Makurdi – No fewer than 300 female students in Benue State have received training on digital safety, cybercrime prevention, and legal rights in a sensitisation programme organised by TechHer in collaboration with Accountability Lab Nigeria and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Benue State branch.

The initiative, held across Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, and Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, aimed to strengthen digital literacy among young women and equip them with the tools to navigate online spaces safely.

The two-day programme featured interactive workshops, panel discussions, legal literacy sessions, and advisory clinics focusing on Nigeria’s cyber laws, ethical online behaviour, digital footprints, and mechanisms for reporting online abuse.

Speaking at the event, Chairperson of FIDA Benue, Blessing Ityohuun, underscored the growing link between digital platforms and human rights. She noted that protecting digital rights is essential to safeguarding fundamental freedoms and maintaining social order.

Also speaking, FIDA’s Public Relations Officer, Ihechi Olanrewaju, highlighted the legal framework guiding digital rights in Nigeria, including provisions in the 1999 Constitution and the Cybercrimes Act. She stressed the need to balance enforcement with the protection of fundamental rights.

A key focus of the programme was Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), with TechHer Project Officer, Gladys Omenefu, raising concerns over the increasing prevalence of online harassment, cyberstalking, impersonation, and blackmail targeting women and girls. She emphasised the importance of awareness and early intervention in tackling such abuses.

Participants were also introduced to practical reporting tools, including TechHer’s “Kuram” platform and its Volunteer Lawyer Network, designed to provide legal and psychosocial support to victims of digital abuse.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Accountability Lab Nigeria, Alfred Agu, said the programme not only improved awareness but also empowered participants to take action against digital violations.

Some of the students who participated shared how the training reshaped their understanding of online behaviour and rights. A 300-level Mass Communication student at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University said the programme helped her recognise that many actions often ignored online constitute rights violations.

Similarly, a 200-level Computer Science student at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University described the session as empowering, noting that learning how to document and report abuse has boosted her confidence in protecting herself and others.

In her closing remarks, Ityohuun commended the organisers and host institutions, stressing that equipping young women with knowledge and access to support systems is key to building safer and more inclusive digital spaces.

Organisers said insights gathered from the programme would inform future advocacy, policy engagement, and the development of accountability tools aimed at improving digital safety across the country.