MTN Nigeria is set to host a youth-led safety event as part of its flagship child online protection initiative, Help Children Be Children (HCBC), aimed at promoting safer digital experiences for young people.
The event, scheduled for Aug. 28 at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre in Lagos, will feature youth-driven conversations on cyberbullying, online exploitation, and mental health, while encouraging responsible online behaviour among children and teenagers.
The initiative is part of MTN’s broader commitment to digital responsibility and child protection in Nigeria’s fast-evolving online landscape.
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, said the company remains committed to safeguarding the online experiences of children.
“At MTN, we believe that every child deserves a safe and protected childhood. Our support for the HCBC event reflects our deep commitment to safeguarding the online experiences and well-being of our children,” Okigbo said.
To support the HCBC campaign, MTN partnered with MTV Base to launch the Room of Safety, a 10-part educational video series that premiered on July 20 across social platforms.
The series uses relatable storytelling to raise awareness and equip young people with tools to navigate online risks confidently.
A 2024 study commissioned by MTN and conducted by IPSOS revealed that over 70 per cent of children aged 8 to 17 in Nigeria have internet access.
Among 514 children surveyed in Lagos, 32 per cent reported speaking with strangers online, 23 per cent shared personal information, and 18 per cent met someone in person whom they first encountered online.
The study also found that only 36 per cent of children who experienced online harassment received psychological support, with girls more likely to engage in risky online behaviour.
Children whose parents had no internet rules were nearly 10 times more likely to participate in dangerous online activities.
As part of its protection efforts, MTN has launched a dedicated reporting portal via report.iwf.org.uk/mtn, allowing individuals to anonymously report child sexual abuse material. Reports are reviewed by expert analysts, with harmful content often removed within an hour.
The upcoming event will include panel discussions and interactive sessions led by young advocates, focusing on digital resilience, improved reporting systems, and collaboration between the private sector, civil society, and government.
