NITDA, Meta Launch Youth Online Safety Campaign, Digital Education Initiative
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA and Meta have strengthened their partnership on youth online safety and digital literacy with the launch of new initiatives aimed at promoting responsible internet use among young Nigerians.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this at the Youth Safety Summit organised by Meta in Abuja, where stakeholders from government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and the education sector gathered to discuss strategies for safeguarding young people in the digital space.
A key outcome of the summit was the unveiling of the Youth Online Safety Campaign and My Digital World 2.0, initiatives developed through a collaboration involving Meta, NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
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The programmes are expected to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the internet safely while maximising opportunities in the digital economy.
Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building at NITDA, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal, Inuwa said the partnership supports the Federal Government’s drive to build an inclusive digital economy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that strengthening digital trust and promoting cybersecurity remain critical to achieving sustainable economic growth and national development.
According to him, digital literacy has become a key requirement for innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, but must be accompanied by online safety awareness.
He stressed that young people need not only technical skills but also the ability to protect themselves from online risks and make responsible decisions in digital environments.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Advancing Youth Online Safety Through Collaborative Action,” Inuwa said ensuring a safer internet for young people requires coordinated efforts from government agencies, technology firms, educators, parents and community leaders.
He explained that NITDA has embedded online safety, privacy protection, digital citizenship, digital wellbeing, critical thinking and Artificial Intelligence literacy into its National Digital Literacy Framework.
These competencies, he said, form part of the agency’s broader strategy to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
The NITDA boss outlined the impact of the agency’s collaboration with Meta, revealing that the Youth Online Safety and Wellbeing Campaign implemented over the last year reached more than 94 million people and generated over 216 million impressions across Meta’s platforms.
He added that the partnership had also engaged National Youth Service Corps members through activities marking Safer Internet Day, empowering them to promote responsible digital behaviour within their communities.
Inuwa described My Digital World 2.0 as an important step towards integrating online safety education into Nigeria’s digital literacy ecosystem.
He said NITDA plans to incorporate the programme into teacher training initiatives, strengthen the capacity of its Digital Literacy Champions and expand public awareness campaigns through collaboration with state governments, traditional rulers, faith-based organisations and other stakeholders.
He emphasised that creating a safer digital environment for children requires more than technology-driven solutions, noting that informed parents, empowered teachers and digitally aware communities all have critical roles to play.
The NITDA DG further stated that the launch of the new initiatives signalled a deeper collaboration between government and industry aimed at preparing a generation of Nigerians that is digitally skilled, responsible and resilient.
Also present at the summit were the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working with stakeholders to develop policies and programmes that will foster a safe, inclusive and supportive digital environment for young Nigerians.
