Her appearance at the Economic and financial crime commission programs in Abuja further created an electrifying ambience as she mounted the podium to read her address, last week in Abuja. It was my first time watching the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu who was the chairperson at the Efcc official lunch of its initiative known as “Cybersecurity Summit with the title the 2024 National Cybersecurity Summit, the conference with the theme: “Alternatives to Cybercrime; Optimising Cyber Skills for National Development,” aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of cybercrime and promote alternative uses of cyber skills.
It was organised with the support of the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC-Phase II) Programme of the International Institute of Democ Reason being that my interest over four decades had been mostly on issues of security. So this was the first time i watched her speak at a security program of this magnitude. Her captivating address was as if a preacher was on the podium, lacing and injecting notable biblical passages to drive home her message,she was far from exhibiting traits of a politician. Though well recognized politician and senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. Her motheriness was felt vertually every paragraph of her address as she exude very passionate disposition all through her presentation which touched the hearts of everyone listening to the First Lady. Her elegance and delivery reminded me of late Mrs Maryam babaginda during the military era very the exhibited bold, passionate, and lovable disposition with milk of human kindness However there are indelible lessons to be to take away and pass on to some Nigerian youths whose behaviour is becoming very worrisome and of great concern, not only to the first family but to many Nigerian parents.
According to the preacher First Lady, “ winning the war against cybercrime in the country requires the involvement of various stakeholders to achieve it. Pointing that, cybercrime was not just a crime against individuals or businesses but an assault on collective integrity, the nation’s economic stability and the future of the youth. She expressed concern over the alarming number of youth involvement in cybercrime and urged parents to guide their children appropriately by inculcating in the high moral standards, noting that what we inculcate in them matters a lot to their outcome in life.” The simple question on many lips is, what is Cybercrime all about?. Cybercrime has negative impacts on individuals, resulting in financial losses, identity theft, emotional trauma, and reputation damage. Cybercriminals use multiple approaches like phishing, hacking, and malware to access financial information, steal personal data, and post damaging content online
Furthermore, cybercrime, is the use of a computer as an instrument to further illegal ends, such as committing fraud, trafficking in child pornography and intellectual property, stealing identities, or violating privacy”. The truth is that, many Nigerians have fallen victims of various types of cybercrime across the country while many others have died due to the result. Many have asked the question that, at what age should parents permit or expose their children to be in possession of a mobile phone or a laptop computer. The Scrooge of cybercrime has further exacerbated the crime rate among Nigerian youths especially students in both colleges and higher institutions. Painfully as this new criminals are further dragging the already battered image of the country, the EfCC chairman who knows the enormity of the intellectual combat assignment ahead of his commission, disclosed to the audience that this international crime had already snuffed away a staggering $10.5 trillion by who knows he 2025, with approximately 2,328 (two thousand, three hundred and twenty-eight) cases occurring daily. The implication of all these is that, if left unchecked, it would surely affect every positive gain by the government. Already, banks that are affected are not ready to own up as they often continue to cover up cyber attacks on their systems as “upgrading of system”.
Moreover, the sophistication and the urge to get rich quick mentality has erased the morality in most of our youths who love to exhibit affluence without hard work. The EfCC Chairman, Mr Olukoyede disclosed that over five billion Naira had been lost to cyber criminals operating around the country. No wonder the First Lady called on parents, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, the private sector, religious x brleaders, traditional rulers, business leaders, communities and civil societies, to brace up and join the commission in its war against corruption and corruption cyber crime.“It is crucial that we emphasise and entrench the culture of hard work rooted in honesty and dignity of labour among our teeming youth. According to her, “parents should play a pivotal role in raising and guiding their children and wards to be more God-fearing. “Bond of trust and understanding should be created between parents and their children to allow for open communication, whereby their fears and insecurities could be addressed.
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Check this for Part 2
Preach on our first lady (2)