This presentation discusses Child Online Protection in Nigeria and the need for a multistakeholder approach in implementing it.

1. Child Online Protection in Nigeria:
The Need for a Multistakeholder
Approach
GSMA – Children and Mobile Technology
March 2019
Chukwuemeka Nzeih
Digital Bridge Institute
Abuja Nigeria
cnzeih@dbi.edu.ng

2. Child Online Protection
 Child Online Protection are activities
geared towards protecting children
and minors from abuse and
exploitation online .
 “COP is an international
collaborative network to protect
children worldwide against cyber
threats by providing legal, technical
and organizational measures”
(Wikipedia)
https://cugcr.ca/item1188

3.  The Internet offers unlimited opportunities for business, social and educational activities.
 As digital citizens, Children are becoming more connected, more engaged and Interact
using the Internet.
 The opportunities offered by the Internet is now being exploited to perpetrate crimes and
other nefarious acts by unscrupulous elements.
 “The revolution in Online communication have created tremendous opportunities for
young people today, but at the same time they have been exposed to new risk in
cyberspace” – Former ITU Secretary General Hamadoun I. Toure.
 Child Online protection seeks to protect Child from the risk they are exposed to in their
use of Cyberspace.
Introduction

4. Child Online Protection in Global Context
 The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 1989, which is the most widely referenced
document for the protection of the Right of the Child was opened for signature and
ratification by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November
1989, entered into force on 2 September 1990.
 The Child Online Protection Initiative championed by the ITU was established as an
international collaborative network for action to promote the online protection of children
worldwide through the provision of guidance on safe online behaviour in conjunction with
other UN agencies and partners. These partners are UNICEF, UNODC, UNICRI, UNIDIR,
European Commission, Interpol, ENISA, Insafe, CTO and IMPACT
 The Initiative provides guidelines for Parents, Educators, Guardians Industry and Policy
Makers. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/cybersecurity-capacity/content/guidelines-child-online-protection
 Over 180 nations have adopted the outcome of the document of a Special Session of
UNICEF on Children entitled 'A World Fit for Children'. Priority 3 of the document calls for
action to protect children against sexual abuse, exploitation and violence.
(https://www.ycwnigeria.org/copc.htm)

5.  Priority 3 of CRC calls for action to protect children against
sexual abuse, exploitation and violence .
 It also charges leaders to promote and protect the rights of
each child in accordance with the Convention on the Right of
the Child.
 In Paragraph 41, it calls for the raising of awareness of “The
illegality and harmful consequences of sexual exploitation and
abuse, including through the Internet, and trafficking in
children.”
 Paragraph 45 states that “Take necessary action, at all levels,
as appropriate, to criminalize and penalize effectively, in
conformity with all relevant and applicable international
instruments, all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse
of children (UN, 2002).”
ITU COP Global Initiative and CRC

6. Child Online Protection in Nigeria
 There has been efforts to advance Child Online Protection in Nigeria. These efforts have
been geared towards identifying risks and vulnerabilities to children in cyberspace, create
awareness, develop practical tools to help minimize risk, and share knowledge and
experience.
 In 2014, the then First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mrs. Patience Jonathan was
appointed as the champion of Child Online Protection Initiative in Nigeria by ITU/IMPACT.
 Section 9(9.1-9.7) of the Nigeria National Cyber Security Strategies discusses in detail a
national plan for Child Online Abuse and Exploitation Protection Strategy (COAEPS) into the
larger framework for National cooperation on cybersecurity.
https://www.cert.gov.ng/file/docs/NATIONAL_CYBESECURITY_STRATEGY.pdf
 Part 3 Section 23 of the Nigeria’s Cybercrime Prevention Act describes Child Pornography
and other related Offences and the penalties therein as part of a National Cybercrime
Prevention Policy. https://www.cert.gov.ng/file/docs/CyberCrime__Prohibition_Prevention_etc__Act__2015.pdf
 Several other agencies of Government such as Nigeria Communications Commissions,
National Information Technology Development Agency and Non Governmental
Organisations are also involved in Child Online protection.

7.  Children are becoming more tech savvy and are more dependent on the internet
for their school work, entertainment and other forms of interaction.
 Children are the future of the nation, thus their mind need to be properly molded
and protected from any form of abuse.
 Online abuse stigmatizes a child and such victim may develop other forms of
dysfunctional behaviour .
 Abuse may prevent children from fully harnessing their skills and energies towards
positive development.
The Need for effective COP in Nigeria

8. Key Indicators
A research carried out by Project Open Eyes in Lagos Nigeria found out the following;
 The research interviewed 2,041 children in Lagos, Nigeria, between the ages of 12 and
17
 The results showed high use of the internet for academic purposes, socialisation and
entertainment.
 It also revealed that children are engaged in sexting, online dating and viewing of
pornography, to varying degrees.
 9 out of 10 teenagers have access to the internet and three out of four have made
friends with strangers online.
 There remains a very low level of digital literacy and a lack of regulatory protection at
the state level.
 Children interviewed said they have experience psychological harm online particularly
cyber-bullying and online grooming
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/parenting4digitalfuture/2018/09/12/childrens-online-safety-in-nigeria/

9. Key Indicators
 9 out of 10 of the teenagers in the survey own a smartphone or mobile that can be used to
access the internet.
 7 out of every 10 of the boys have come across pornography online.
 5 out of every 10 have intentionally accessed pornography online.
 6 out of 10 girls have come across pornography online and nearly three out of 10 of the
girls have intentionally accessed it.
 54% of the girls say that someone has attempted to have a sexually explicit conversation
with them online.
 25% of the girls say that someone has asked for a nude or semi-nude picture of them
online and 7% of these girls acceded to such requests.
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/parenting4digitalfuture/2018/09/12/childrens-online-safety-in-nigeria/

10. Challenges of Child Online Protection in Nigeria
1. Non implementation of the universal definition of the
child, with children being defined as under 16 in some
states of the Federation and under 18 in others, in
accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), in others.
2. The state system has presented challenges in
enforcing Nigeria’s Child Rights Act (CRA). Only 26 of
the 36 states have officially accepted it as law.
3. There is a huge awareness gap on COP.
4. Lack of coordinated approach in combating Child
Online Exploitation and Abuse.
5. Majority of parents have limited awareness and digital
literacy skills to implement Mobile Network Parental
Controls and browser internet security settings.
6. Absence of harmonized and coordinated approach in
combating cases of exploitation of Children Online.
7. Absence of reachable victim support and counselling
centre.
 Cyberbullying.
 Online grooming and
Sexual Solicitation.
 Sexting.
 Sexually abuse
materials.
 Stigmatisation.
 Hate Speeches.
Potential Risk
Exposures

11. The Need for Multi Stakeholder Approach
Though there are several efforts to drive
Child Online Protection Nigeria, Such efforts
have not been centrally coordinated.
 A Multistakeholder approach will yield
better results rather than present situation
where several stakeholders operate in silos.
 A Multistakeholder approach will help
synergize the Cybersecurity, Legal,
Technical, Organisational and Procedural
perspectives involved in Child Online
Protection in Nigeria.
https://egov.eletsonline.com/2015/10/govt-holds-
consultation-on-multi-stakeholder-approach-to-
internet-governance/

12. National Stakeholders
Steering
Committee
Teachers
Civil
Society/
NGO
Industry
Schools
Govt &
Agencies
of Govt
Parents

13.  Provide safe online environment.
 Proactive Identification of potential Risk.
 Proactive identification of Vulnerabilities.
 Create awareness on Netiquette, Social Engineering and Safety in Cyber
Space.
 Develop tools and applications that leverages technology to provide safe
usage of the internet.
 Share Knowledge and Experience among Stakeholders.
 Provide victim support, counselling and rehabilitation.
 Ensure compliance with existing laws and acts the prohibit child abuse on
the Internet.
Responsibility of Stakeholders

14. A 2014 report of the Policy, Competition & Economic Analysis Department of the
Nigerian Communications Commission recommended the following Parental Control
Measures For Mobile Telecommunications Networks:
1. Mandate all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to implement mobile parental
control measures on their network;
2. NCC’s Consumers Parliament and Outreaches should feature Parental Control
Measures in Telecoms for the next three quarters;
3. MNOs should educate parents and guidance on the procedure to activate the
apps;
4. Operators should be encouraged to offer the mobile parental control app service
for free or at very minimal cost in order to foster the uptake.
Recommendation for Improvements
https://www.ncc.gov.ng/docman-main/industry-statistics/research-reports/578-parental-control-mesures-for-moblie-
telecommunications-networks/file

15. 1. Establishment of a Steering Committee to coordinate Child Online Protection
Activities in Nigeria.
2. Massive awareness campaign on Child Online Protections using traditional and
new media.
3. Integration of basic Internet Etiquette, Cyber Security and Social Engineering
attack methods in educational curriculum of children.
4. Setting up of Counselling Centres (Physical and Virtual) for victims of Online
Abuse and Exploitation.
5. School to play a more active role in educating children of the potential dangers of
internet usage.
Recommendation for Improvements