Non-governmental Organization SieDi Hub tasks students on embracing responsible Internet practices, says scammers, fraudsters on rampage

Embracing and adopting responsible internet practices has been described as the key to tackling the growing risk of online scams, cyber bullying and digital misconduct.

This was made known during a Digital Safety Conference for Secondary Schools organised by SieDi Hub, a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other development partners in Umuahia.

The event was organised in commemoration of the 2025 Safer Internet Day with the theme “Too Good to Be True? Protecting Yourself From Scams Online”.

Speaking on the need for students to protect their personal data online,during the event, the Treasurer of the SieDi Hub Board of Trustees Mrs Enyioma Ndukwe-Orji advised against careless sharing of sensitive information stressing that that could expose the students to scammers who see them as easy prey.

Ndukwe-Orji also cautioned against clicking on unfamiliar links and engaging with suspicious pop-up windows, which could lead to security breaches.

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Ndukwe-Orji also highlighted the growing concern over students’ exposure to inappropriate content online stressing that its a collaborative effort to guide young people toward responsible internet use in order to ensure that they uphold moral and ethical values.

Ndukwe-Orji further called for the establishment of digital safety clubs in schools to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the online world securely while promoting ethical behavior.

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Contributing, the State Director of NOA Mr Victor Orji, maintained that while the advantages of technology cannot be overemphasized, visavie making the world a global village, the dangers should also not be overlooked like exposing students to cybercrime, fraud, and the deceptive “get-rich-quick” syndrome.

Orji, represented by the Agency’s Community Safety Awareness and Compliance Officer, Mr Alex Nwosuagwu, commended the organisers for their efforts in sensitising students on responsible internet usage as he assured of the agency’s continue commitment to its advocacy efforts through awareness campaigns and the establishment of Integrity Clubs in schools to guide students towards positive online engagement.

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Also speaking, the Founder of Softicu Hub Mr Lucky Ifeanyichukwu said that a recent research showed that “young people are soft targets for online fraudsters” adding that the Modus Operandi of online fraudsters include, phishing, fake giveaway, cyber bullying and blackmail, online shopping scam, impersonation among others.

He however, said the Internet remains a life saving tool when utilized in the right way as he advised young ones to measure once and count twice when clicking anything online.

Mr Praise Dele, a teacher, said that promoting safer internet habits among youths on the digital space requires serious efforts in creating digital safety awareness.

Speaking to dailytrailnews shortly after the event, some students including Chinatu Grace of Intellectual Giants School Umuahia, commended the organizers of the event, as she called for inclusion of more schools to make the program more competitive.

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Kingsley Love-Dorcas Chidinma still of Intellectual Giants School expressed appreciation to SieDi Hub for the program, stressing that the program keeps improving every year.

She added that her confidence on online safety has significantly improved after last year’s edition and the current one.

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Dailytrailnews reports that the event featured educating and enlightening activities such as poster presentations by students, panel session, question and answer session, and the inauguration of Digital Safety Clubs for secondary schools.