…As Health Journalist warns parents and guardians as YCISI raises awareness on digital safety
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against children does not always begin with physical contact. Sometimes, it starts with a message, a compliment, a gift, a secret or an online stranger making a child feel special.
This is the warning from Aderayo Olaiya, a Health Journalist and Wellness Advocate, as she lends her voice to the SGBV Check campaign of the Young Child In School Initiative (YCISI), the flagship programme of Event Diary Lifestyle.
Aderayo said children are increasingly exposed to forms of abuse that can begin quietly in digital spaces, making online safety an important part of child protection.
She explained that grooming involves deliberately building a relationship, trust or emotional connection with a child with the intention of manipulating, exploiting or abusing them.
According to her, digital grooming can happen through social media platforms, messaging applications, online games and other digital spaces where children interact with people they may not know personally.
A groomer, she noted, may begin by chatting regularly with a child, giving excessive compliments or making statements designed to make the child feel different or special.
The person may also offer airtime, money, gifts or game credits, encourage the child to keep their relationship secret and gradually introduce inappropriate conversations.
In some cases, the interaction can progress to requests for private pictures, questions about the child's body, sexual conversations, threats or blackmail.
Aderayo stressed that one of the dangers of grooming is that a child may not immediately realise that they are being manipulated.
She therefore urged parents and caregivers to discuss online safety with children regularly and in a way that educates rather than frightens them.
Children should be taught that they do not owe anyone a picture, secret, conversation or access to their body, she said.
They should also know that they have the right to say no, leave uncomfortable conversations and tell a trusted adult when something does not feel right.
Aderayo encouraged parents to reassure their children with simple messages such as: “If anyone makes you uncomfortable, you can tell me. You will not be blamed for telling me.”
She also called on parents to understand the digital platforms their children use, know who they interact with and pay attention to privacy and safety settings.
According to her, protecting children online requires regular conversations rather than waiting until something goes wrong.
Aderayo further advised parents and caregivers to respond carefully if a child discloses an uncomfortable or abusive online experience.
She said adults should listen without shame or blame and avoid questions that make the child feel responsible for what happened.
Instead of asking, “Why did you respond?” or “Why did you send it?”, she said adults should remain calm, reassure the child, protect them and seek appropriate professional support.
Where relevant, she advised preserving available evidence and reporting the matter through appropriate child protection, health or law-enforcement channels.
The Convener of the Young Child In School Initiative (YCISI), Princess Adeola Shittu, said the campaign is aimed at making child protection a conversation that begins before abuse occurs.
Adeola said the growing use of digital platforms by children makes it necessary for parents, schools and communities to understand the risks children may encounter online.
She stressed that awareness must not end with telling children what to fear; it must also empower them with the confidence and knowledge to recognise inappropriate behaviour and seek help.
“We must teach our children before danger finds them. A child who understands boundaries, knows that they can say no and feels safe enough to speak up is better equipped to seek help when something goes wrong.”
Adeola added that adults must also take responsibility for creating an environment where children will not be afraid to speak.
“Our children should never feel that they will be blamed because someone manipulated or abused them. When a child speaks, we must listen, protect and act.”
She urged parents and caregivers to see online safety as part of everyday parenting and not merely a technology issue.
The SGBV Check campaign by YCISI is part of its broader child-protection advocacy, encouraging adults to pay closer attention to the realities children face both offline and online.
Aderayo concluded by calling for collective responsibility among families, schools, communities, institutions and technology platforms.
“I’m Aderayo Olaiya, a Health Journalist and Wellness Advocate, and I’m lending my voice to the movement against sexual and gender-based violence. Let’s talk. Let’s educate. Let’s protect. Because prevention begins with awareness.”
