Lagos — Through the Microsoft Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative Nigeria (MISSPIN) Microsoft is partnering the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) to combat the menace of cyber crime in the country, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola Citizen Lead of Microsoft Anglophone West Africa has said.

She said the campaign started in 2008 and was meant to help direct the attention and energy of the youths to positive and legitimate use of the cyber space.

Dr. Jummai was addressing newsmen in Lagos at the launch of awareness campaign against cyber fraud tagged 'The Alternative 2.0' held at the University of Lagos.

Citing the non existence of enabling legislations as a major setback in the struggle against cyber crime in Nigeria, she said it makes the international community view Nigeria's effort as not serious. She noted that "nations that rule today are those that have been able to harness ICT to make progress. The hallmark of information and communication technology is the internet. If the internet space in Nigeria is considered not safe, it means we have been left behind."

She said, "It is a project that actually seeks to convince the youths that crime does not pay we are saying the youths do not have to commit yahoo, yahoo to make a living. There are alternatives to cyber crime. We are bringing in the artistes who have earned their reputations through legitimate means and have become role models to these young people. It is our hope that they will be able to influence them positively."

The success story is that we have got a music video performed by star artistes and produced with support from Microsoft, telling the people that cyber crime was not good. Before now, we used to have home videos glorifying cyber crime. Such videos have disappeared and those that used to produce such films are now supporting the 'Maga No Need Pay' music video we produced, she enthused.

The event was attended by hundreds of university and secondary school students as well as popular music artistes drawn from across the country.