First Lady tasks telecom stakeholders on child online protection

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has stressed the need for greater action on child online protection, calling on International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Member States and Sector Members to build expertise, develop educational programmes and curriculums to address a safe and responsible use of the internet.
In a statement by a State House Press Secretary, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, Mrs. Jonathan, who is a global Child Online Protection Champion, stated this in her message to mark Safer Internet Day (SID), on the theme “Let’s create a better internet together.”

According to the statement, she said in line with the global UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Child’s Rights Act of 2003, it was a sacred duty to protect children from wrong use of the internet.
She invited stakeholders to develop practical tools to help minimise internet risk on children, urging them to put in place measures that could address online safety.

The Global Child Online Protection champion also called for the establishment of policies and effective frameworks, which protect the use of private data and intellectual property, and discourage online criminal activity.
She said: “Children are a vulnerable group. If not properly educated, sensitized and monitored, they can easily fall prey to the dangers of cyber fraudsters and predators.

“Children must make the best possible use of online technology. They must, however, avoid the risk associated with internet use.”
It is worthy to note that every February 11, the world marks Safer Internet Day (SID), to promote safe, responsible use of the internet by children and young people, and to protect them from illegal and harmful content and conduct online.