Connect with us

Thursday 23rd March, 2023

Telecoms

Keeping Your Children Safe While Online: Here Are The Tips Provided By The NCC (Part 1)

Published

on

 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has provided tips for parents and caregivers on how to keep children safe online, saying that the tips cover what to do before things go wrong, while children spend time online, and what to do if things go wrong.

The Commission in a document titled: ‘Keeping children safe online: Advice to parents and caregivers,’ listed the tips to include: Risk Anticipation, and advised parents that anticipation of risks will lead to appropriate control measures being put in place before a child is allowed access to digital devices or the internet. Some of these anticipatory control measures according to the NCC include Parental education:

“As a parent, stay informed and educated about the use of your devices and the devices your child has access to. Stay informed on various social network sites and what happens on them. Stay informed and better educated than your children and wards. Make them understand that you know as much or more than they do. Therefore, be their go-to person for information on what to do with the device you eventually give them access to.”

The NCC advised that Caregivers should be trained on how to guide children in Online activities: “Schools have adopted the use of online platforms for education. Care must be taken to educate the teachers and prepare them for the avalanche of questions from children, on the use of various online applications or whatever information the children encounter online.”

While noting that the teachers are major support networks and pillars in the life of any child, the NCC stated that they are oftentimes as trusted as parents are. It, therefore, listed the following tips for parents and caregivers:

ALSO READ  NCC Begins Cost-Based Study To Review Int’l Termination Rate For Voice Services

Install child-appropriate apps/search engines: Before a device is given to a child, age-appropriate applications should first be installed on it. This will protect the child from inadvertently stumbling into wrong sites that appear as pop-ups.

Install a firewall: Firewalls act as content filters. They help make sure non-age appropriate content does not appear on the child’s device.

Set timers on all devices used by the child: This helps to create discipline and structure for the child. Ensure clear time boundaries are set.

Empower the child: This is one of the most important steps any parent can take. There is a sense of privacy associated with being online. Parents will not always be there when children go online. Adopting a child-centric approach to the use of the internet prepares the child for unforeseen issues and assures the child of the trust and respect of his/her parent.

Furthermore, the NCC noted that children will enjoy the benefits and advantages of the internet when they know how to stay in control and not allow themselves to be victims of the platforms and devices.

Towards this end, the Commission advised parents and caregivers to among other things, set ground rules and instructions in collaboration with the child; and teach children basic online safety skills and how to apply them.

Pay attention/be observant: As children spend more time online, observe behavioural patterns and changes. Recognize unusual activities, actions and reactions. Where any change is observed, calmly address those changes and allow the child sufficient room to talk without being judgmental. The home is a safety net for children.

ALSO READ  Nokia, Safaricom Complete Africa’s First FWA 5G Slicing Trial

It is also the best support system that allows an abused child to recover from abuse and provides a means for managing post abuse trauma. Children need to know they can go to their parents with whatever concerns they encounter online.

Discuss and engage your children: Ask how your children use the internet. Make them show you some of their favourite sites and discuss with them, make them aware that there are things on the internet which may upset them and that they can always talk to you or any trusted adult.

-Make sure your child realizes that he or she should never give out personal details, such as name, address, school, and telephone numbers; to online friends they do not know in the real world.

-Tell the child to never respond to junk emails or open attachments that are from unknown sources.

-Be aware of any changes in the way a child uses the internet, such as the amount of time spent online. Also support your child to report bullying online, by contacting you immediately it occurs.

-Encourage children to use nicknames and login names that don’t reveal any personal information about them.

-Educate children on the possibility of people using fake names purposely to cheat, hurt or impersonate others.

-Use the parental control settings on your browser, search engine and internet security package.

-Work with your child to understand how search engines work so that they don’t stumble on inappropriate content.

-Consider using the filtering software that is available from your internet service provider or from retailers, these can help block inappropriate material.

ALSO READ  NCC Commiserates With Board Chairman, Akande, Over Daughter’s Passage

-Check with your internet service provider to learn how to block sites you don’t want children to see.

-Gain the child’s or young person’s confidence by appealing to his or her interests, teach them to think twice before they upload or download anything online.

 

Share Post

Founder/Editor of www.digitaltimesng.com. He is passionate about technology and how it can be used to transform human life, businesses and services.

Telecoms

7 Months After Ministerial Objection, FG Removes 5% Excise Duty For Telecoms Sector

Published

on

L-R: Jacqueline Olowolayemo, Senior Administrative Manager, Mafab Communications Ltd.; Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau and Anas Galadima, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, MTN Nigeria, during a press briefing by the Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Seven months after the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami led objections to the proposed application of 5 per cent excise duty on Nigeria’s telecom sector, the Federal Government Tuesday officially announced the removal of excise duty for the telecom sub-sector of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Industry.

The removal of excise duty in the sub-sector, Digital TimesNG learnt, is in line with the recommendations of the Committee the Federal Government constituted to review the applicability of the Duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, disclosed this good news on Tuesday at a press briefing organised to provide updates on the status of the 5 per cent excise duty, whose applicability to the telecom sector was objected to by the Minister in August 2022.

Recall that in response to this objection, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the application of excise duty to the telecom sector and set up a Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector.

Pantami, who is the Chairman of the Committee, specifically set up for the purpose of reviewing the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector, said the Committee had carried out its national assignment and accordingly submitted its report to the President, justifying why the sector should be exempted.

The Minister said the Committee’s submissions can be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any level should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

ALSO READ  One Year As NITDA’s DG: How Kashifu Abdullahi Is Transforming Nigeria’s IT Landscape (Part 1)

“Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms have continued to be a major contributor to the Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).

“The third ground for contesting the Excise Duty in the telecom sector is the fact that, despite the increase in the cost of all factors of production across the sector, and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, telecom sector is the only sector where the cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector,” the Minister said.

Pantami also informed the gathering that the President, having looked into the arguments put forward by the Committee and relying on the provision of Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, has therefore, exempted the telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the Constitution which permits the President to grant such waiver.

“I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five per cent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the Committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the 5 per cent excise duty.”

ALSO READ  20 Years Of Telecoms: NCC Identifies Key Initiatives For Industry Growth

The Minister assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as “the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens.”

The Minister further noted that the Digital Economy Sector has continued to contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020; 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for the government from N51 billion to over N480 billion, representing a growth of 594 per cent; while the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers.

 

Share Post
Continue Reading

Telecoms

2023 WCRD Theme, A Call To Examine Environmental Impact Of Telecom- Adewolu

Published

on

Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that the theme of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), which is “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transition,” provides players in the telecommunication industry the opportunity to carefully examine the unintended side effects of the industry’s critical social infrastructure on the environment.

Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) stated this in his opening remarks at the celebration of the 2023 World Consumer Rights Day held at the NCC headquarters annex, in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the celebration is being pivoted around a theme that allows telecom service providers and stakeholders to design more environmentally sustainable service models that would enable them truly serve the consumer better.

Adewolu noted that the Nigerian telecoms industry today boasts of over 226 million voice customers and over 156 million Internet customers as of January 31, 2023, who leverage communications infrastructure for social interaction, health service, access to education, and banking, among others.

“As consumer volumes and service diversity continue to grow, network operators have to roll out more infrastructure for coverage in new, mostly rural areas, and for network expansion in already saturated urban markets.

“Emerging technologies like 5th Generation (5G) mobile services will also require more infrastructure. These infrastructure components are mostly powered by fossil fuels to ensure 100% availability,” he said.

To understand further, the environmental impact of these activities, Adewolu raised some posers for telecom stakeholders especially, the service providers at the event:

“Are there more environmentally conscious means by which we can power network infrastructure and reduce our carbon footprint? Telecoms infrastructure has helped to reduce other environment-impacting activities such as travel – can we quantify these benefits and do they offset the negative impacts?

ALSO READ  NCC Begins Cost-Based Study To Review Int’l Termination Rate For Voice Services

“Have we convinced everyone about the safety of electromagnetic emissions? Can we find a balance between environmentally-friendly network operations and cheaper services; or do we have to choose one over the other? How can we improve the quality of the environment through our network services and how can we grow public consciousness about responsible services using telecoms infrastructure?”

He challenged the stakeholders to find answers to these and other nagging questions.

Share Post
Continue Reading

Telecoms

Danbatta Outlines NCC’s Initiatives Aimed At Protecting The Nigerian Environment

The EVC promised that in the course of the year, the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) will sensitize telecom consumers about these interventions aimed at making the environment better for all of humanity.

Share Post

Published

on

Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has in addition to the policy on renewable energy in the telecom sector, put in place laudable initiatives geared towards protecting the Nigerian environment, Digital Times Nigeria can report.

For instance, the Commission has in recent years introduced a regulatory framework on infrastructure sharing and collocation among the licensees which the Commission admitted, has encouraged operators to fully maximise their already-deployment infrastructure.

Speaking at the 2023 World Consumer Rights Day celebration held in Abuja, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta pointed out that by sharing infrastructure, some operators do not need to entirely build a telecoms site in an area where another operator had deployed one.

“With the challenge of inadequate public electricity supply in Nigeria, telecom companies rely on diesel-powered generators to keep their telecom sites live round-the-clock. A regulatory framework such as infrastructure sharing, and collocation is helping in this regard and the Commission has recorded appreciable adoption of this regulation,” Danbatta elaborated.

Another regulatory initiative embarked upon by the NCC for a clean Nigerian environment is the Commission’s Type Approval Regulations, which promotes the NCC’s official authorisation prior to the use or supply of an Equipment Type in Nigeria.

“Our Type Approval of devices factors in energy efficiency, among others, which ensures a reduction of power consumption. It also ensures that Radio Frequency devices used in Nigeria operate effectively, without causing harmful interference and otherwise comply with the Commission’s technical requirement prior to importation or marketing,” the NCC boss said.

ALSO READ  Joda, A Quintessential Technocrat With Eyes For Details- Ojobo, Ex-NCC Image Maker

Yet, the NCC-organised annual tech innovation competitions for young innovators in Nigeria, also make considerations for inventions that address the challenges of renewable energy.

The NCC EVC noted at the 2023 World Consumer Rights Day celebration in Abuja, that some of the entries submitted in this regard are in the process of being commercialized as the innovators are seeking investors to make their discoveries available to the public.

“The Commission will continue to support research and innovations that contribute to transitioning to renewable energy sources,” he said.

Also connected to NCC’s regulatory efforts in dealing with issues of sanitizing the Nigerian environment were its efforts in 2019 to commence activities that will result in the formulation of a Regulation on E-Waste in Nigeria.

It is obvious like the EVC noted, that today, the global concern for the regulation of e-waste is two-pronged. First, is the acute awareness of the hazardous properties and the potential risk to human health, as well as their capacity to degrade the environment.

Secondly, is the business case and vast potential for wealth creation in recycling e-waste into more benign and productive uses.

But in line with its regulatory mandate and to keep pace with efforts at managing e-waste-related issues, in a manner that reduces cases of indiscriminate burning of electronic devices with the potential for increased carbon emission in the environment, the Commission has been working, with other relevant agencies, to develop Regulations on E-waste.

The Regulations, according to Danbatta, will represent a holistic intervention aimed at providing clarity and delimiting the responsibilities of various stakeholders in the e-waste value chain within the telecommunications industry, adding that while the proposed Regulations are industry-specific, they, nonetheless, key into other initiatives at national and international levels.

ALSO READ  NCC Denies Giving N300 Million Subventions To NITDA, Describes Report As Falsehood

The EVC promised that in the course of the year, the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) will sensitize telecom consumers about these interventions aimed at making the environment better for all of humanity.

“The CAB will carry this out as part of its Consumer Education mandate, with a significant part of this effort dedicated to providing information that equips the consumer to thrive in a world that has embraced digital finance.

“Through its outreach programmes, which have continued to re-tool to reflect existing realities and trends, the CAB will use its consumer-centric initiatives such as the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP), Telecom Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR), Telecom Consumer Conversations (TCC) as well as social media platforms and Consumer Portal to sensitize consumers on how renewable energy benefits them and their role in achieving industry transition to it in the interest of the environment,” Danbatta pledged.

He informed his audience that the Bureau will develop and produce various consumer education materials such as Flexi and Roll-up Banners, and Handbills, and update its Consumer Handbook to include the message about renewable energy.

Danbatta assured that as the global community celebrates World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2023, the theme of this year will form part of the consideration of the Commission’s regulatory mandate and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to responsibly use the world’s resources, including protecting the environment by supporting the industry, to transition to renewable energy.

 

Share Post
Continue Reading
TechExtra1 day ago

Nigeria Recorded Over 1.4 million Cyber Attacks On 2023 Guber Elections Day- Pantami

TechExtra1 day ago

Effective Collaborations Will Enhance Stronger Africa IT Ecosystem- NITDA DG

TECH PRODUCT1 day ago

OPPO Launches Reno8 T Series In Nigeria

Blog1 day ago

As WAEC Prepares To Launch Its Revolutionary Platform, EduStat…

TechExtra1 day ago

Amazon To Lay Off 9,000 Additional Staff

Telecoms1 day ago

7 Months After Ministerial Objection, FG Removes 5% Excise Duty For Telecoms Sector

Blog3 days ago

Nigeria: A Nation In Need Of Accurate Education Statistics

DIGITAL CURRENCY3 days ago

Hyperspace Technologies Unveils Keymaster VAULT

TechExtra6 days ago

Inuwa Seeks Regional Collaboration Against Cyber Threats In Africa

TechExtra1 week ago

Free Digital Marketing Course: New Spots, MasterClass Available By Aleph CEO

Telecoms1 week ago

2023 WCRD Theme, A Call To Examine Environmental Impact Of Telecom- Adewolu

Telecoms1 week ago

Danbatta Outlines NCC’s Initiatives Aimed At Protecting The Nigerian Environment

Telecoms1 week ago

WCRD 2023: NCC Inaugurates TELCARE Desk At Abuja Airport

Telecoms1 week ago

WCRD 2023: NCC Proactive In Response To Fossil Fuel Power Challenges In Telecoms Industry

BROADBAND1 week ago

Smile Offers Customers Free Streaming Data

TECH PRODUCT1 week ago

HP Unveils Smart Tank 5000 Series Printing Solution In Nigeria

TechExtra1 week ago

OneWeb Successfully Deploys 40 Satellites Launched With SpaceX

Fintech1 week ago

Flutterwave Receives Two Additional Licenses In Rwanda

TechExtra1 week ago

Nigeria’s Cyberspace Suffered Over 6million Threats On Presidential Election Day- Pantami

Telecoms1 week ago

NCC Approves Harmonized Shortcodes, Directs MNOs To Commence implementation

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: Remita Partners MTN’s Yello Digital Financial Services

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: 9PSB CEO Calls For Targeted Content To Accelerate Growth In Nigeria

FINANCE10 months ago

MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank Formally Commences Operations

BANKING7 months ago

FirstBank Hosts Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) Quarterly Meeting

FINANCE7 months ago

Verdant Capital Raises $10m Of Debt Funding For Zeepay

FINANCE10 months ago

Mastercard, OPay In strategic Partnership To Advance Africa’s Digital Financial Inclusion

BROADCASTING2 years ago

tvN, Korea’s Number 1 Entertainment Channel Debuts On DStv March 1

BROADCASTING3 years ago

ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Turn Up Friday With Pepsi’ Premieres On Africa Magic Channels

FINANCE1 year ago

9PSB, Flutterwave Partner To Deepen Financial Inclusion In Nigeria

Opinion6 months ago

Resiliency Is the Cornerstone Of Future-Proofing Business Continuity

Opinion6 months ago

Price Vs Quality: The Nigerian E-Commerce Shopper’s Dilemma

Telecoms3 years ago

5G Services Go Live In Madagascar, As Telma Launches Ericsson-Powered Network In The Country

Opinion7 months ago

The Savvy Story Of National Pension Commission (PENCOM)- Part 2

Opinion3 years ago

Africa In Motion: Accelerating Africa’s Digital Future

FINANCE1 year ago

Andela Announces $200m Series E Financing

Opinion6 months ago

Femi Falana, SAN: Your Client’s Publication On Zinox Chairman, A Cheap Blackmail

BROADCASTING8 months ago

NBC Fines DSTV, Trust TV, 2 Others N20m For ‘Terrorism Glorification’

SOCIAL8 months ago

Google Back Online After Reported Brief Global Outage

BROADCASTING8 months ago

MultiChoice Partners BON To Upskill 200 Broadcasters

BROADCASTING3 years ago

StarTimes Announces Subscription Price Increase, Addition Of New Channels

Advertisement

Trending