Bobo-Dioulasso: The Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications organized, on Friday May 24, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso, the 2nd edition of ‘Safer Internet day’ under the sign of the need to protect personal identity on the internet.
After Ouagadougou in 2023, it is the turn of Bobo-Dioulasso to host the day called ‘Safer Internet day’.
The 2nd edition of the said day, initiated by the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, was held on Friday May 24, 2024 in the city of Sya under the theme: ‘Protecting your personal identity on Internet: a necessity.
The day’s program included panels led by experts and awareness-raising activities.
According to the Minister in charge of the Digital Transition, Dr Aminata Zerbo, the role and advantages of digital technology no longer need to be demonstrated both at the professional and social levels.
‘Its ability to connect people, interests, ideas seems limitless,’ she said.
But beyond its innumerable advantages, the min
ister underlined, the internet is today a place where the dangers and risks of real life are transposed with ‘tenfold’ harmful effects.
For her, this day is an opportunity to inform, raise awareness, and remind, especially young people, how to behave online in order to get the most out of it while protecting themselves from threats and disadvantages.
In the current context of Burkina Faso, the theme of this edition is relevant in more than one way in the eyes of Dr Aminata Zerbo.
‘Security and privacy of personal information must be at the forefront of our concerns in this connected world,’ she said.
And he continued that the government, through its ministry, is determined to collaborate with all stakeholders concerned to develop effective strategies to guarantee a safe and secure digital environment for all Burkinabè people.
She called on the participants, mainly schoolchildren, to take advantage of this forum for discussion offered throughout this day to learn more about how to be responsible on the in
ternet, and especially how to preserve one’s identity there.
This edition was placed under the sponsorship of the Minister of National Education, Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages, Jacques Sosthène Dingara.
He congratulated the Ministry in charge of the Digital Transition for organizing this ‘important’ event in favor of school youth.
An event which, according to him, is not simply a day of awareness, but also a call to action, an invitation to reflect collectively on the challenges and opportunities offered by digital technology.
‘We live in an era where the internet has become omnipresent in our daily lives, influencing our social interactions, our economic activities and our ways of learning,’ said Jacques Sosthène Dingara.
He also made it clear that protecting one’s identity online is a vital necessity today and that education plays a central role in this process.
‘Every day, we leave digital traces of our activities, our communications and our transactions,’ said Mr. Dingara.
The he
ad of the department of the Ministry in charge of National Education is firmly convinced that awareness of good practices on the internet must start from a young age.
‘We must prepare our young people to navigate safely in the digital ocean, to recognize the dangers and to adopt responsible and informed behaviors,’ he said.
The minister also invited schools to put into practice the advice and recommendations that were shared throughout the day.
Source: Burkina Information Agency