The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has stepped up efforts to tackle cyberbullying, gender-based digital violence and other forms of harmful online behaviour, with a particular focus on protecting women.
The Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, disclosed this in an interview in Kaduna on Monday, noting that the agency is increasingly concerned about the rise in online harassment affecting women across various sectors.
She explained that women in public-facing roles such as journalism, activism, entrepreneurship and content creation are among those most exposed to digital abuse.
According to her, the agency’s response is anchored on its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which prioritises cybersecurity, digital trust, inclusion and online safety.
Umar said NITDA is also working with relevant stakeholders to develop an Online Harm Protection Framework and policy document aimed at addressing harmful digital conduct while safeguarding freedom of expression and digital rights.
She noted that the proposed framework targets issues such as cyberbullying, hate speech, misinformation, online harassment and gender-based violence in digital spaces.
As part of its intervention strategy, she said the agency is investing in awareness campaigns and training programmes designed to improve digital literacy and online safety, especially among women and vulnerable groups.
She referenced collaborations with organisations such as Women in Cybersecurity, including a recent training programme aimed at encouraging more women to build careers in the cybersecurity field.
Umar added that initiatives like the IGNITE Her Bootcamp and the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy are helping women acquire digital skills and navigate online platforms more safely.
She further stated that NITDA is engaging technology companies and social media platforms to improve content moderation and ensure quicker responses to harmful online material.
The agency has also introduced a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and continues discussions around a proposed Online Harm Protection legislation.
According to her, stakeholders have raised concerns that harmful content written in local Nigerian languages is sometimes not detected by automated moderation systems used by global platforms.
To address this, NITDA is advocating the development of more locally adapted moderation tools capable of understanding Nigerian languages, cultural context and online behaviour patterns.
She explained that the agency is promoting collaboration among regulators, tech companies, civil society organisations, researchers and digital rights advocates to improve reporting systems, transparency and response mechanisms for victims of online abuse.
Umar said these joint efforts are aimed at creating safer digital environments, particularly for women and other vulnerable internet users who are often disproportionately targeted.
She also advised women to take proactive steps to protect themselves online by adjusting privacy settings, avoiding real-time location sharing, and separating personal accounts from professional ones.
She encouraged the use of platform safety tools such as blocking, muting and keyword filters to reduce exposure to abusive content.
Umar further urged victims of online harassment to preserve evidence by taking screenshots and saving links, rather than engaging directly with offenders.
She concluded that online safety is about empowerment rather than restriction, stressing the importance of building secure digital practices that allow users to participate confidently in online spaces.