Paradigm Initiative Hosts Digital Rights workshop in Uyo
Today, Paradigm Initiative in partnership with Policy Alert and other
local stakeholders, hosts a digital rights workshop in Uyo, Akwa Ibom
State, Nigeria.
The workshop focuses on understanding and navigating the policy and
regulatory landscape related to digital rights and its intersection with
other subjects such as security, media, digital identity, business, as
well as learning advocacy and engagement strategies for those who work
or are interested in promoting and defending human rights online in
Africa.
According to Adeboye Adegoke, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights
Program Manager, “There is a growing interest in conversation around
Digital Rights across Nigeria. Many citizens are curious about what
seems to be an unending desire by the political class to restrict the
digital space.”
“We have seen and heard about many cases of arrests of Journalists and
citizens for expressions online in the Southern part of Nigeria and this
requires a community response. This is why we have come to build the
capacity of local actors in the 11 States of the South-East and
South-South Nigeria, to build competency around civil society response
to digital rights violations and learn useful advocacy strategies for
specific contexts” Adeboye concluded.
Discussions at the workshop will explore topical issues around privacy
and surveillance, digital identity, multistakeholder approach to digital
policy, data protection, Internet shutdowns, content takedowns, freedom
of expression online, digital security amongst others.
The two-day workshop comes at a time when the government is rolling out
legislation such as the hate speech bill and the social media bill. The
workshop is aimed at empowering participants with the understanding of
digital policies and how they affect human rights.
Participants from the South South and South East regions of Nigeria
(Abia, Akwa Ibom Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo,
Enugu, Imo, Rivers State) will also learn about various actors with the
policy landscape.
About Paradigm Initiative
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled
support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve
the livelihoods of under-served young Africans. The organization’s
digital inclusion programs include a digital readiness school for young
people living in under-served communities (LIFE) and a software
engineering school targeting high potential young Nigerians (Dufuna).
Both programs have a deliberate focus to ensure equal participation for
women and girls.
The digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of
public policy for internet freedom in Africa, with offices in Abuja,
Nigeria (covering the Anglophone West Africa region); Lome, Togo
(Francophone West Africa); Yaoundé, Cameroon (Central Africa); Arusha,
Tanzania (East Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa).
Paradigm Initiative has worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007,
and across Africa from 2017, building experience, community trust and
an organizational culture that positions us as a leading social
enterprise in ICT for Development and Digital Rights on the continent.
Paradigm Initiative is also the convener of the Digital Rights and
Inclusion Forum (DRIF), a pan-African bilingual Forum that has held
annually since 2013.
For any inquiries about this press release, please send an email to [email protected]
