Roland Iwuchukwu
ThenBrighter Futures program, an initiative supported by the UK government, has launched the THRIVE ONLINE campaign.
The move is part of efforts to curb the rising tide of cyber-related crimes in Nigeria.
The campaign aims to reach vulnerable youths and educate them on the dangers of cybercrime while providing alternative pathways to building sustainable livelihoods.
Over the past decades, serious organized crime (SOC), particularly cybercrime, has caused significant damage to individuals, families, and businesses in Nigeria.
The impact of cybercrime can be seen in the data that reveals the devastating consequences it has caused.
According to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Nigerian banks lost N3.5 billion between July and September 2020 to fraud-related incidences, representing a 534-percent increase from the same period in 2019, when it was N552 million.
As part of efforts to reduce SOC activities, the Nigerian government and several organizations have implemented various measures, including the Brighter Futures campaign, to mitigate the tide of cyber-related crimes in the digital space.
The THRIVE ONLINE campaign aims to complement these efforts by reaching vulnerable youths through a series of awareness events, radio talk shows, school mentorship programs, and community-based and social media influencers.
The primary aim of the THRIVE ONLINE campaign is to educate youths on the fact that hardly anyone makes a decent living through cybercrime.
Most people waste their time and get nothing in return. Involvement in cybercrime is a criminal offense that can have severe consequences, including imprisonment.
Additionally, involvement in cybercrimes can destroy the lives of people affected, including their family members, loved ones, and friends.
The THRIVE ONLINE campaign also seeks to highlight the positive ways youths can build a livelihood using online platforms, such as online businesses, learning new skills, and legitimate online-based jobs in tech.
Speaking about the campaign during a radio program in Lagos State, Mr. Oladokun Olajde, a mentorship coach on the campaign stated that “The THRIVE ONLINE is a sustainable development campaign that addresses legitimate ways for youths to be financially independent, and the dangers of serious and organized crimes to themselves, their families, community and the image of the Country.
We enlighten youths on their roles and responsibilities as citizens in making Nigeria a better place to thrive – both online and globally.”
The Brighter Futures campaign is working with the Nigerian government and other civil society organizations to create a safer and more prosperous future for Nigeria.