By Uzo Ugwunze
Stakeholders at the 2026 National Child Rights Summit have called for stronger child-centred policies and responsible regulation of Artificial Intelligence to protect Nigerian children from digital exploitation, misinformation, discrimination and other emerging online threats.
The call was made on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, during the summit themed “Harnessing Digital Technologies for Child Protection and Empowerment in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges.”
The summit, which drew policymakers, academics, traditional rulers, security agencies, religious leaders, child rights advocates and technology experts, examined the growing influence of artificial intelligence in education and everyday life, and its implications for child safety and development.
Speakers noted that while AI offers immense opportunities such as personalised learning, translation services, coding assistance, research support and accessible educational resources for children with disabilities, these benefits could be undermined if adequate safeguards are not put in place.
Speakers emphasised that protecting children does not mean isolating them from technology, but equipping them to become responsible digital citizens who can question online information, protect personal data and seek help from trusted adults when threatened.
The keynote speaker, Most Rev. Dr. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, while presenting his paper warned against privacy violations, automated profiling, impersonation, biased systems and inappropriate AI-generated content.
He stressed that Nigeria must develop clear and responsible regulatory frameworks that prioritise children’s interests, noting that the conversation should move beyond what AI can do, to what it should be allowed to do, who benefits, what safeguards are required and who is accountable when harm occurs.
The prelate also called for deliberate efforts to bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural communities where poverty, poor internet access and low digital literacy continue to limit children’s opportunities to learn and compete.
The Bishop of Makurdi Diocese also drew attention to the plight of internally displaced children in Benue State. cited estimates of about two million internally displaced persons and 40 camps, lamenting that many children have spent years in camps without schooling and parental care, following repeated attacks on communities and places of worship.
Bishop Anagbe called on government and security agencies to take more decisive action to protect lives and restore stability, stressing that displaced children must not be forgotten and must have access to education, safety and a dignified future.
Moreover, Parents, described as the first line of protection, were urged to close the technological gap in their homes. The summit observed that many children are now more familiar with smartphones, social media, online games and AI tools than their parents, a gap that leaves them vulnerable. Parents were encouraged to learn alongside their children and create an atmosphere of trust where children can report abuse without fear.
Declaring the summit open, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof. Bond Stanley Anyaehie, called for love and responsible use of technology in child protection. He said protecting children requires more than restrictions, but patient guidance that helps them understand dangers. Sharing a personal experience, he said his son willingly surrenders his phone during school sessions because he understands the reason behind the rule.
Prof. Anyaehie disclosed that the university is exploring partnership to provide specially designed tablets for students with restrictions on social media and harmful sites, urging parents to support the initiative. He urged academics to promote evidence-based research on digital safety and strengthen the Child Rights Act to address emerging challenges.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the UNIZIK Child Rights Committee, Dr. Obiora Edogor, flanked by Dr Njide Ezeonyejiaku a committee Stakeholder called for support for the establishment of a Child Rights Media and Communication Centre in the university.
Edogor said the centre would serve as a multidisciplinary African hub for child protection through responsible technology, research, strategic communication and partnerships to amplify children’s voices and influence policy.
Moreso, the Anambra State Police Command who was the Chairman of the occasion called for a safer digital environment for children. Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Ama Oji, DCP Ngozi Ezeabata said while technology creates opportunities for learning and creativity, it also exposes children to cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation and identity theft.
Ezeabata cited challenges including unstable internet, infrastructure gaps, poor enforcement of laws, limited digital literacy, poverty and reluctance of families to report abuse due to stigma. She referenced a disturbing case in Anambra where a mother allegedly sexually exploited her two daughters for financial gain, saying the case was investigated by the Command.
She introduced the Command’s Gender Unit which handles physical and sexual abuse, bullying and other gender-related offences, and urged all stakeholders to ensure every child has equal opportunity to benefit from digital technology without compromising safety, dignity and rights.
The summit ended with a unified call on government, universities, parents, civil society, religious bodies and technology stakeholders to invest in implementation and accountability, to ensure that technological advancement does not overshadow the needs of vulnerable children, both online and in displacement camps.