The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja III, has unveiled the first indigenous website, known as 2geda.
Unveiling the social media network at Ilaji Resort and Hotel, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday, the paramount ruler called on both the Federal Government, State Governments and other philanthropists across the nation to support the initiative to make the country great.
“We must support our youths to make Nigeria great again. They are intelligent and innovative, and they need our support.
“I want to appeal to the Federal Government, our state governors, traditional rulers, as well as the philanthropists to support this initiative so as to go higher like Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat and others,” he urged.
Also speaking, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the platform is not just built on a post, but it is built on culture.
“We are quickly awake that national development cannot thrive without digital sovereignty.
“The Federal Government is ready to support a strong digital economy platform like 2geda with a collective mission to foster security, collection and a sense of belonging among Nigerians at home and abroad.
“In a time when digital privacy, national identity and culture preservation are top priorities, this one-man collaboration offers a safe and relevant phase for Nigerians to connect, express, share and build together.
“Let me assure you that the Federal Government is committed to supporting innovative ideas like this that contribute meaningfully to national development, youth engagement, and technological independence.
“We can stay together not just as a said product but as an institution of the future, one that can compete with global giants and tell the Nigerian story in our voice and in our time.
“As we officially unveil the platform today, let us embrace this platform, contribute positively to its growth, and to all the kinds of digital environment we want for our children and generations to come.”
In her speech, the Acting Director of Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Hauwa Ringim, also urged Nigerian youths to think outside the box and make use of social media.
“We are not here to celebrate the indigenous social media website – 2geda, we are here to reflect on the uses of social media to curb cybercrime in our society.
“This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. We, at EFCC, under the able chairman, have been using all the social media platforms to strengthen our fight against cybercrime and any other criminality in Nigeria.
“Our Nigerian youths are creative, talented, innovative, and they have visions to create technology that will be accepted globally. We should be seen as people who create technology that will be useful to us.
“Social media has come to stay; it is now left for us to either leave it in the hands of the criminals to be a weapon or we should take it over from them to use it to protect our people,” she urged.
