NerdzFactory Company and Meta have launched SafeOnline 2026, the seventh edition of their digital safety initiative, marking six years of continuous partnership to promote safe internet use among young Nigerians. Since its inception in 2020, the programme has reached 54,718 participants across six editions, including 42,260+ students, 7,789 NYSC corps members, 3,326 parents and educators, 1,220 Youth Ambassadors, and 123 Fellows in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti States. The 2026 edition shifts focus to address the growing influence of artificial intelligence in online spaces, introducing a new theme: Building Safe, Healthy and AI-Aware Digital Communities. It will prioritise AI literacy, digital safety, and digital wellbeing through structured activities and peer-led engagement. For the first time, the programme expands beyond South Western Nigeria to cover all six geopolitical zones, aiming to reach over 8,900 participants by November 2026, including 5,000 secondary school students. A key innovation is the introduction of AI Literacy Circles—ongoing peer-led learning groups where teenagers explore responsible AI use and healthy online behaviour in sustained discussions rather than one-time sessions. Ademulegun Olowojoba, Founding Partner at NerdzFactory Company, stated, "Six years in and seven editions strong, we are more convinced than ever that digital safety is a continuous investment in young people. This seventh edition takes that further, equipping them not just to stay safe online, but to understand and navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI." The initiative also includes a family engagement component to help parents guide safe digital habits at home and a policy roundtable with about 30 stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Development, and NITDA, to align programme outcomes with national youth safety and AI governance discussions.
The programme has reached 54,718 people since 2020, yet plans to reach only 8,900 more in 2026 despite expanding to all geopolitical zones, suggesting slower per-region growth over time. The emphasis on peer-led AI Literacy Circles implies that one-off digital safety talks have failed to create lasting impact. If continuous engagement is now deemed necessary, past editions may have overestimated their long-term effectiveness.
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