Community campaign

Connected & Protected_ Advancing Digital Safety in Osun State

The project achieved its core aim of equipping teachers and communities with knowledge, tools, and motivation to champion digital safety.

Osun State, Nigeria

2025

Completed

digital safetyteachersstudentscommunity engagement

Background

The original aim of the Connected & Protected: Advancing Digital Safety in Osun State project was to equip secondary school teachers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to educate and protect their students from online risks while promoting a culture of responsible digital citizenship across schools and communities in Osun State. The project sought to address the growing threats of cyberbullying, digital scams, misinformation, and unsafe internet practices among young people by: Building teachers’ capacity to understand and teach digital safety, privacy, and online ethics. Reaching students directly through teacher-led step-down training that translates classroom knowledge into safe digital behavior. Engaging communities, parents, traditional and religious leaders through open dialogues to strengthen collective responsibility for children’s online protection. Ultimately, the project aimed to create safer online environments for students and young people by transforming teachers into Digital Safety Ambassadors and empowering communities to support positive digital engagement.

Objectives

•Equip secondary school teachers with knowledge and tools to educate students on digital safety.
•Promote responsible digital citizenship among students and communities.
•Reduce online risks such as cyberbullying, scams, and misinformation.
•Foster a culture of collective responsibility for children’s online protection.

Activities & Methods

✓Conducted a comprehensive teacher training program on digital safety.
✓Facilitated step-down training sessions led by trained teachers in their schools.
✓Organized community dialogues with parents, traditional and religious leaders.
✓Provided resources and support for ongoing digital safety education.

Outcomes & Impact

★Teacher: Reported improved confidence in managing students’ online behavior and cyberbullying issues.
★Teacher: Began incorporating “digital safety pledges” and SMART (Stop–Mind–Ask–Report–Take breaks) rules into school routines
★Student: Became more aware of online scams and privacy protection.
★Student: Started teaching peers how to avoid cyberbullying and identity theft.
★Student: Some expressed commitment to helping parents understand online spaces.
★Communities: Parents and local leaders learned to guide children instead of restricting device use.
★Communities: Traditional institutions like the Olufon of Ifon’s Palace integrated digital safety into community advisory sessions