Such collaboration has assisted the Commission to achieve some of its goals, he told the AHFGEs delegation, which was on a courtesy visit.
Ugama said the NCC has, over the years partnered with many organisations, both within the private and public sector and that such partnerships have helped to enhance the performance of the sector in terms of contribution to national economy.
He said this informed the Commission’s placing premium on collaboration as an item of agenda in its strategic mission.
Ugama also said the leadership of NCC has developed the Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and the Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 as roadmaps towards accomplishing its mandate, with collaboration as one of focus areas of regulatory pursuit.
He conveyed the appreciation of the NCC Executive Vice Chairman to the leadership of AHFGE for seeking greater collaboration with NCC.
Earlier, Chairperson of Enugu chapter of AHFGE, Ifeoma Ijetta, commended the NCC Zonal Office for approving to host the next meeting of AHFGE’s in Enugu.
She emphasized the importance of strategic collaboration among Federal Government establishments for effective service delivery to the citizens.
“The success of the government is measured by the collective success of all component units delivering on their different mandates. We are happy with NCC’s positive honour for our proposal and noted commitment to collaboration and partnership,” she said.
