Cyber bullying: Schools in Federal Capital Territory Get Training On Preventive Measures

143 school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory got trained on cyber bullying and strategies to prevent the act in an event organised by Access Bank and Xploit Consulting Company Limited.

Director, Communication of Xploit Company, Grace Taiwo, said that the training was meant to create awareness in both teachers and students on how to manage the internet.

Taiwo said that the training was organised by the two organizations, adding that it was done for some selected schools in the FCT.

She added that the teachers were from Bwari, Kuje and Gwagwalada local government councils.

According to her, cyber bullying is the act of using the internet to bully people by sending messages that are intimidating or threatening in nature.

Taiwo said that cyber bullying involved using the internet to harm or frighten people especially on social media platforms.

“The aim of this training is to enlighten the teachers on the preventive measures they can use on internet through their handset, ipad, laptop and other devices.

“We are training the teachers after which they will be encouraged to train the students as well so that they (students) can train their other families and relatives around, to enable a retraining trend.

“In other countries, cyber bullying has made children go as far as committing suicide and so, we decided to collaborate to create awareness through trainings in schools,’’ she said.

One of the facilitators of the training and Manager, Ayem and Bayts Consulting Limited, Daniel Ojo, said that one of the ways of exposing people to cyber bullying is when their accounts or passwords are not protected.

He advised people to always ensure that their accounts are not exposed to strangers.

Also speaking, another facilitator, Inya Ode, stressed the need to be safe and responsible, while using the internet, adding that such would help to avoid cyber bullying.

Ode, Principal Partner, Nobleherald Consulting Limited, also urged the trained teachers to ensure that they mentored the students on the risk of cyber bullying and measures to prevent such act.

Another facilitator, Edward Enejoh, expressed worries over the damaging role that cyber bullying could play on the mental development of people.

Enejoh, however, advised Nigerians to always be careful with how they exposed their accounts and passwords on internet platforms.

Vice Principal, Academics, Capital Science School, Kuje, Bunuyaminu Yeti, commended the two organisations for training the teachers over measures to prevent cyber bullying in the country.

Yeti, who spoke on behalf of the other teachers from the various schools, said that the teachers would ensure that the training was extended to other students.