NDA Sensitizes Personnel, Staff And Cadets On Social Media Use And Cyber Crimes

The 2-day lecture series which held at the Academy Auditorium, Afaka, was aimed at sensitizing staff and cadets on the importance of social media and its usage, as well as cyber crimes and their implications on people, businesses and the nation at large.

Delivering one of the lectures, Sqn Ldr JM Chiwar noted that with the advancement of technology over the years, the computer and, indeed, social media have not only come to stay but have also made life a lot easier to interact with people and corporate entities, both within social and official instances. Sqn Ldr JM Chiwar however, noted that, as with all other things, social media has its challenges, as some unscrupulous people and, sometimes, corporate bodies use it to engage in criminal activities like information and identity theft, and even financial theft. Hence, the need for  staff and cadets to be empowered and equipped with the right knowledge to safeguard their personal and official information. 

Another presenter, Mr Ikenna Divine Chukwu, a staff of the DICT, noted that social media has made it easier for us to connect with friends and family from across geographical divides, even though it can be used also as a tool to break up friendships and family ties, particularly if people become careless with vital information.

The 2-Day Sensitization Lecture which had in attendance officers, civilian staff, military personnel and  cadets from all departments in the Academy, with the exception of  those on essential duties, was organised by the DICT to keep staff and cadets abreast of the new and emerging trends in the cyber environment, and to enlighten them on the various ways through which social media is being used to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

While addressing cadets during the lecture, the presenters urged the cadets to abstain from "get rich syndrome" and be ready to work hard for anything of value that they seek to attain either personally or professionally. The cadets were also sensitized on the kind of content they put out on social media handles and accounts like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, etc, since this information could be used for criminal purposes, mostly to the detriment of unsuspecting persons.

The lecture, on both days, later broke into interactive sessions where staff and cadets were given the opportunity to ask questions on grey areas, with answers provided by the presenters.