AS part of its commitment to combat cybercrime in Nigeria, the software giant, Microsoft Nigeria has announced additional support for the Microsoft Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (MISSPIN), through a new grant aimed at engaging young Nigerians to address the country’s current cybercrime problem.
The new grant from Microsoft announced last Monday will also support complementary MISSPIN projects including the facilitation of a roundtable discussion with selected young people who signed the online petition, in Abuja, with a focus on discussing any provisions that may need to be revised in the latest draft of the cybercrime bill that was developed by a committee drawn across various government departments. The grant, it was learnt would also support courtesy visits by Nigerian youth, selected from the pool of Video Contest entries, who will visit the National Assembly and other stakeholders.
The grant, according to the software giant is expected to support a Video Contest aimed at generating youth-focused and citizen-created content on the subject.
The contest, according to Microsoft was built on the success of the ‘Maga No Need Pay’ video, which drew significant attention to the menace of cybercrime in the country.
“We’re advocating for a youth-led push for cybercrime legislation because this is where we feel we’ll have the greatest impact” , the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Gbenga Sesan, said, adding that, “Social media is an important platform for generating awareness and facilitating dialogue around these types of issues, and we’re continuing to explore new ways to use it to engage and inspire youth.”
For Partners in Learning Project Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Ugochukwu Nwosu, “Internet fraud in Nigeria has a crippling impact on the country’s ability to do business globally and is a problem that needs urgent attention,”
According to him, Microsoft Nigeria was working with PIN and others in both the private and public sector to apply creative solutions to the menace of cybercrime.”
With this , Microsoft and Paradigm Initiative have called for entries of short videos no longer than 5 minutes that uniquely capture audiences and deliver on the question: How can Nigeria tackle cybercrime effectively?
The best of the video entries, Microsoft said will be screened at the office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and posted on the internet.
Subsequently, a letter requesting for the support of the House of Assembly and other stakeholders, towards the passage of the proposed cybercrime legislation would also be presented to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Accordingly, participants who submit the best five entries will be invited to join the National Assembly visit, and all their costs will be covered.
Source:- Vanguardngr