BudgIT, PIN and EIE to host 5th edition of New Media, Citizens and Governance conference Nov 17 in Abuja

Enough is Enough Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation and Paradigm Initiative are set to host the fifth edition of the New Media, Citizens and Governance conference entitled “Protecting Digital Rights in Closing Spaces” on Thursday, 17 November 2022 at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua , Center, Abuja, Nigeria.

The one-day hybrid transnational conference will feature speakers and dignitaries from across Africa – Cameroon, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Ghana and Kenya with over 300 delegates registered to discuss critical topics in new media and how they affect various facets. of the society.

According to BudgIT Global Director, Oluseun Onigbinde, the edition of the year was designed to spark conversations about Africa’s digital economic space, social media restrictions and shutdowns, data privacy, elections and public accountability, marginalization and digital security.

“ Digital rights are human rights in online spaces, which include the right to privacy, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of information and communication, gender rights and the right not to be a victim of violence, among other things. The violation of digital rights in Africa has become a widespread problem, and if proactive measures are not taken, it could persist ,” Oluseun said.

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, called the conference timely, as it comes at a time when freedom in the digital space is under threat, even more so with recent moves by Twitter, which has seen the organization cut teams working on human rights and ethics.

“ The times we live in demand that we have honest discussions to protect our dwindling digital spaces, and this forum provides that platform. It is therefore imperative to have an intellectual conversation about safeguarding the digital rights of African citizens before, during and after elections. ” he added.

Also commenting, EiE Nigeria Executive Director, ‘Yemi Adamolekun, noted that the conference would be instrumental in providing various stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss key issues on digital rights and elections in Nigeria and Africa in its together.

“ It is a good forum for civil society and government officials from the continent to discuss issues important to the continent .” she stated.

Confirmed speakers include Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen, Senior Advisor, Internet Governance, Policy Advocacy and Strategic Planning (South Africa), Mr. Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu, SAN, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC , Nigeria), Ms. Toyin Akinniyi, African Representative, Luminate (Nigeria) among others.

BudgIT is a civic organization that applies technology to intersect citizen engagement with institutional improvement to facilitate societal change. A pioneer in the field of social advocacy combined with technology, BudgIT uses a range of technological tools to simplify budget and public spending issues for citizens, with the main aim of raising standards of transparency and accountability within of the government.

Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) is a movement of informed citizens who ensure that our leaders serve us. EiE launched the concept of #OfficeOfTheCitizen as part of its 5th anniversary activities in 2015 to educate Nigerians on their rights and responsibilities. EiE’s #RSVP – Register/Select/Vote/Protect is a key voter education campaign. EiE was an integral part of the #OccupyNigeria movement in 2012 and is very active in the #OpenNASS campaign. 2020 marked EiE’s 10th anniversary and she continued to lead the #OnePerson campaign to reinforce her belief that one person can make a difference in building a better society.

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a pan-African social enterprise building ICT-based support systems and advocating for digital rights to improve the livelihoods of underserved young Africans. The organization has been working in communities across Nigeria since 2007 and across Africa since 2017, building community experience, trust and an organizational culture that positions it as a leading ICT social enterprise for development and digital rights on the continent.

PIN, which has a presence in Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Cameroon and Kenya, has built online platforms that educate and serve as safe spaces to report digital rights abuses. These media, in the form of news reports, short films and online educational platforms, include Ayeta, Londa and Ripoti. He is also the organizer of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), a bilingual pan-African forum that has been held annually since 2013.