 Tituakini hijawe ya w fatele. Ziva yu uza yuh disturbu kwa maliamehawe wim제가 hwana kwenya hatu ilu anfiraria q cosawe hiriawe yilire. K招umiliha wakilisha kwa mahi kwa kwa wiga wiki yuza yuza yuza nwa yumole feza yuza yuza yuza yuza wiki yuza kwa kwa wika dekani yuza, wiki yuza. Yokwa umisha ndwa na unuhu kwa bayamika jutu. Sama, every one must be aware of it's pitfalls and guard seweza o katamaakwekari ya mga resa. Native zunia mwa this empowerment must begin at an early age hens the aim of this conference is to empower young digital citizens to use the internet and to use it safely. I must therefore emphasize the role of our partners as co-organizers of different sessions and thank them for their help in driving the discussions and share their valuable experience and knowledge in protecting children online. The internet is connecting the world like never before. In Africa too, internet use is experiencing a boom. According to ITU statistics, mobile program penetration in Africa increased from 2% in 2010 to 11% in 2013, which is the highest growth rate compared to other parts of the world. The number of internet users in Africa witnessed a rise from 17 million in 2005 to 148 in 2013. This is remarkable. Despite its enormous benefits, the internet also comes with risks. This applies to Africa as much as anywhere else in the world. Following the rapid expansion of the internet, cybersecurity has become an emerging challenge for Africa in recent years. We must ensure that the responsible and safe use of the internet is well promoted, especially for vulnerable groups such as children. While the risks are very real, the risk of not being part of the high-tech revolution is even greater. It is a fundamental right for African children to benefit from using the internet and to have adequate protection at the same time. This conference will therefore focus on different challenges related to child online safety, from legislation to building capacity, from the role of industry to the need of empowering children to become global digital citizens. Ladies and gentlemen, I strongly believe that child online safety can only be achieved by working together international collaboration and cooperation and our key to ensuring a holistic and comprehensive approach. Since the launch of the Child Online Protection Initiative in 2008, ITU has brought together different stakeholders to work toward promoting child online protection worldwide. Through a broad coalition of 193 member states, international organizations and non-government organizations, private corporate partners and child advocacy groups, the COP initiative aims to promote the importance of child safety in the online world, develop practical tools to assist governments, industry and educators, and share experiences in ensuring a safe and secure online experience for children everywhere. It also aims to address legal, technical, organizational and procedural issues relevant to protecting children online. Many countries in Africa are already taking action to ensure the safety of children online. I am confident that this conference will be an important step in this direction. Let's work together to ensure a brighter future for African children. Let's give them access to a better, safer and more trustworthy internet. I count on you. Thank you.