Safer Internet Day: NGO calls for prioritised investment in online safety education of young people

A non-governmental organization, Smartclicks Teach-Wellness Advocates Network has called on all stakeholders to prioritise investment in online safety education of young people as they would do for them to acquire online skills.

This is contained in a press statement provided to commemorate Safer Internet Day 2025, a global day of action dedicated to raising awareness of online safety.

SolaceBase reports that Safer Internet Day was first celebrated in 2004, launched by the EU SafeBorders project. It’s now a global event that takes place every year in February

A statement signed by Smartclicks Digital Life Skills Education lead, Suliyat Adeleye Idris, in Kano on Tuesday stated that most parents and organizations are spending so much in making sure children and youth have online skills that empower them to navigate personal and professional lives, while little attention is placed on online safety education and wellness.

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It added that having adequate knowledge of online safety and wellness will further help young people not to only acquire online skills but be able to use them responsibly, thereby maximising productivity and wellness over time.

The statement noted that, although Safer Internet Day is commemorated once in a year, the issue of online safety is of everyday importance and everyone must commit to it in order to build a digitally healthy society devoid of online fraud, abuses and health challenges.

Smartclicks theme for this year’s Safer Internet Day is “Online Safety for Productive Online Skills” in order to create awareness on the need to acquire online safety education alongside core online skills to create a balance for wellness, productivity and safety.