The new wave of crime on the web called ‘cybercrime’ which has been a threat to Internet safety in Nigeria has gotten the attention of the world’s largest software company, Microsoft.

In a campaign called “The Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (ISSPIN), Microsoft is partnering with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), a social enterprise that seeks to help deliver ICT for socio-economic opportunities in Nigeria. The US$50,000 campaign is sponsored by PIN and Microsoft in partnership with the Computer Professionals’ Registration Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigerian Internet Registration Association, Planet One Entertainment and Teledom Group.

This partnership will educate the Nigeria’s youth on cybercrime and provide opportunities for them to use their computer skills positively, thus providing technical training, investigative and forensic assistance and new technology tools to combat cybercrime.

My Opinion

I think that Microsoft’s involvement in the issue of cybercrime in Nigeria has come at a very critical period when there is an increase in mobile web usage in Africa and Nigeria as well as online payment platforms around the world.

My hope is that the campaign will help create a better image of Nigeria on the Internet and thus provide great opportunities for Nigerians to conduct online businesses legitimately.