On 11 February 2025, Safer Internet Day was celebrated at New Era Junior Girls Secondary School in Surulere, Lagos, under the theme 'Together for a better internet.' The event gathered over 200 students, as well as teachers, parents, and social workers, to raise awareness about online safety and empower young people to become responsible digital citizens.

The day began with a session led by Felix Iziomoh, founder of the International Centre for Leadership Development Nigeria (ICLDNG), who engaged the students in an interactive session about cyber threats and cybercrime in the country. A video was also shown, which was created for Safer Internet Day, inspiring students to think about their role in creating a safer digital world.

Other experts took to the stage to educate and interact with the young people. Expert speakers included:

• Felix Iziomoh shared a personal story about resisting the temptation of cybercrime and using the internet for positive opportunities.
• Dr Idowu Onanuga, an educationist, spoke on creating a safer digital space and the need for collaboration to combat issues like cyberbullying and data privacy.
• Olamide Odeneye, founder of Child Online Safety Nigeria, led a session on staying safe online and building a positive digital presence.
• Jessica Alexander from the Nigeria Internet Registration Association discussed recognising online risks and cyberbullying prevention.
• Heather Anderson, president of the World Genesis Foundation, shared cyber security 101 tips.
• Merrilyn Okeleke, communications consultant, introduced the 'THINK' acronym to encourage critical thinking online.
• Shinnosuke Nakano, CEO of FrontierPass Japan, presented on skills for global job opportunities through the FrontierPass app.

The event also featured an online safety quiz, with students competing in teams and the winner receiving prizes from supporting partners. 

Safer Internet Day event in Nigeria was a success. Besides a day of engaging students in conversations about internet safety and creating a positive online environment, over 40 students joined the ICLDNG CyberClub. Key takeaways from the event were the importance of partnership, the ability to adapt, and the necessity of efforts to address digital needs. 

To learn more about SID celebrations in this country, please visit the Nigeria SID profile page.

For further information on Safer Internet Day celebrations more generally, visit the SID website.