Digital Rights In Nigeria: ASF France Supports Fight Against Cyber Bullying
By Bukar BOLORI
An international human rights organisation, Advocates Sans Frontiers (ASF) France in Nigeria with support from the European Union through its e-RIGHTS platform has called the federal government to promote cyber friendly space in Secondary schools across the country.
In a mission to strengthen e-Rights in Nigeria, ASF France under its e-Rights project has organised an inter-school video competition among students in Secondary schools in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to create awareness among students on how to fight cyber misconduct.
At the intensely contested video competition among the five selected schools, the Government Secondary School (GSS), Wuse Zone 3, Abuja carting away the first place prize.
On the occasion, one of the jurists during the competition, Mrs. Glory Ohagwe said the programme was great and quite challenging.
She commended EU, ASF, and other partners for pushing this advocacy forward.
She said: “As the world gravitates towards online, more technology, more businesses online, more communication online, it’s very important that we create a safe space for all online users.Judging from the entries that we’ve seen from the students from different schools, the effects of cyberbullying have been shown forth. It even leads to depression, low self-esteem, and death, among other dire consequences. So this is very commendable and we hope that when we get to the grand finale, the best school in Nigeria would win and that their materials would have enough publicity to drive home the message that cyberbullying must be nipped in the bud.
“Cybertechnology is an emerging frontier for Nigeria. To look through the windows, we can see the governments of the United States, Canada, and other developed nations. They are miles away from us. So I think in Nigeria, with the proper laws and policies in place and with proper enforcement, because these days you get to see people being arrested for cyberstalking, for cyberbullying, it means that efforts are being made by the government to put the policies in place. So we would be talking about more advocacy on the proper use of cyberspace for the common good of Nigeria and Nigerians. Advocacy can never end”.
The Communication Officer of ASF, Mr. Chinedu Christopher, speaking at the occasion also affirmed that the competition was aimed at promoting responsible and safer use of cyber technology.
He said: “Today is Digital Rights in-school competition, we are organizing it under our e-Rights project, which is enhancing digital rights in Nigeria. The reason for this is that we feel the need to engage young Nigerians. Also, as part of enhancing digital rights in Nigeria, we’ve been engaging CSOs, stakeholders, government agencies, and ministries to protect digital rights online.
“Saying no to cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, defamation, and also encouraging people to engage respectfully online. A component of our project allows people to be free and not for the government to always pick them up when they make comments. So, what we are doing now is another dimension where we engage young Nigerians and give them the necessary skills and tips to engage respectfully online.
“We have a first of its kind in Abuja, but we had the same thing in Lagos, Imo, Kano, and now in Abuja. In FCT, we have over 25 schools that applied. We shortlisted them down to five, and now we have now done a finale for the five to get one winner”.
He pleaded that the government should continually do more initiatives like this for the students to understand exactly what cyber bullying is, to leave no child behind in the advocacy.
