Daniel Chinagozi, chief executive officer, Innovation Growth Hub (IGHUB) has observed that giving young people online safety education would ensure that they practise safety on the internet for life.
Chinagozi, whose firm is partnering Public Private Development Centre (PPDC) and Google on the implementation of the online safety project for primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, stated that online safety education cannot be overlooked, by policy-makers, schools, parents, and the larger society.
He noted that online safety education aims at sufficiently exposing young people to knowledge, skills and competencies that would enable them to use internet resources safely and responsibly.
“The teaching and learning of online safety in primary and secondary schools is important to the future of Nigeria, as a nation that has integrated information technology into various aspects of life.
“This is because teaching the subject should help learners identify internet contents, links, and sites that are not safe and could damage their lives and those of their family members
“It would also enable learners to identify online content and platforms that are unlawful and injurious to society.
“It will also provide opportunities for learners to acquire and practice basic knowledge, skills, and competencies for safe internet use.
“It will further enhance learners’ capacity to effectively use the internet for personal, educational and societal advancement,” he stated.
He explained that IGHUB was offering teachers “a free one-day online safety training to enhance their knowledge and leverage the many possibilities of the web”.
According to Chinagozi, giving teachers training on online safety would help them understand the concept, to enable them to pass on the information to pupils and students.
He noted that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which is spearheading the move for online safety education in Nigeria, had asked other stakeholders to assist, nationwide.
