Joy Agwunobi
Meta has intensified efforts to combat rising cyber-enabled crimes across Africa, hosting global and regional stakeholders in Abuja for a high-level forum dedicated to online safety and the protection of vulnerable users on the continent.
The two-day event, titled The Future of Online Safety Summit, convened senior policymakers, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and technology leaders from Nigeria and beyond to address the surge in financial sextortion, online exploitation, and other digital threats disproportionately affecting African users.
A major focus of the discussions was strengthening coordination between governments, tech platforms, and frontline responders to prevent online criminal networks from thriving. The summit spotlighted Nigeria’s expanding role in tackling cyber harms, highlighting the work of multi-agency coalitions such as the Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes (JCTC), and showcasing collaborative breakthroughs in disrupting financial fraud rings and exploitation-based networks.
Kojo Boakye, vice president, public policy for Africa, Middle East and Türkiye at Meta, said the company remains committed to solutions that defend users and stop criminals in their tracks. He said Meta continues to invest in technology and research to identify evolving threats, while advancing partnerships that ensure faster detection, reporting, and enforcement against perpetrators.
“We’re committed to victim-centered, technology-driven solutions that make online spaces safer. We’ve developed a range of features to combat digital crimes like sextortion scams on our platforms, working closely with experts and law enforcement professionals to understand the tactics of these bad actors and design effective solutions to stop them,” Boakye stated.
Meta reiterated that user protection remains a priority across its platforms, noting long-standing guardrails including community standards, robust child safety and human exploitation policies, and strict rules against scams and fraud schemes. The company also showcased its advanced content moderation and detection systems, along with user-controlled tools that simplify reporting, blocking and limiting unwanted interactions.
Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) praised the initiative and Meta’s ongoing support for national cyber enforcement efforts.
Binta L. Adamu Bello, director-general of NAPTIP, said “We commend Meta for convening this summit and for its continuous partnership with NAPTIP and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. Meta’s support has proven that public-private collaboration is essential to protecting vulnerable people online.”
Jamila Akaaga Ade, deputy director of Public Prosecutions and head of the Cybercrimes Prosecutions Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, stressed that broad collaboration is critical as criminals become more sophisticated.
“The significance of multi-stakeholder partnerships cannot be overstated. Embracing a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is essential to prevent offensive content that constitutes cyber offenses from taking root in our cyberspace,”she noted.
Ade added that the gathering should serve as a catalyst for stronger cooperation, innovation and a unified commitment to safeguarding digital ecosystems across the region.
Throughout the summit, speakers called for stronger preventive measures including digital safety education, targeted awareness campaigns on scams, tougher enforcement frameworks, and locally tailored support services. Participants also emphasised the importance of youth-focused initiatives and grassroots advocacy to protect communities most at risk.
