Foundation Rallies Stakeholders To Protect Children Online

Ahead of the Child Online Safety, Protection and Reporting of Abuse (COSPRA) 2026 Summit, the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF) has rallied stakeholders to strengthen how Nigeria can protect children online and respond when abuse occurs.

NKF, a Special Purpose Vehicle established by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), in a statement, yesterday, noted that the summit with the theme, “Protecting Every Child in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Era: Building a Safe and Trusted Digital Future,” is scheduled for tomorrow in Abuja

It will bring together government and regulatory institutions, law enforcement agencies, technology companies, schools, parents, civil society organisations and child protection advocates and the focus is on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way children learn, communicate and interact online.

It will also focus on how AI is creating new avenues for grooming, exploitation, cyberbullying, manipulation and the creation and spread of harmful content.

UNICEF’s 2026 analysis across 10 countries found that at least 20 million children have used AI, with children adopting the technology more than three times faster than adults.

These developments make it important for Nigeria to strengthen not only prevention and awareness, but also the systems available to identify, report and respond to online abuse.

The NKF takes the conversation beyond awareness stressing that children, parents and teachers need to know where to report abuse, how to report it, and what happens after a report is made.

“COSPRA 2026 will therefore place particular emphasis on strengthening reporting, referral and response mechanisms, improving coordination among relevant institutions, and ensuring that children and those who care for them can access appropriate support when online abuse occurs.

“The Foundation believes that Nigeria’s digital future must be both inclusive and safe. As more children gain access to the internet and AI-enabled technologies, protection must grow alongside that access.

“COSPRA 2026 is a call for stakeholders to move from isolated interventions to stronger collaboration and practical action that gives every child a safer digital environment,” the statement said.