Child Rights Group Urges Matriculating Students to Avoid Cybercrime

The leadership of the Child Protection Network (CPN) has issued a stern warning to newly matriculated tertiary students across Southern Nigeria, urging them to aggressively resist the allure of internet fraud and instead channel their intellectual capacities into societal transformation. Speaking as the guest lecturer during the 2026 matriculation ceremony at the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, the protem Director of the non-governmental organisation, Dr Godwin Osung, stated that the rising wave of cybercrime among undergraduates is systematically destroying the global credibility of Nigeria's academic certificates. He lamented that the immediate, superficial wealth promised by illicit digital schemes often acts as a trap that derails brilliant young minds, leading to long-term legal ruin and the erosion of foundational moral values.

The academic discourse, titled Transforming Society Through Effective Education, sought to reposition tertiary institutions as incubators for ethical leadership and practical problem-solving. Supporting the group's stance, guest speaker Pastor Akwaowo James argued that true, effective education must rise above the mere acquisition of degrees, defining it instead as the cultivation of critical wisdom and specialized skills that empower individuals to actively break the cycles of poverty and inequality within their immediate communities. As part of the event's broader focus on expanding access to vulnerable youths, the institution officially launched its 2026 and 2027 academic almanacs, utilizing the platform to appeal to corporate entities and wealthy individuals to sponsor brilliant but financially disadvantaged students who are eager to pursue higher learning.