Dear Esteemed Reader,
We are hours away from the second half of the year, with the first half having passed by rather fast. The first six months have been a long but rewarding stretch, one marked by multiple strides in different domains of our operations as Paradigm Initiative. As we get into the second half of the year, we remain confident in the mission, thanks to the backing of our key stakeholders.
Today, we share with you what we have been up to as an organisation over the past month. We hope you enjoy reading.
The Paradigm Initiative Team
Key Highlights
• PIN scores strategic litigation victory in Nigeria
• PIN to benefit from $25,000 Grant with Nigerian TikToker
• Eight weeks of Londa
• PIN unravels major data breach in Nigeria
• PIN Executive Director presents Strategic
Management Plan to the UN Secretary General
• Senior PIN Manager appointed to GNI board
• Fill in the Gap campaign to provide alternative narratives to PIN short film
• Afro cities cafe goes to Port Harcourt, Nigeria
PIN scores strategic litigation victory in Nigeria
Paradigm Initiative celebrates the resounding victory of Miss Folashade Molehin in the case pitting her against the United Bank of Africa (UBA). The bank in question was ordered to pay her the sum of N 8,000,000 for gross violation of her right to data privacy. Lagos Judicial Division Judge, Justice A O Faji declared the bank was found liable for unilaterally opening a domiciliary account for Miss Molehin without her consent, breaching her right to data privacy.The matter was funded by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) through its digital rights reporting platform Ripoti. The strategic litigation success is definitely a morale booster to the PIN team and Ripoti partners in general. Read details here.
TikTok’s Change Makers initiative. She is among 50 other creatives selected from around the world to participate. The initiative marks the platform’s first-ever global social impact creator elevation campaign to spotlight creators and non-profits who drive meaningful change in their communities using TikTok. Charity uses her platform to not only entertain but also to educate her audience and the general public about the beauty of African culture and its people, dispelling negative stereotypes about the continent. We look forward to working with her to amplify the work we do.
PIN uncovers major data breach in Nigeria
PIN to benefit from TikTok $25,000 Grant with Charity Ekezie
PIN has been paired with Nigerian content creator Charity Ekezie as benefactors of a $25,000 grant courtesy of
Last week, PIN made public details of a major data breach in Nigeria where several unauthorised websites are claiming to hold and provide access to sensitive personal and financial data of
This week, PIN joined other members of the Net Rights Coalition (NRC) to express dismay with the Internet shutdown which occurred on 25 June 2024, among other human rights violations being unleashed to muzzle protests in Kenya in response to the Nigerian citizens for as little as 100 Naira. These include personal data such as the National Identity Number (NIN), the Bank Verification Number (BVN), a virtual NIN, Driving License, International Passport, Company details, Tax Identification Number (TIN), Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and Phone Numbers. Due to the severe implication for millions of Nigerians, Paradigm Initiative have through its legal partners, Vindich Legal, served a pre-action notice to some Government Agencies including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Finance Bill of 2024. In a statement, the NRC noted that the current trend of events were tantamount to a democratic backslide, considering Kenya has, in the past, had a good reputation for respecting Internet freedom. The empowering nature of the Internet, it urged, should never be seen as a threat but as an enabling tool for fundamental rights entrenched in the Kenyan Constitution to thrive. Find the full release here. At the same time, PIN also joined other organisations in condemning the Internet Shutdown in Kenya and raising concerns regarding the shutdown.
Keeping the Internet on through Kenya’s #RejectFinanceBill2024 protest
Thought Leadership
‘Gbenga in Brussels
Our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan is currently in Brussels where he and other stakeholders — from civil
society, Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) and academia from across Europe and other regions — are discussing input related to Digital Service Act (DSA) system risk assessments. On June 26, ‘Gbenga spoke on the “Electoral Processes and Civic Discourse” panel at 12:45pm CET where he discussed findings from Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Meetings (DREAM) programme and our digital rights violations reporting platform (RIPOTI) engagement.
PIN Executive Director presents Strategic Management Plan to UN Secretary General
Last month, our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan and other members of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel met with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres and Mr. Navid Hanif, the Assistant Secretary-General for Econom-
ic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Their conversation bordered on the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and its role. ‘Gbenga also used the opportunity to hand copies of Paradigm Initiative’s Strategic Management Plan (2024-2028) to the Office of the Secretary-General. Relive some picture highlights of the meeting.
‘Gbenga makes a case for the disconnected at Digital Democracy Network meeting
Our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan took part in the Digital Democracy Network meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. At the meeting, ‘Gbenga discussed PIN’s ongoing Digital Inclusion work, presenting his new paper, titled, “Making A Case For The Disconnected: How Focusing On The Unconnected Alone May Not Help Bridge The Digital Divide.” The presentation included insight on who the disconnected are and why they deserve attention and action. He also advanced reasons for the need to bridge the widening digital divide. The Digital Democracy Network is a diverse group of leading thinkers and activists engaged in work on technology and politics.
Bridgette speaks digital rights in the Central African Republic
On Friday June 21, 2024, PIN joined the Association for Bloggers in Central Africa (ABCA), in hosting a digital rights workshop in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). The workshop was part of the Greater Internet Freedom Project supported by GIF Internews, and focused on the state of digital rights in CAR and the role of stakeholders in promoting digital rights, and was attended by journalists, bloggers, civil society actors, and representatives from the High Council of Communication. The PIN team was represented by the Partnerships and Engagements Officer Bridgette Ndlovu.
ships and Engagements, Thobekile Matimbe to the Global Network Initiative (GNI) Board. Launched in 2008, GNI is a multi organisational board that has established itself as a leading multi-stakeholder organisation for accountability, shared learning, and collective advocacy on government and company policies and practices at the intersection of technology and human rights. Paradigm Initiative joined GNI in 2017.
Paradigm Initiative’s Annual Impact Report 2023 is available
Senior PIN Manager appointed to GNI board
PIN celebrates the recent appointment of its Senior Manager, Partner-
In 2023, we made great strides in our quest to impact livelihoods and influence policies while advocating for digital rights and inclusion. Our Annual Impact Report brings all these amazing work to the fore. Read it here.
