UK, Brighter Futures roll out campaigns to tackle cybercrime, cultism in Nigeria

Brighter Futures programme, an initiative supported by the UK government, has launched the Thrive Online campaign, as part of efforts to curb the rising tide of cyber-related crimes in Nigeria.

The initiative also launched the Cancel Cultist campaign aimed at reducing cultism and other forms of serious organized crime in Nigeria.

The Thrive Online campaign aims to reach vulnerable youths and educate them on the dangers of cybercrime while providing alternative pathways to building sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Oladokun Olajde, a mentorship coach on the campaign, stated that Thrive Online is a sustainable development campaign that addresses legitimate ways for youths to be financially independent, and the dangers of serious and organized crimes to themselves, their families, community and the image of the Country.

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“We enlighten youths on their roles and responsibilities as citizens in making Nigeria a better place to thrive – both online and globally”, he was quoted saying in a statement issued by the management team of the campaign at the weekend.

Over the past decades, serious organized crimes (SOC), particularly cybercrime, has caused significant damage to individuals, families, and businesses in Nigeria.

According to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Nigerian banks lost N3.5 billion between July and September 2020 to fraud-related incidents, representing a 534-per cent increase from the same period in 2019, when it was N552 million.

As part of efforts to reduce SOC activities, the Nigerian government and several organizations have implemented various measures, including the Brighter Futures campaign, to mitigate the tide of cyber-related crimes in the digital space.

The Thrive Online campaign aims to complement these efforts by reaching vulnerable youths through a series of awareness events, radio talk shows, school mentorship programs, and community-based and social media influencers.

In the same vein, the Cancel Cults campaign launched in Bayelsa State would primarily focus on vulnerable youths and educate them on the dangers of cultism and provide alternative pathways to build sustainable livelihoods.

No fewer than 10,000 people have been killed in cult-related violence within and outside school campuses between 1996 and 2019, according to Exams Ethic Marshall International (EEMI).

The Cancel Cults campaign is adopting various strategies to reach vulnerable youths in Bayelsa State, including radio talk shows, awareness events, engagements in schools and communities, and social media influencers, the management stated.