MTN Cameroon champions online safety for children in Bafoussam.

This was during the second edition of National Cybersecurity Days, organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which took place recently in Bafoussam. 

The programme was unveiled under MTN’s Digital Human Rights framework, which seeks to empower children and youth to become online safety ambassadors, promote the use of reporting portals for harmful content, and guide research-driven awareness campaigns across Africa. 

It also focuses on strengthening educators, institutions, and law enforcement through targeted training and advocacy platforms.

Children on the frontline of digital risks

Speaking during an awareness session, the MTN Cameroon’s ESG and Shared Value Manager, Édouard Tamba, stressed the need for proactive measures.

He noted that with smartphones, streaming platforms, social media now part of daily life and children remain particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying, harmful content and digital exploitation. 

“Every child deserves a safe and enriching online experience,” he said, urging both children and guardians to adopt responsible digital habits to counter potential dangers.

Outlines concrete actions on the ground

He noted that MTN Cameroon’s initiative is supported by a series of concrete actions among them: The Room of Safety, a mini-series co-produced with Paramount Africa and aired on MTV Base Africa, which aimed at sensitising young audiences on cyberbullying, toxic content, and child online protection.

The company, he noted, launched an online reporting portal in 2023 in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation, enabling the public to flag abusive content involving children. 

Through multi-stakeholder engagement, MTN is working with government bodies, civil society, and private actors to promote responsible internet use and enhance digital safety mechanisms.

Insist on need for shared responsibility

The company, he stated has been advocating that digital safety is a collective duty. Parents, educators, authorities, and technology providers all have roles to play in making the internet safer. 

“Reporting, protecting, and empowering are the keys to making the internet a safer space for everyone,” the MTN Cameroon official insisted.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3568 of Thursday September 18, 2025