What do Microsoft, Teledom Group, Nigeria Computer Society, New Nigeria Club, NairaHost, Empire Mates, Planet One, Temwangbon Entertainment, ISSPIN “Ambassadors” and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria have in common?

In what will go down in history as an urgent response to a clear need, various organizations have thrown their weight behind the ongoing Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria campaign (www.pinigeria.org/isspin). Let’s face it, we all wish for an end to the embarrassing situation that sees an odd number of cybercafe users employing a tool that has helped nations jumpstart their economy to slow ours down. TV shows, media debates and various discussions across the world have pointed accusing fingers in Nigeria’s direction — and some have even given a global vice a name that makes it sound Nigerian! Have you considered how much more trouble may be brewing with the unlimited number of “opportunities” that have now opened up for online criminal acts with the continuing democratisation of access?

This should not be! We can’t sit by and watch our youth waste the two opportunities that we have to compete in the New Economy — time and ICTs. They buy bulk time in cybercafes, own wireless cards and laptops, and are getting smarter by the day. Gone (well, not really) are the days when they only tried to work through eMail messages with obvious spelling errors — and why do they always leave Caps Lock on each time they send emotional lies our way? They don’t only waste time on these acts that have earned us an unenviable number 3 spot in relation to online crime, our inability to help them find better use of new technologies will only cloud the possible use of the same for socio-economic transformation.

Well, all hope is not lost! Various institutions are adding their voice to this campaign by the day. It began with Microsoft — the brain behind the Internet Safety, Secutiry and Privacy Initiative — for that much-needed support to help kick-start the process. Microsoft Nigeria’s committment to a long-term partnership will help Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) add value to the lives of Nigeria’s youth through the many opportunities that Information and Communication Technologies provide. When PIN came up with the idea of an Essay Competition that will allow young Nigerians to add their voice to “Curbing Cybercrime in Nigeria,” Teledom Group didn’t waste time in expressing their unreserved support for the initiative — and that explains the first set of mouth-watering prizes for the competition. Teledom didn’t stop there, they have also announced prizes for the Quiz Competition that will see secondary school students across Nigeria battle it out and decide who’s boss when the issue is ICTs.

When you have Nigeria Computer Society’s blesisng for an initiative (as we do for the Essay Competition), you can be sure of the professional touch that keeps the effort going. With New Nigeria Club (in collaboration with Generis Solutions) having announced their support for the essay competition and NairaHost also voicing their key support, we can only imagine how exciting this will be for those students who’re presently thinking through (and writing) their essays. Thanks to Empire Mates Entertainment, Planet One and Temwangbon Entertainment, Lagos will feel the vibes on October 25! Let me not say more than that for now… watch out! The ISSPIN “Ambassadors” spread across 11 states and I must thank each of them for the amazing plans they have put together for their own roles in the campaign — and for the work they are already doing.

While the campaign workshops are rolled out in Anambra, Delta, Niger and Ondo states over the next few days, there will be parallel events (led by ISSPIN Ambassadors) in Abuja, Lagos and other locations across Nigeria. We are not surprised at the keen interest shown by various institutions within and outside Nigeria (e.g. Germany, UK, USA) because the message is very clear: it’s time to redeem Nigeria’s lost Human Capital by redirecting the energy of our youth towards appropriate use of online resources. The Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (ISSPIN) is not just a Microsoft-sponsored or Paradigm Initiative Nigeria-driven project, it’s a nation’s response to a vice that has eaten too deep into the fine fabric of our nation and world.

Join us today… Please visit www.pinigeria.org/isspin, write to info[at]pinigeria.org or call (+234)-741-56-25 to discuss your role in this campaign.

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