In this Issue:
Major highlights for this edition:
PIN celebrates resolution to minimise internet shutdowns
PIN short films highlighted at Tech for Humanity Summit
PIN addresses Nigeria’s data privacy breach
Ajegunle Life Legacy Award and Scholarship Winners Unveiled
• Inaugural Digital Policy
Engagement Series set for April
Abuja to host the Afro Cities Cafe
We are only three days away from the end of the month, and in what appears to have gone by faster than the blink of an eye, the long weekend is here to usher us into the second quarter of 2024. The month of March was productive. We are viewing it through the lens of the projects we undertook, some of which focused on strategic litigation, advocacy, the Ajegunle Life Legacy Award and Scholarship, and Women’s History Month.
As we bid farewell to the first quarter and the month of March in particular, there is no better way to prepare for what lies ahead than undertaking an assessment of our cause over the past four weeks. Allow us to share these key updates with you.
Wishing you a happy reading��
The Paradigm Initiative Team��
‘Gbenga delivers Public lecture in Ghana
Our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, late this month delivered a two-day public lecture at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), in Accra, Ghana. Themed Digital Governance and Civic Engagement in Africa, ‘Gbenga shared insights on how digital governance, a core part of Paradigm Initiative’s work, is shaping Africa’s future and what we can make of it.
The quarterly webinar of the Net Rights Coalition to which Paradigm Initiative belongs, was held on March 18 under the theme Content Moderation and Artificial Intelligence in the year of elections. The panelists drawn from Meta, Digital Action, Community Podium and Paradigm Initiative discussed case studies and best practices on content moderation in Africa. These include how Big Tech Companies moderate content, safeguarding the integrity of elections: The role of civil society and Big Tech Companies, and combating misinformation during elections and the role of Factcheckers during election seasons. They also explored how big tech companies will intervene in challenging information disorders to avert likely digital rights violations. The webinar was part of efforts to promote dialogue on
content moderation during elections, engage big tech companies on their responses to information disorders during elections, and formulate strategies to address likely digital rights concerns.
During the month, our Programmes Officer, Sani Sulieman Sani represented the organisation at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Peer Review on Digital Governance in Nairobi, Kenya. The event provided a valuable platform that brought together representatives of Governments, International Organizations, and Civil Society Organisations from 12 countries across Africa,
Asia, Europe, South America, and the US. The peer review discussions comprised sharing insights and collaborative problem-solving exercises, exploring the unique approaches and challenges faced by each nation. It was also a chance for Sani to highlight the potential of initiatives such as Nigeria’s OGP-National Action Plan 4, which will prioritise digital governance, and Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Policy Engagement Series (DIPES) in building stakeholders’ capacity.
PIN welcomes transition of Ranking Digital Rights from New America into World Benchmarking Alliance
This month, Paradigm Initiative welcomed the transition of Ranking Digital Rights from New America into the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), a network the organisation is part of.
“Having worked closely with Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) under the Greater Internet Freedom consortium over the past four years, we have been drawn to RDR’s work towards corporate accountability and welcome the seamless synergy with WBA,” said Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager, Partnerships and Engagements. RDR, she added, has empowered PIN through their ranking methodology, which calls for a robust assessment of companies pointing towards corporate compliance with human rights standards, allowing for a ranking of performance.
“Our researchers have adopted this methodology, and through great collaborative work, we have been able to use an evidence-based approach to assessing the performance of telecommunications companies in Angola, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Eyeing strategic collaboration: PIN meets SOS children’s villages Kenya
During the month, PIN’s Communications Manager, Judith Ogutu, and Programmes Officer, East Africa, Miriam Beatrice Wanjiru met the SOS Children’s Villages Kenya team to discuss possible areas of collaboration. The meeting was attended by the organisation’s National Director, Walter S Odhiambo and Head, Fund Development and Communications, Diana Etsabo. The meeting provided a platform for the PIN team to also share about the organisation’s impact, more so among under-served African youth by connecting them
with digital opportunities.
Inaugural Digital Policy Engagement Series (DiPES) set for April
Paradigm Initiative will in early April host a policy workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, which will bring together diverse stakeholders. The workshop under the organisation’s Digital Policy Engagement Series (DiPES) will see delegates examine, review and hold discussions focused on key legislative documents namely the Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill (DRFB) and the Cybercrimes Act 2015). As a major contributor in influencing change of policy and laws, PIN seeks to utilise this platform to create a coordinated and influential push towards digital rights and freedoms and freedom of expression while advocating for incorporation of international human rights standards in Nigeria’s cybercrimes, telecoms laws and policies.
After Nairobi, Kenya, Abuja - Nigeria is set to host the second edition of our Afro Cities Cafe. This follows a collaborative session between Paradigm Initiative and the Internet Society (ISOC) Nigeria Chapter where institutions agreed to jointly organise an episode of the Cafe in the Nigerian capital. The event will provide a platform for discussing and addressing various challenges associated with domain names in Nigeria in consultation with the Nigerian Internet Rights Association (NIRA). The second edition of the
PIN urges Meta to keep CrowTangle running Paradigm Initiative has joined over 150 other organisations across the world to push back against shutting down research tool, CrowdTangle, later this year. The decision to shut down the platform, we believe will further restrain the perspective of observers on Facebook and Instagram trends during elections. This indirectly translates to increased political disinformation, incitements to violence, and online harassment of women and minorities by the use of social media platforms. You can find the Open Letter to Meta here
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) celebrates the timely adoption of Resolution 580 on Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa, marking a significant milestone in safeguarding digital rights and electoral integrity across the continent. PIN lead the process which saw adoption of the draft document which the organisation had submitted. Recently endorsed during the 78th Private Ordinary Session by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), this resolution underscores the need for African States to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during electoral periods. Resolution 580 also emphasises the responsibility of telecommunications and internet service providers in notifying users of potential disruptions and promptly resolving any disruptions. It stands as a testament to the collective efforts aimed at fostering a conducive environment for digital rights protection and democratic
governance in Africa. PIN remains committed to advancing these objectives and looks forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to uphold Internet freedom and electoral integrity across the continent.
‘Gbenga at Tech and Humanity summit
On March 13, PIN’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan was at the Tech for Humanity Summit, where he spoke on the organisation’s approach to share findings of the Londa report through short films. The short films, with the fourth set to be released soon, he explained, have provided a way to capture diverse audiences and make an impact on those not used to the language of the digital rights and inclusion reports. The summit was also an opportunity to discuss the conflicting narratives of the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. The reel highlighting the short films, which was played at the event can be viewed here. The summit presents a platform for entrepreneurs to build the architecture, trust and
networks needed to address pressing tech issues. These include democracy and social cohesion, sustainability, responsible Artificial Intelligence, public digital infrastructures and more.
Paradigm Initiative on March 19 made a demand for immediate action from Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in response to a severe privacy breach involving unauthorised access to citizens’ data via XpressVerify.com. The breach, PIN pointed out, violates both the National Data Protection Act (NDPA) and citizens’ constitutional right to privacy. PIN further emphasised the need for urgent intervention byNIMC and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in addressing the violation. Our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan was later featured on Channels TV on March 21, where he doubled down on PIN’s call. Analysing the security risk, he pointed out the vulnerability of the Nigerian population following exposure to the breach. ‘Gbenga also advised the audience on ways to keep their personal data safe in the midst of the recent turn of events. Watch the full interview
On Friday, 1st of March 2024, we contributed towards the development of a bright future for four brilliant students at our headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. The four were feted in an award ceremony where winners of the Ajegunle Life Legacy Award and Scholarship were unveiled following a careful screening process undertaken for four months. The winners are, Anthony Maduamaka Ihejiamatu of the University of Lagos, Adeniran Esther of the
Federal University of Technology Akure for the Taiwo Bankole Award, and Ogar Gideon Robert and Idowu Sarah Sylvester for the advanced software training scholarship (Ajegunle Legacy Scholarship).
The month of March is dedicated to highlighting the place of women from all walks of life. We at Paradigm Initiative are no different. The month and Women’s Day in particular, was a chance for us to remind ourselves once more of the amazing women on the PIN team and the selflessness they exude in carrying out their daily tasks. Here’s a video we curated to mark the celebration. You might also want to read our Executive Director’s perspective on the role of women in Paradigm Initiative’s success and their indispensable value.
Last week, we closed online registration for our signature event, the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF24), set for Accra, Ghana, from the 23rd to the 25th of April 2024. Registration will resume physically at the event location from the 21st to the 23rd of April 2024. Have an apercu of the DRIF24 experience.
What are you reading this coming weekend?
Trade, science, technology and infrastructural development are some key areas under which sino-African relations flourish. As valuable as these are to the development of the continent, they alone no longer suffice in this age of new tech. Our Programmes Officer, Sani Suleiman Sani, shares his take on Sino-African relations and the role of artificial intelligence in driving development. Read the article.
Paradigm Initiative has been a driving force for positive change in African communities since 2007. With ourroots in Nigeria and operations across Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal and beyond, we have impacted the livelihoods of more than 150,000 under-served young Africans through digital opportunities and protection of their rights online. Our vision towards a rights-respecting world is resolute, and so is our focus on influencing policies in digital rights and inclusion while advocating for a free and affordable Internet.
Visit our website to learn how you can support us.