News Highlights:
- NerdzFactory, in partnership with Meta, is scaling up its Safe Online initiative across five Nigerian states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo, in 2025
- A major highlight of this year’s initiative is the introduction of Meta’s Teens Account, designed to protect young users by restricting access to age-appropriate content.
As Nigeria accelerates into a digitally connected future, the need to safeguard its young population from online threats has never been more urgent. While digital platforms have unlocked vast opportunities for education, employment, and global interaction, they have also introduced growing risks such as cyberbullying, online scams, misinformation, and data breaches.
A recent report by Surfshark ranked Nigeria 32nd globally for data breaches in 2023, with over 82,000 compromised accounts in just one quarter. Although the government continues to embed digital literacy in the national curriculum, critical gaps remain in ensuring that users, particularly young people—engage safely and responsibly online.
In response, NerdzFactory, with support from Meta, is expanding its flagship initiative, Safe Online, into a nationwide campaign. Designed to equip young Nigerians, parents, and educators with the knowledge and tools to navigate digital spaces safely, the program is now entering its most ambitious phase yet.
Scaling Impact Across States and Communities
Originally launched in 2023, the Safe Online program has already reached more than 11,500 participants across Lagos, Ogun, and Kwara States. By 2025, it is set to expand into five states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo, with a theme of “Empowering Communities for a Safer Digital Future.”
This year’s rollout will provide digital safety training to 7,000 secondary school students, introduce a Youth Fellowship for 100 digital safety advocates, and deliver offline campaigns to over 2,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
In addition, 500 parents and guardians will receive tailored digital literacy training, while advocacy and awareness efforts are expected to reach another 5,000 young people, bringing the program’s direct impact to more than 14,600 individuals in 2025 alone.
Speaking on the importance of this collaboration, Phil Oduor, Meta’s Head of Policy Programs for Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed optimism about the initiative’s reach: “We are thrilled to partner with NerdzFactory in our mission to enhance youth digital literacy and online safety in Nigeria.
“Our Safe Online Program, which is part of the My Digital World initiative, is dedicated to empowering young individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Together, we are committed to fostering a secure online environment, equipping NYSC members, and engaging with local stakeholders to enable skills necessary for youth digital wellbeing.”
A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Digital Safety
At a press conference in Lagos on Friday, covered by Digital TimesNG, Omozele Umoren, Programs Supervisor at NerdzFactory, outlined the strategy behind the 2025 program, emphasising the inclusion of parents and guardians as key stakeholders in the digital safety ecosystem.
She noted: “By engaging students, educators, parents, and communities, we’re creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom. Our goal is to embed digital safety education into everyday learning, so it becomes second nature to the next generation of Nigerians.”
Umoren further explained that the program leverages global awareness events such as Safer Internet Day (February 11), World Telecommunication Day (May 17), World Internet Day (October 29), and International Anti-Bullying Day (November 7) to amplify advocacy and digital safety messaging.
A key sustainability strategy involves partnerships with schools, where Safe Online is integrated into ICT clubs and student-led workshops. NYSC members, many of whom serve as teachers, are also trained to become grassroots digital safety ambassadors.
“Fellows—both youth and educators—are provided with toolkits and campaign templates to help them maintain momentum in their local communities,” Umoren said. “The involvement of NYSC corps members strengthens our reach, providing an annual cohort of trained advocates who introduce Safe Online principles in new regions during their service year.”
Enhancing Digital Literacy Through Innovation and Inclusion
A central highlight of this year’s initiative is the launch of Meta’s ‘Teens Account’, a new feature designed to protect young users by restricting access to age-appropriate content. Motolani Falabi, Business & Operations Lead at NerdzFactory, described it as a much-needed innovation in online content regulation:
“The Meta Teens Account is tailored to ensure that children are only engaging with content that aligns with their age and interests, whether that’s sports, art, or academics. It also allows parents to monitor activities through backend access, providing a reassuring layer of control and transparency.”
Falabi added that the campaign adopts a holistic approach by involving all layers of society in the conversation around digital safety.
“We’ve partnered with Ministries of Education in participating states to gain access to public school teachers across districts. These teachers interact with thousands of children every day. By equipping them with digital literacy tools, they can seamlessly integrate online safety lessons into their everyday teaching.”
She stressed the importance of parental involvement: “You are the custodians of these children. You must be aware of what your child is doing online, and you must also help other parents understand that the dangers are real and preventable.”
Beyond Meta: A Broader Mission to Equip Nigerian Youth
NerdzFactory’s commitment to digital literacy extends beyond its collaboration with Meta. The organization is actively working with alumni of the federal government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, offering advanced and intermediate digital skills training.
“Yes, we’re proudly working with alumni of 3MTT,” Umoren confirmed. “We have a range of specialized training programs, some focused on women, others on graduates of various public and private sector initiatives. We’re committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to digital skills training that can help them thrive in a tech-driven world.”
She also emphasized the positive feedback loop created by the program: “Through this collaboration, we’ve seen young people even begin to educate their parents—warning them about suspicious links, guiding them on password protection, and helping them understand the basics of online safety.”
A Call to Action for National Digital Responsibility
Wrapping up the press briefing, Seiyefa Deinfegha, Program Associate at NerdzFactory, issued a strong call to action for collective responsibility in digital safety.
“What we’ve done today is a rallying cry. No child is safe until every child is safe. And everyone, from parents to content creators, must be held accountable. It’s not enough to protect just our children; we must all advocate for responsible online behaviour that protects every child.”
Deinfegha noted that with the recent addition of the Youth Fellowship component, the Safe Online initiative is becoming a vital part of the education and youth development landscape in Nigeria. The program’s growth signals a deeper engagement with communities and a sustained investment in national digital safety.
As Nigeria’s digital future unfolds, NerdzFactory and Meta are laying the groundwork for a safer, more inclusive digital ecosystem. The Safe Online initiative is no longer just a program, it is a movement, equipping every student, teacher, parent, and young citizen with the skills to navigate the internet confidently, responsibly, and safely.