Osun teachers, parents, PWDs empowered on safe, ethical use of technology

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), a non governmental organisation, has trained teachers, parents and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Osun state on the safe and ethical use of technology.

In a statement on Sunday, the organisation said the programme was held as part of the “Connected & Protected: Advancing Digital Safety in Osun State” project in a bid to make the digital space safer for children, teachers, parents, PWDs.

The NGO added that the initiative has empowered schools and communities with tools to navigate the internet responsibly and ethically in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

The initiative, implemented with support from 48percent.org, trained 50 teachers across the state as digital safety ambassadors to promote online safety, AI ethics, and responsible technology use among young people.

BBYDI said the project’s goal was to protect students and communities from online threats such as cyberbullying, scams, misinformation, and unethical AI use while nurturing a culture of positive digital citizenship.

From 575 applicants, 50 teachers were selected for intensive training sessions on digital citizenship, online privacy, AI ethics, and cyberbullying prevention. Each teacher received a guidebook on becoming a digital champion safely and tools to replicate the lessons in their schools.

According to the NGO, many of the ambassadors have since conducted step-down trainings in 14 secondary schools, reaching over 1,450 students through school assemblies, peer education clubs, and poster campaigns on safe internet habits.

“This session taught me to listen more to my students. That’s the only way they’ll trust me with their online struggles,” said Abduljelil Azeez, a teacher at Ar-Rahman College, Ilobu.

To extend the impact beyond classrooms, BBYDI organised two community dialogues in Iresi and Ifon, drawing more than 300 participants, including parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth advocates.

The discussions explored online parenting, AI ethics, digital scams, and protecting vulnerable users such as PWDs from online exploitation.

In Ifon, Peter Ilufemiloye, the Olufon of Ifon, expressed commitment to sustaining the conversation through palace-led forums and parent-teacher meetings.

“This kind of discussion has never happened here. We will make sure it continues at our town meetings,” the monarch said.

Parents also welcomed the programme, calling for translations of the guidebook into Yoruba to reach non-English speakers.

“We parents must guide our children, not just seize their phones,” said Sururoh Adesina, a parent participant.

Recognising the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and rural dwellers, BBYDI adapted the programme to ensure full participation. Hard copies of materials were distributed in areas with poor internet connectivity, and facilitators simplified technical terms for diverse audiences.

The project team has also begun exploring accessible and local-language versions of its training materials to make future digital safety education more inclusive.

Rasheed Adebiyi, a facilitator, said digital safety now goes beyond avoiding scams or cyberbullying.

“The real success is not just in the numbers but in the mindset shift from fear of the digital world to informed, ethical engagement,” he said.

According to BBYDI, the project’s next phase will focus on integrating AI safety education into school curricula and community outreach programmes to ensure that both teachers and students understand how to use technology responsibly and ethically.

So far, the project has directly benefited about 2,400 people, including teachers, students, parents, and community leaders, and indirectly reached over 1,000 others through radio discussions, local networks, and family sensitisation sessions.