As the world enters a pivotal era of digital policy negotiations, the 17th Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has set a clear mandate: Nigeria must evolve from a spectator to a leader in global digital governance.

R-L Delegation of the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) led by Assistant Director, Mrs. Doyin Aiyenitaju and Mrs Olubunmi with the chairman Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (NDSF-IG4D) 2026, and Director, Strategic Business at ipNX, Dr. Olusola Teniola (hon) and Lead Convener of NDSF 2026 and Lead Convener, NDSF and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke during the event held at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

In his welcome address at the forum, which convened on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos, the Lead Convener of the NDSF and Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media Group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, issued a rallying cry to industry stakeholders. “As the world negotiates the next phase of global digital compacts, Nigeria must not merely be a spectator; we must be an active architect,” Nweke declared.

Echoing this sentiment, the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Olusola Teniola, challenged participants to ensure that the multi-stakeholder dialogue translates into tangible progress. Emphasizing that “the ultimate measure of digital transformation is the positive impact it has on citizens and communities,” Dr. Teniola urged stakeholders to move beyond talk and commit to concrete, measurable, and actionable outcomes.

He further noted that “the complexity of today’s digital ecosystem requires stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, development partners, and users themselves” to realize the WSIS vision of an inclusive, people-centered information society.

To achieve this, Nweke emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s digital foundations, noting that true digital sovereignty requires robust infrastructure, including data center interconnectivity and carrier-neutral protections.

He further advocated for the expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to boost the .ng domain brand and support the SMEs that drive the national economy.

The forum also prioritized the empowerment of the next generation through several key initiatives:

The newly optimized Women, Youth & Students Track, which equipped attendees with cybersecurity skills through a “Phishing @ A Glance” presentation sponsored by the DNS WomenNG Foundation.

The formal adoption of the “2026 Nigerian Youth Declaration on Digital Rights” by secondary school participants, ensuring young voices are central to the policy conversation.

The launch of the 2026 National DigitalSENSE Youth Essay Competition, designed to institutionalize youth advocacy and digital rights awareness nationwide.

Nweke concluded by thanking the forum’s institutional partners, including the NCC, NITDA, ALTON, ISOC Nigeria, Digital Realty, DNS WomenNG Foundation, IHS Nigeria, and NLNG; for their commitment to the multi-stakeholder synergy necessary to bridge the digital divide.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from online harm.

The proposed restrictions will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected by the measures.

In a recorded video message released on Monday, Starmer said the government was taking decisive action in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing.

“It’s a big step for our country. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore,” he said.

The announcement follows a national consultation conducted between March and May, which received more than 116,000 responses on children’s use of technology.

According to the findings, more than 83 per cent of parents believed the risks associated with social media outweighed its benefits, while 90 per cent supported setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms.

The British government said legislation would be introduced before Christmas, with the protections expected to come into force next spring.

Under the proposed framework, children under 16 will also be prevented from using livestreaming features and from communicating with strangers on affected platforms.

Starmer acknowledged that implementing age restrictions would be challenging but said the government had carefully reviewed available evidence and lessons from other countries before deciding to proceed.

“It’s not an easy thing to do. We haven’t rushed into it. We’ve looked carefully at the evidence and will continue adapting our approach as technology changes,” he said.

The Prime Minister also signalled a willingness to confront major technology firms that may oppose the policy.

“We will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer,” he added.

The move comes amid increasing global efforts to regulate children’s access to social media.

Last year, Australia became the first country to enact legislation restricting access to major social media platforms for children under 16.

However, Australian authorities have reported enforcement challenges, with a recent study indicating that many children continued to maintain accounts despite the restrictions.

Alongside the proposed ban, the British government announced a £132.5 million “Every Child Can” programme aimed at expanding access to sports, arts and nature-based activities in schools and local communities as alternatives to excessive screen time.

The initiative follows recent calls by the government for technology companies, including Apple and Google, to strengthen safeguards preventing children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online.

The government said the measures were designed to combat online exploitation, reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and improve online safety.

Meanwhile, social media companies in the United States continue to face legal challenges alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health problems among young users and failed to adequately protect children from online predators.

Supporters of stricter age-verification requirements argue that they are necessary to shield children from harmful online content, while critics have raised concerns over privacy, data protection and freedom of expression.

TikTok says football remains one of the strongest passions among its users in Nigeria, with 59 per cent of users on the platform following the sport.

TikTok

The social media platform disclosed this in a report highlighting the growing influence of football communities and sports content across Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to TikTok, 28 per cent of its users in Nigeria actively participate in football, underscoring the sport’s significance as a cultural touchpoint and a driver of engagement on the platform.

The report noted that football-related hashtags such as #football, #soccer, #SuperEagles and #NaijaFootball have become active hubs for fan reactions, commentary, highlights and match-day conversations.

TikTok said it had evolved into a leading platform for sports entertainment and football culture, bringing together fans, athletes, clubs and content creators through its #SportsOnTikTok initiative.

It revealed that more than 6.5 million videos had been created under the #SportsOnTikTok hashtag, reflecting growing interest in sports content ranging from match reactions and tactical analysis to creator-led storytelling.

“Football communities across Africa are increasingly using TikTok to celebrate their teams, share reactions, debate key moments and connect with global football audiences in authentic and engaging ways,” the report stated.

The platform also highlighted strong engagement during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), noting that more than 1.2 million posts were created globally under the #AFCON2025 hashtag.

According to TikTok, 28.6 per cent of those posts originated from Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing the platform’s role as a major destination for football fans following tournaments in real time.

The report further showed that sports content on TikTok continues to influence audiences beyond the platform.

It stated that 85 per cent of sports fans globally use TikTok as a second-screen experience while watching sporting events, while 42 per cent are more likely to tune into live matches after viewing sports content on the platform.

Additionally, 90 per cent of fans reportedly take at least one action outside the platform after watching sports-related content, while 72 per cent enjoy viewing fan edits, reaction videos and other fan-generated sports content.

TikTok also highlighted the increasing participation of women in sports conversations on the platform.

According to the report, 64 per cent of women globally choose TikTok as their preferred destination for sports content, accounting for 46 per cent of all sports-related views on the platform during the first half of 2025.

The company said the findings reflected a new era of digital sports engagement in which football and other sporting experiences extend beyond the pitch through fan participation, content creation and online communities.

It added that TikTok was becoming a key destination for the next generation of football fandom, transforming passive viewership into active participation through shared experiences and real-time interactions.