MTN Group, Africa’s leading mobile network operator, has teamed up with MTV Base, the continent’s top youth and pop culture brand, to unveil ‘Room of Safety’, an innovative, youth-led series designed to address online child safety and foster positive digital habits.
Digital TimesNG reports that at the heart of the project is a 10-part short-form series, premiering 20 July 2025 at 16:00 on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) and on @MTVBaseSouth and @MTVBaseAfrica social platforms.
Through compelling, relatable narratives crafted by and for young people, the series aims to shine a light on the risks that African youth face online, while equipping them with the tools and awareness to navigate the digital world safely.
The partnership is part of MTN’s ‘Help Children Be Children’ campaign and leverages the extensive reach and cultural influence of MTV’s broadcast and digital platforms to drive real, grassroots-level change.
By sparking honest conversations and engaging youth in their own language, Room of Safety is more than a campaign—it’s a movement. With its multi-platform strategy, the initiative is set to reach millions across Africa, inspire community dialogue, and promote lasting shifts in how young people engage with technology.
The series features Paramount’s Culture Squad member, Craig Nobela, alongside a dynamic lineup of young African influencers including Yanda Woods, LordKez, Foyin Ongunrombi, Azana, Major Steez, Melissa Nayimuli, Mawelele and Naledi.
“As technology evolves, we’re seeing serious risks, AI misuse, online stalking and exploitation- harm we once associated only with the physical world. At MTN, we believe access must go hand-in-hand with protection.
“Through our partnership with MTV Base on Room of Safety, we’re amplifying the voices of young people to speak to, and stand up for, each other, creating a safer, more conscious digital future,” said Ikenna Ikeme, General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Nigeria.
“For two decades, MTV Base has been at the forefront of shaping youth culture and using our platform to spotlight issues that matter. From HIV awareness to gender equality and mental health, we’ve consistently championed content that drives change.
“With Room of Safety, we’re continuing that legacy, empowering young people to navigate the digital world safely and confidently. This partnership with MTN is a powerful step in protecting the next generation and ensuring their voices are heard,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and GM of Editorial at Paramount Africa.
A growing concern across Africa
Recent research conducted by Ipsos in partnership with MTN across Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia has revealed troubling patterns in the online behaviour of children aged 8 to 17.
In both Nigeria and South Sudan, one in ten children reported experiencing online harassment. South Sudan recorded the highest incidence of online bullying, with 20% of children saying they had been bullied on digital platforms.
In Nigeria, the study found that a striking 79% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 spend more than an hour online daily, heightening their exposure to unsafe digital interactions.
The trend is not isolated—across all three countries, between 30% and 40% of teens admitted to adding strangers to their messaging apps, a behaviour that increases their vulnerability to exploitation and harmful content.
The risks are even more pronounced in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, where children who spend over an hour online each day are 17 times more likely to engage in risky online behaviour.
These findings highlight a pressing need for targeted digital education initiatives and robust child protection strategies across the continent, particularly as internet access continues to expand among Africa’s youth.
Empowering youth and parents alike
MTN is committed to creating a safer digital environment for children through a holistic approach that extends beyond awareness to action.
As part of its Help Children Be Children initiative, MTN is supporting the strengthening of in-country reporting portals and child helplines, while also working to make the Africa Online Safety Portal accessible across the continent, particularly in countries that lack national platforms.
The reporting portal enables users to report URLs containing CSAM, which are reviewed by expert analysts and removed, often within an hour. These initiatives especially critical in regions where only 20–22% of children are aware of existing child protection portals, yet over 80% want service providers to offer ways to report abuse directly.
By bridging these gaps, MTN together with MTV Base aims to ensure that every African child, regardless of location, can access vital safety information, report harmful content, and connect to support services that protect their digital wellbeing.
A call to action
Protecting children online in Africa demands urgent, collective action. We must close the data gap, fast-track fit-for-purpose regulation, scale digital literacy in schools, and strengthen collaboration across sectors. With emerging threats like AI misuse and online exploitation, the time to act is now.
Through Room of Safety, MTN and MTV Base are using their reach to turn awareness into action, equipping youth and those who support them with the tools to stay safe, speak up, and stand together. We call on young people, parents, educators, and leaders to be part of building a safer digital Africa for the next generation.
