A Non-Governmental Organization in Kwara State has launched the StopCSAM Fellowship to combat the rising threat of online child exploitation.
The StopCSAM Fellowship, led by Pristine SACC Education and Technology Initiative, executed a two-phase campaign between January and February 2025 in Ilorin, Kwara State, uniting schools and communities against the rising threat of online child exploitation.
The program has had over 5,700 students and 143 parents benefiting from the initiative within its first two months of implementation.
In the first phase of the program, 14 trained fellows delivered digital safety education to 5,757 students across 42 schools throughout Kwara State, addressing various online risks including phishing scams, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and privacy breaches.
The interactive workshops, conducted in English, Yoruba, and Hausa languages, equipped students with practical tools to recognize and avoid online predators. Anonymous question boxes and gender-separate sessions were also implemented to create safe spaces for open dialogue on sensitive topics.
According to the program organizers, the first phase yielded significant results, with 72% of participating students demonstrating understanding of grooming tactics, 80% pledging to safeguard personal data, and 60% committing to educating their peers on digital safety.
By February, the fellowship expanded its focus to community engagement, targeting 143 parents in markets, villages, and mosques across the state.
The fellows employed culturally resonant strategies, including micro-sessions during market downtimes and storytelling using real-life cases such as the tragic murder of Hafsoh, a local victim of online predation.
For tech-limited households, parents were taught to use modern tools like Google Family Link and adopt low-tech solutions like activity journals. The initiative also facilitated the formation of community advocacy groups, resulting in 70% of participating parents implementing parental controls and 60% initiating weekly “safety chats” with their children.
Despite challenges such as language barriers and time constraints, the program achieved success through innovative approaches, including bilingual analogies and condensed workshops tailored to community needs.
The initiative’s impact extended beyond its immediate participants, with Patigi motorcycle riders taking action to shut down exploitative cybercafés and the Chief Islamic Preacher of Godiwa integrating CSAM awareness into Friday sermons.
A 65-year-old grandmother identified as Aisha attested to the program’s impact, stating, “Tracking my grandchildren’s online activity in a notebook changed our family—Hafsoh’s story taught us vigilance.”
Looking ahead, StopCSAM has announced plans to expand its operations into rural hotspots like Patigi and Baruten, launch a 24/7 helpline, and develop Hausa audio guides and SD card curricula for offline access in remote areas.
By uniting classrooms, homes, and community leaders, the fellowship aims to forge a resilient shield against digital exploitation, demonstrating that collective action and education can effectively safeguard Nigeria’s youth in an increasingly connected digital landscape.