Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says it is committed to working with the Governors’ Spouses Forum and other relevant authorities to address digital violence and make Nigeria’s digital space safer.

Chairman of NGF, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, made the pledge during his remarks at the sixth annual summit of Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum on Thursday in Abuja.

The summit had as its theme: “United for Change: Men and Women Ending Digital Violence Together.”

Mr Abdulrazaq, represented by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, described digital violence as not only a virtual problem, but a real-world threat.

He said that ending digital violence was more than a moral obligation, but a governance and development priority.

Mr AbdulRazaq said that the digital world had become an essential part of human daily lives, expanding opportunities for learning, expression and economic participation, yet created avenues to harm the vulnerable in society.

“As global evidence shows, technology facilitates violence, cyber-stalking, online harassment, digital blackmail, gender misinformation and various forms of exploitation.

“These have all grown at an alarming pace, with profound psychological, social and economic consequences, particularly in the United States.

“We must recognise that digital violence is not a virtual problem. It is a real-world threat. It suppresses voices, distorts choices, erodes confidence and limits participation in public life.

“When women and girls withdraw from digital spaces for fear of abuse, our society loses ideas,” he said.

He expressed the forum’s commitment to working with the Governor’s Spouses Forum to address digital violence and make Nigeria’s digital space safer.

“For us at the NGF, today’s engagement reinforces our resolve to make Nigeria’s digital environment safer, especially for women and girls who are disproportionately targeted.

“Over the coming years, the NGF will continue to work with state governments.

“The NGF continues to intensify efforts to strengthen and harmonise cybercrime legislation,” he said.

Mr AbdulRazaq also pledged the governors’ commitment to promoting digital safety frameworks and online protection laws across all states to ensure a more secure and predictable digital environment for citizens.

“We’ll also work with state governments and community partners to expand digital literacy and online safety programmes in schools and communities, with a particular focus on empowering young girls to navigate digital spaces.

“Furthermore, the forum will prioritise deeper cross-agency coordination, bringing together justice, ICT, education, women’s affairs and security institutions to ensure that policy, enforcement and community education operate as a unified system.

“At the same time, we’ll encourage responsible technology use and pursue sustainable development,” he said

The governor called for collective action to create a digitally-inclusive Nigeria, where citizens could learn, walk, speak and thrive online without having to be targeted or excluded.

“Together, let us build a Nigeria where digital rights are protected, where human dignity is of health and where the people of Nigeria are protected. The promise of technology is matched by its safety for all,” he added.

On her part, the first lady of Kwara State and chairperson of NGSF, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, said that digital spaces must be platforms for “learning, opportunity, creativity and empowerment, not platforms for intimidation or harm.

She said that the rapid misuse of digital technologies was fuelling a global backlash and amplifying violence against women and girls.

These, she said, were being done through online abuse and harassment, exploitation, digital blackmail and misinformation campaigns

“While the true scale of incidents remains under-reported and insufficiently recognised, its consequences are far-reaching and grave, eroding trust in information systems, hence the need for a collective approach to end it,” she said.

Highlighting the forum’s successful history of impactful advocacy, she recalled that it had amplified campaigns that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

The chairperson thanked the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her leadership and commitment to Nigerian women and girls.

She also expressed gratitude to the chairman and all members of NGF for their support.

(NAN)