Addressing the growing Cyber threat among internet users, an Innovation Hub for Inclusiveness, Empowerment and Social Development, SieDi-Hub in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other relevant stakeholders, have organized a one day Digital Safety Conference for Secondary Schools in Abia, to mark the 2025 Safer Internet Day.
The Conference which was held at the Havilah Missions School, Umuahia, was part of activities marking the 2025 Safer Internet Day, themed, “Together for a Better Internet”. It highlighted the urgent need to expose the younger generation to the rising threats emanating from internet usage and profferring a safer haven for users.
In her welcome address, the Board of Trustee member and Treasurer of SieDi-Hub, Mrs Enyioma Ndukwe Orji, stated that the growing threats in the digital space have continued to raise concerns about online safety and morality, prompting SieDi-Hub to take proactive steps in educating students on responsible internet usage.
Mrs Orji expounded the importance of the Digital Conference, giving the risk the Internet poised on users. She said protecting one’s self while using any digital device was imperative.
She emphasized the need for the awareness of online threats, including scams, cyberbullying, misinformation, and privacy violations, urging students to exercise caution when sharing personal details such as full names, addresses, school or workplace information, National Identification Numbers (NIN), bank details,usernames,among other vital information.
The SieDi-Hub representative called on parents, teachers, guardians, and stakeholders to take an active role in guiding students through the complexities of the digital world, stressing that the importance of instilling moral values and ethics in young internet users and ensuring how they navigate the online space with wisdom and responsibility.
Giving biblical references, Mrs Orji underscored the role of religious teachings in shaping the character of children and advocated for parents to raise their teenagers in the fear of God,which she added could stand as a veritable means of curbing social vices and promoting good conduct.
She disclosed that SieDi-Hub was ready to combat online scams and promote responsible digital behavior, announcing its commitment to raising awareness and equipping students with the necessary skills to identify and prevent digital fraud. She added that her organization would champion the establishment of Digital Safety Clubs in schools to provide continuous education on online security and responsible internet usage and called for all hands to be on deck by parents, teachers, guidance and stakeholders to help students navigate the online space with all sense of safety and morality.
In a goodwill message, the Abia State Director of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Comrade Victor Orji, disclosed the urgent need to integrate digital safety into educational curricular, giving it’s rising threat.
Speaking through the Assistant Director of Community Safety, Awareness and Compliance, Mr. Alex Nwaosuagwu, the State Director highlighted the importance of equipping youths with the necessary skills to safely navigate the digital landscape, amidst escalating cybercrimes.
He urged young individuals to resist the allure of internet fraud and the “get rich quick” mentality, while reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to promoting digital safety awareness and the establishment of integrity clubs within schools.
The Proprietress,Havilah Missions School, Rev Ngozi Akaliro,said imbibing good values on the students, would make the internet space safe for them.
Delivering the keynote address, Speaker, Mr Godson Ifeanyichukwu, said the advent of the Internet has brought positive changes in human life, and just like every other great inventory, the internet comes with great risks and one of such he noted was the online scam.
Mr Ifeanyichukwu disclosed that billions of dollars are lost to online scam globally, hence the need to expose the techniques used by these scammers to the younger Internet users,since they are the most vulnerable.
Itemizing the various methods used by internet fraudsters, the keynote speaker, said fishing scam,cyber bullying,online shopping scam and impersonation scam are the most prevalent, urging the students to always verify their source of information before use.
He said they should avoid clicking on random links or messages from strangers, stop sharing vital details online and avoid disclosing their location online. He advised that internet users should formulate a strong password to protect their social media accounts and as well, do not hesitate to block or report any suspected page or site on the Internet.
During the Panel session, the Discussants highlighted the increasing exposure of students to unsafe online practices, including engaging with suspicious links and pop-up commands that could compromise their security, raising concerns about the misuse of the internet for immoral searches that do not contribute to academic or skill development.
They said caution was of utmost importance if the Internet would be a safe place for users.
Meanwhile,the Programme Manager of SieDi-Hub, Mrs Caroline Charles,who was represented by Abiodun Adegoke, underscored the conference’s objective to educate youths on responsible online behavior and cybercrime prevention.
The conference concluded with a strong message encouraging students to embrace ethical values and responsible online behavior. SieDi-Hub expressed optimism that such initiatives would create a safer digital space for young users.
Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of Digital Safety Clubs across the participating schools, where the students would be further committed to responsible online conduct, positive influence and ongoing digital education.
