Child Online Africa welcomes you to a #NiceNetNovember. Since November 2015, Child Online Africa holds awareness and education campaign from the 1st of November through to the 30th of November with the aim of encouraging cyber hygiene dubbed Nice Net November (#NiceNetNovember). This initiative evolves over the years from just sharing safety tips daily to media engagements, workshops sessions, and unveiling of eSafety resources. Each year, we lookout to reach at least 5000 people with relevant eSafety tips.

In line with our long-term campaign of promoting digital citizenship targeted at training and promoting young people’s (by extension the general public) responsible and ethical use of the digital platforms, COA is dedicating this year’s #NiceNetNovember to throwing a spotlight on the menace of Child betting among other vices against children.

November 2022 is set to see a surge in sporting activity, especially in the world of football as the World Cup tournament kickoff is in less than 30 days. Ordinarily, sporting activities should present a good opportunity for purposeful recreational experience of children. However, a worrying trend of child betting and its associated illicit activities continue unabated with little or no regulation or enforcement of laws to check these. Alarmed over the fact that cyberspace is getting awash with hyper bonanzas, which have the tendency of creating fertile grounds for cyber-attacks on minors.

 Child Online Africa is asking for the following measures to be rolled out:

1.    We call on the Gaming Commission to scale up enforcement of relevant laws which discourage children from the business of sports betting. Section 48 of the Gaming Commission Act, Act 721 on Children states that. “A person responsible for a gambling machine shall not permit a child to use the gambling machine or to enter a place where the gambling machine is operated”. This provision of the law and all other relevant ones ought to be given special attention in order to effectively deal with Child betting.

2.    We urge the government and legislature to consider urgent policies and laws that will further reform the gaming sector. Gaming has taken on new shape in the wake of technological advancement hence the need for an ‘upgrade’ in the law.

3.    Parents Should also take a keen interest in children’s Health and Well-being online focusing on building the attitudes, skills, values and knowledge that help children become aware of how digital technology can positively or negatively influence their body and mind. This will afford them the opportunity to be entertained while avoiding the pitfalls on the Internet.

As a child-centered organization we intend to leverage on our #NiceNetNovember to create more awareness and to sustain the advocacy for putting an end to Child betting.