In a bid to combat the growing menace of cyberbullying in Nigeria, Advocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), in collaboration with Space for Change and the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), is implementing the e-RIGHTS Project. The initiative, funded by the European Union, Nigeria-Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), Lille Avocats Solidarité, and UNESCO, aims to promote digital rights, address challenges posed by new technologies, and harness their opportunities.
The project focuses on raising awareness in four key states—Abuja, Kano, Imo, and Lagos—using activities like inter-school video competitions to engage young people. The initiative will culminate in a national digital rights competition in January 2024, where state-level winners will compete for top honors.
On Wednesday, November 19, 2024, five schools in Imo State participated in the e-RIGHTS Inter-School Video Competition and Awards Presentation. These schools included Faith Academy, Oruogwe Community Girls Secondary School, Holy Ghost College, Bishop Lasbrey Secondary School, and Alvana Secondary School. After a keenly contested event, Alvana Secondary School emerged as the winner and earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Abuja for the national competition. Other participants also received prizes to acknowledge their efforts.
Judging Criteria and Key Remarks
The head of the jury, Udochukwu Chukwu, praised all participants for their outstanding performances. He explained that the videos were evaluated based on content quality, message clarity, accuracy, creativity, adherence to competition guidelines, and persuasiveness.
Chukwu highlighted the alarming rate of cyberbullying, calling it a “recurring pandemic-level problem” that often goes under-reported. He cited data from global reports showing that nearly 40% of young people experience cyberbullying, with many cases leading to severe psychological impacts, including suicide. He emphasized the importance of equipping young people with knowledge about their digital rights and laws to protect themselves online, urging participants to conduct further research and continue raising awareness about this critical issue.
Project Goals and Broader Impact
Chinedu Gbulie, Communications Officer at ASF France, explained the broader goals of the e-RIGHTS Project. According to Gbulie, the initiative seeks to combat digital oppression by equipping key groups, including judges, lawyers, journalists, students, and activists, with the necessary tools to protect digital rights. One component of the project includes a litigation mechanism to provide legal support for victims of digital abuse. Another feature is an e-learning platform, e-rightlearn.org, where users can access courses on digital rights and online safety.
“This competition is part of our advocacy efforts to build the capacity of young people to understand and defend their digital rights,” said Bulie.
Student Reactions
Rex Okere, a student from the winning Alvana Secondary School, expressed gratitude for the event, describing it as well-organized and impactful. “Cyberbullying is deadly and common. We have learned its impacts on mental health and why it’s important to speak out against it,” he said.
Similarly, Ugochukwu Chinazo, another participant, shared her excitement about meeting students from other schools and described the experience as empowering. “I now see myself as an ambassador of the e-RIGHTS Project. I will continue to raise awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying through my social media platforms,” she added.
The competition stressed on the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing cyberbullying and fostering a safer digital space for young people in Nigeria. With initiatives like e-RIGHTS, students are not only learning about the dangers of online abuse but are also empowered to advocate for positive change in their communities.
