csrreporters 
MTN Nigeria has unveiled a new flagship initiative, the “Help Children Be Children” campaign, aimed at creating a safer and healthier online experience for teenagers and young adults.
Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme, said the campaign is designed to balance the opportunities of the digital world with the need to protect children from its risks.
“Our goal is simple: to ensure that every young person can enjoy the benefits of a connected world without being exposed to harm,” Ikeme explained. “The internet provides endless opportunities for learning and creativity, but it also presents real challenges, from cyberbullying to harmful content and mental health risks. This campaign is about giving children the tools and protections they need to thrive online.”
To better understand these challenges, MTN partnered with Outsource Agency to conduct research across Nigeria. The findings revealed growing concerns about online harassment, harmful content, and the toll of digital exposure on young people’s mental health insights that shaped the campaign.
Ikeme added that MTN is committed to strengthening safeguards by blocking harmful material, supporting law enforcement, and providing confidential reporting channels through the Internet Watch Foundation.
Online safety is a shared responsibility, he stressed. “Regulators, policymakers, parents, and communities all have a role to play in building a digital environment where children can learn, connect, and create without fear.”
The campaign also features a partnership with Paramount Africa and MTV Base through the Room of Safety initiative, which will provide a platform for dialogue between young people and their families on issues such as online harassment, safety, and accountability.
Paramount Africa’s Senior Vice President and GM, Monde Twala, described the initiative as a movement toward a safer digital future for Africa’s youth. “While social media connects us in amazing ways, we must ensure it is also a safe space. This partnership with MTN is just the beginning of a larger call to action to protect and empower young people online.
[give_form id="20698"]