During the workshop’s interactive session, Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, expressed concerns about the low digital literacy regarding online safety in sub-Saharan Africa. Musalagani further highlighted Meta’s collaboration with child experts from the police, film censors board, and non-governmental organizations.
Participants also discussed the challenges related to the effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act (CRA). Rita Ilevbare, the coordinator of the Ekiti State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, urged advocates for women and children to test the provisions of these acts to bring about tangible results. However, Temitope Ogundipe, the Executive Director of Tech Societal, pointed out that the non-adoption of VAPP and CRA in some states hinders the success of the acts in addressing online violence.
The workshop shed light on the alarming vulnerability of children and adolescents to online risks in Nigeria, with a recent report from the Nigeria Communications Commission indicating that 90% of 4-16-year-olds in the country have been exposed to cyber risks. Additionally, women and girls in Nigeria disproportionately face online violence, including non-consensual image-based sexual abuse, rape threats, cyberstalking, and doxxing.
