The Internet Society Nigeria (ISOC-NG) has asked internet users and other interested parties to help make policies that will make it easier and safer to use the internet in Nigeria and around the world.
Mr. Caleb Ogundele, President of the Internet Society (Nigeria Chapter), made the call at the opening of the third Nigerian School on Internet Governance (NSIG) Forum on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSIG Forum is a pre-event to the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF), scheduled to take place in Lagos from Sept. 12 to Sept. 15.
According to Mr. Caleb, the internet governance spectrum, which consists of the national, regional, continental, and global spectrums, aims to ensure access for all stakeholders in the internet ecosystem.
He, therefore, charged members of the internet ecosystem, including individuals, corporate organisations, civil society organisations, the media, and governments, to understand their importance in the internet governance space properly.
Mr. Caleb said, “Everyone of us is important in the multi-stakeholder approaches regarding internet governance processes.” That is why whenever NCC comes up with a framework or policy, they usually call for public comments where an individual, the academia, civil society, etc can make useful contributions.”
He further explained, “You can then say that the internet belongs to no one. This is, therefore, to remind us of how important you are in making the internet for everyone a good place and a safer environment for all.”
ISOC FOCUS
Dr Wale Adedokun, an academic from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a discussant at the event, underscored the need for proper understanding of the evolution of the internet and components of internet governance.
According to him, the components include critical internet resources; openness, diversity, and inclusion; and access, among others.
As far as internet governance is concerned, access is key to obtaining information without discrimination. Nobody says because you are black, you can’t get information; access should be done with as much ease as possible. ”
He explained further, “ governance also emphasises diversity and inclusion; openness has to do with respect for one another, which must be within a defined moral acceptable standard of One very important thing to be concerned with regarding internet governance is cyber security, the security of your devices and contents, ”
Mr. Yaovi Atohun, of International Cooperation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) harped on the importance of Internationalised Domain Names (IDN) and how ICANN manages them.
SCHOOL OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE 3RD EDITION
As part of efforts to build additional Internet governance capacity in Nigeria, the Internet Society Nigeria Chapter (ISOC) convened its third edition of the Nigeria School on Internet Governance and made aMr. There is a case for improved capacity building in Nigerian schools.
An ISOC shareholder, Mr. Kunle Olorundare, urged members to be global ambassadors, saying the schools on Internet governance have helped many notable countries groom citizens that have risen to take up key positions and influence the global Internet ecosystem. There are so many benefits and they are not limited to participants being able to contribute directly to the growth of Nigeria’s Internet policy making process.
The President of the Internet Society, Nigeria Chapter and Co-Coordinator of the Nigerian School on Internet Governance, Caleb Ogundele, noted that “the school hopes to groom the next generations of Internet Governance public policy experts.”
Caleb noted that the output is for the participants and fellows in the school to be able to contribute to the critical global debate on Internet governance issues from a Nigerian and global geopolitical and multistakeholder diplomacy perspective.
While congratulating the participants for making it to the final selection list of the league of prospective fellows of the Nigerian School on Internet Governance (NSIG), Ogundele noted that the NSIG is a very important school as it equips individuals with the requisite practicum and knowledge to be above board in Internet Governance conversations at the national, regional, continental and global level.
Mrs. Chiderah Ikeokonkwo, Head of Research, Development and Innovation, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), said the bureau was established to secure and safeguard Nigerians from vulnerability to cyber attacks.
According to her, the Bureau is poised to protect Nigerians from cyber fraud, cyber bullies, data manipulations, and intrusions into private family and social affairs, among others.
The Bureau is hoping that, before the end of the current administration, the National Data Protection Right (NDPR) Act 2022 amendment bill will be passed by the National Assembly.
“That will repeal the current NDPR and further institutionalise data protection in Nigeria,” Ikeokonkwo said.
The Forum, which will end on Sept. 13, is to deepen the role of Internet governance in Nigeria. (NAN)