A nonprofit organisation committed to creating a safer online environment for children has trained students across 25 public and private schools in Kwara State on digital citizenship and online safety.
Speaking at a one-day comprehensive training workshop for teachers and parents on how to ensure online safety and maintain digital well-being for their students and children, the executive director of the organisation, Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative, Nafisat Bakare, said that the primary goal of the training was to inculcate in the students responsible online behaviour and to equip them with knowledge and skills to navigate the internet safely and responsibly.
Bakare explained that her organisation educated the children on the possible dangers they could be exposed to while using the internet, such as identity theft, scams, cyberstalking, sexual abuse, online predators, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and hate speeches, among others.
She added that the students were also taught the importance of protecting their personal information online, how to handle cyberbullying, and how to critically assess online content to discern between genuine and deceptive sources.
“Critical thinking is another cornerstone of the training programme. We encouraged the students to develop sharp analytical skills to discern between credible and misleading online content. This skill is increasingly vital in combating the spread of misinformation prevalent on digital platforms today.
“By imparting knowledge on digital citizenship, our initiative aims to cultivate a sense of accountability and awareness in the children regarding the consequences of harmful online activities, such as cyberbullying and reckless sharing of personal information,” she noted.
As part of the training, the organisation distributed to the students copies of its recently launched online safety handbook titled ‘A Kid’s Guide to Online Adventures’.
The handbook provides valuable insights and practical tips on how children and young people can safely navigate the digital space, according to a statement by the organisation’s director of communications and strategy.
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