The Advocates for Cybercrime Prevention project was launched as a strategic intervention to address the increasing involvement of vulnerable youth in cybercrime within Edo State. The twelve-week initiative targeted at-risk young people, equipping them with essential skills and resilience to resist the lure of cybercriminal activities. The program integrated three key components: resilience-building, vocational skills training, and community advocacy. The program’s core objective was to provide participants

with the psychological, technical, and socio-economic tools necessary to forge legitimate livelihoods while fostering a culture of cybercrime prevention within their communities.

The initiative commenced with 20 participants — 10 boys and 10 girls — all of whom were carefully selected based on their vulnerability to cybercrime. These young individuals, aged between 16 and 24 years, represented a diverse educational background, from those who had completed secondary education to those pursuing tertiary studies. Over the course of the program, 17 participants successfully completed the program and graduated, demonstrating considerable growth in self-confidence, emotional resilience, and vocational skills.