The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it is intensifying efforts to address cyberbullying, gender-based digital abuse and other harmful online behaviours, particularly those targeting women.

NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

Umar said the agency recognised that cyberbullying and gender-based digital abuse had become growing challenges, especially for women in public spaces, including journalists, influencers, activists and entrepreneurs.

According to her, NITDA is advancing a broader digital safety agenda through its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which places emphasis on digital trust, cybersecurity, inclusion and online safety.

She said part of the efforts included the development of a proposed Online Harm Protection Framework and White Paper in collaboration with stakeholders across government, civil society and the technology ecosystem.

“The framework specifically addresses harmful online behaviour such as cyberbullying, hate speech, misinformation, online harassment and gender-based violence, while also protecting digital rights and freedom of expression,” she said.

Umar added that the agency was also investing in awareness and capacity-building programmes targeted at women and other vulnerable groups.

She cited a recent partnership with Women in Cybersecurity, through which NITDA organised a one-day event in March aimed at empowering women to pursue careers in cybersecurity.

According to her, initiatives such as the IGNITE Her Bootcamp and the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy are helping to equip women with digital skills, cybersecurity awareness and safer participation in online spaces.

The director further disclosed that NITDA had continued to engage social media platforms and technology companies on the need for stronger and faster moderation of harmful online content.

She said the agency had introduced a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and was sustaining discussions around the proposed Online Harm Protection Bill.

Umar said one of the major concerns raised by stakeholders was that harmful content written in Nigerian languages, including Hausa and other indigenous languages, often escaped automated moderation systems deployed by global technology platforms.

She said NITDA was advocating more localised moderation systems capable of understanding Nigerian languages, contexts and online behaviour.

“The agency is promoting a multi-stakeholder approach involving regulators, technology companies, researchers, civil society organisations and digital rights advocates to improve reporting mechanisms, transparency and response times for victims of online abuse.

“These collaborations are expected to help create safer and more accountable digital platforms for Nigerians, especially women and vulnerable users who are often disproportionately targeted online,” she said.

Umar also advised women to adopt proactive measures to protect themselves online including tightening privacy settings, avoiding the disclosure of real-time locations.

Other advice, she said, include separating personal and professional profiles, and making use of platform tools such as blocking, muting and keyword filters.

She urged victims of online harassment to document abusive content through screenshots and saved links, rather than engaging with perpetrators.

“Protecting yourself is not about limiting your voice. It is about building a digital fortress around your personal life so that you can participate online safely and confidently,” she said.(NAN)