A member of House of Representatives, Hon. Stanley Olajide (PDP Oyo State), has cautioned parents against
indulging children with the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Olajide, representing Ibadan Northwest/SouthWest Constituency, gave the advice at the 4th stakeholders dialogue on “Child Protection”,
organised by Hope for Second Chance Foundation (HOSEC), an NGO.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the programme is “Safeguarding Our Future: Nurturing Safe Digital Spaces for
Nigerian Child.”
Olajide said that if parents must allow their children to use ICT devices, the right control must be put in place to guide the children.
According to him, the digital space is going like a wide fire, and if action is not taken, there is possibility to do more harm than good.
He, however, disclosed that the house is working toward making legislations to guide the use of ICT, “hence parents must wake up
to their responsibilities to guide their children in use of technology.
“People are using the children through the cyberspace to perpetrate crime. There are organ harvesters on the internet, they are everywhere now.
“Parents must stop indulging their children in ICT use, but if you must do so, put the right control in place.
“Technology as a tool is more powerful than the friends we keep, we must be cautious.”
The lawmaker also advised children to be contented with whatever their parents gave them, saying “some parents are really
struggling for their children.”
Mrs Ibukunoluwa Otesile, the Executive Director, HOSEC, said that the safety of the digital space is the responsibility of all and sundry.
She lamented that if Nigerians are not careful with the use of technology, the country may have corrupt children.
“We must all lend our voice to this call, that is the whole essence of this event, all voices must be amplified, the digital space must be safe
for children, ” she said.
On his part, Prof. Adebusuyi Adeniran, the Head of Sociology and Information Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun,
emphasised the need to control the cyberspace.
He said that “the problem can be better addressed through primary socialisation, as parents must think of the message they are passing
to their children with the use of ICT.
“There is no way ICT use can be stopped in Nigeria, but we can have control over it on children.
“We must make internet align with the country’s cultural practices. The Church, Mosque and school cannot train our children for us,
the onus is on us to do it ourselves,” Olajide said. (NAN)
