- * Officials Of Commission Sensitizes Female Students Of Garki Science College Abuja On ICT Dangers And Benefits
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
The management of the Nigerian Telecommunication Commission (NCC) has made the students and staff of the Government Science Technical College, Garki Abuja, very proud, with the sensitization programme the Commission organised on Thursday May 19, 2022, for the female students of the institution, to mark this year's Girls in ICT Day.
The theme of this year's Girls in ICT Day is: Access and Safety. It is a day set aside to celebrate all over the world, usually on the fourth Thursday of April, every year. This year's event fell on April 28, 2022.
The programme, however, is an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the global body responsible for the setting of quality and standards in the global Telecommunications sector.
The core objectives of this programme is to encourage female students and girls generally, to develop interest and engage in career aspiration in ICT in and in science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Several demonstrations and presentations on ICT education, including how to ensure safety in ICT usage by the teenage female students, were made by the officials of the NCC in an interactive atmosphere. Head of the Online Media in NCC, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, was on ground at the school auditorium where the event held, to ensure the success of the programme and it's adequate media coverage.
However, Nigerian Communications Commission's (NCC) Deputy Director of New Media & Information Security Division and leader of the team, Mrs. Tokunbo Oyeleye, stated that the theme for this year's edition of Girls in ICT Day, 'ACCESS and SAFETY', is essentially to discuss access and safety barriers faced by girls when they pursue STEM studies and careers.
She prevailed on the young female students to be mindful of the kind of pernicious ICT information and images they expose themselves to on the internet and in the social media platforms, as such could be dangerous to their psychological and moral enhancement.
Mr Ebuka Nkoro, an Early Career Fellowship facilitator of the Internet Society (ISOC) and a partner to the NCC on Child Online Protection, also spoke at the event. He charged the students to strive to become digital savvy, especially what he described as Digital Powerhouse or superheroes.
Nkoro explained some tips for online safety which, according to him, includes: using very strong passwords, 8-10 digit passwords; using password managers and installing good anti-viruses. He said “Types of online risks are: content risk, contact risk, conduct, and commercial risk.”
He therefore counseled users of the internet technology to be wary of their digital foot prints, as these are trails of your activities and interactions in the internet which are recorded or collected without the user's knowledge.
“Do not share or Post unnecessary things, and especially nude pictures of yourself. Beware of online swindlers. They are scammers who will express strong loving emotions to you, but are not genuine", Nkoro said.
He however advised the students to shun online bullies and also try not to be a bully themselves. Nkoro also urged internet users to endeavor to improve themselves and their social life by reading good books and engaging in healthy exercise activities. NNL.
