The Dean of the School of Computing, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Prof. Olabode Olatunbosun, has urged schools to establish effective safeguarding systems to protect pupils from cyberbullying, online blackmail and other forms of digital abuse.
Olatunbosun made the call while delivering the keynote address at the grand finale of the Cybersmart Educators Initiative 2.0, organised by Levi Educational Technology and Design Consulting Limited at the University of Lagos, Yaba, on Friday.
Dwelling on the theme, “The Stranger Doesn’t Need Your Address Anymore,” he stressed the need for teachers to be equipped with the knowledge and procedures required to respond to online abuse, misinformation and other cyber-related threats affecting pupils.
He advised educators to reassure affected children, assess whether they faced immediate danger and activate appropriate school safeguarding procedures.
“Schools should designate personnel to handle complaints and collaborate with relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies, when a child’s safety is threatened,” he said.
The professor also urged schools to follow up on reported incidents to ensure that appropriate action was taken and prevent further abuse.
The Head of Operations at Levi Educational Technology and Design Consulting Limited, Mrs Naomi Adesola-Zion, stated that the programme’s theme highlighted the risks associated with children’s digital exposure and the potential misuse of personal information shared online.
She explained that strangers could exploit information posted on digital platforms to learn details about individuals’ private lives, making it imperative for parents and teachers to improve their digital literacy.
Adesola-Zion urged parents to take an active interest in their children’s use of mobile phones and other digital devices, adding that children needed age-appropriate guidance on responsible technology use.
“We are not saying children should not use phones. There are age limits to use. But even when they are using it, they should be taught the right ways to use these phones,” she said.
Also, the Head of the Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Prof. Olayide Obidi, called for broader public awareness of cybersecurity, stressing that digital safety was important across all age groups.
“The young, the old, everyone needs to be cyber-aware. And the earlier we do this, the better for a secure digital future,” she said.
Obidi warned that indiscriminate sharing of personal information online could expose users to malicious individuals monitoring their activities.
The Chairman of the occasion and Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos, Tunde Ope-Davies, also called for greater caution in sharing personal and family information on digital platforms.
He said that protecting children online required more than technical solutions, noting that effective cybersecurity measures must also consider how technology shapes children’s behaviour, relationships and exposure to privacy risks.
Meanwhile, three educators emerged as winners of the Cybersmart Teachers’ Award at the event, sharing a total prize of N3.5m.
Oluwaseun Oluwasanya won the top prize of N2m, while Okundalaye Abiola Faith received N1m. Ekanem Esther came third, winning N500,000.
