PIN opens call for session proposals for DRIF 2026 @Abidjan - ITREALMS

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Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has opened calls for session proposal submissions for the 2026 edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26), scheduled to take place from April 14 to 16, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, reports ITREALMS.

The organisation disclosed this through an official communication to stakeholders across Africa and beyond, encouraging experts, advocates, policymakers, researchers, technologists, and community leaders to take advantage of the opportunity to influence the continent’s digital future.

PIN raises fresh alarm over Nigerians’ data security online - ITREALMS

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Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has raised fresh concerns about the safety of Nigerian citizens’ data online, warning that sensitive information belonging even to top government officials has been exposed and cheaply traded on the internet for years, reports ITREALMS.

In a media briefing held in Abuja, the organisation’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, lamented what he described as Nigeria’s persistent failure to enforce digital rights protections despite rapid technological growth.

2025: PIN plans expansion into six countries, dangles collaboration, training for digital inclusion – ITREALMS

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The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has advanced plans to expand operations into some six African countries in the coming year, 2025, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this at a media end of year session in Lagos, the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, said that their goal is to expand to 50 African countries by 2028, but for the 2025 short term goal, PIN will strive to focus on three targets, namely expansion, collaboration and training.

According to him, for the expansion in the next 12 months, PIN will dedicate time on having physical presence in at least six African countries, although he did not mention the names of the anticipated six countries but optimistic its achievable.

Sesan also said that PIN intends to work collaboratively with more Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) where they operate, stressing, for instance, they have advanced collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to engage recruits at the Police Colleges nationwide on digital rights of citizens and how best to build that in their workload.

In addition, he said they are planning to engage prosecutors in the Ministry of Justice to better understand their roles in the defence or otherwise on relevant statutes, capable of advancing their work.

Further, PIN Executive Director, accompanied by the Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu and Communications Officer, Kenneth Oyiniyi, pointed out that they would be conducting more media training in the coming year to underscore digital inclusion in the media space and enable them to enhance reportage of the industry.

Earlier, the COO, Mrs Nnenna Pual-Ugochukwu traced the humble beginning of PIN to a cyber cafe in Ajegunle as a non-profit organisation that thrives in shaping policies, defending rights and building capacity in the digital environment towards a digitally inclusive and rights-respecting world.

Till date, PIN, she said, has regional offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe to name a few, stressing they are working to connect under-served African youth with improved livelihoods through digital inclusion and digital rights programmes.

Some of the programmes, ITREALMS gathered include the Life Skills, ICT, Financial Readiness, Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training initiatives to name a few.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

AfIGF’24: Stop Internet shut downs, PIN boss advises African government - ITREALMS

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The 54 members of the African Union governments have been advised to stop shutting down the Internet due to its attendant havoc and demerits, reports ITREALMS.

The Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, gave this advice at the just concluded 2024 African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) during a high-level session held at African Hall, UNCC- ECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while speaking on the theme: "Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future for Africa."

PIN launches short film competition for young Africans - ITREALMS

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The Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has launched a short film competition for Young Africans, reports ITREALMS.

This offers Young Africans across the continent to have an opportunity to participate in a short film competition and win a total of $3,000.

PIN's 4th short film loading on human rights day, screens films @Web Summit - ITREALMS

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The Paradigm Initiative’s (PIN’s) fourth short film is set for release on 10th, December, 2023, in honour of this year’s Human Rights Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), reports ITREALMS.

The movie is inspired by findings of the organisation’s annual Londa 2022 report which provides insight into the state of digital rights and inclusion across 24 African countries. Like preceding projects, the short film will provide exposure to some key aspects raised in the report, and sensitise the public on how the issues affect them and the need for advocacy.

PIN calls out Senegalese govt over digital rights violations - ITREALMS

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Leading pan-African digital rights and inclusion organisation, the Paradigm Initiative (PIN), has called on the Senegalese Government to immediately restore Internet and social media platforms in the country, reports ITREALMS.

This follows multiple breaches of Senegalese citizens' digital rights and data privacy in the past few months, with the latest being on Thursday, June 1st, 2023.

Worrisome! Exclusion of CSO in data protection commission council, says PIN - ITREALMS

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Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has expressed concerns over the exclusion of civil society in Nigeria from the proposed Data Protection Commission’s Governing Council, declaring it as worrisome, reports ITREALMS.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan and Senior Manager, Programs and Grants Strategy, Boye Adegoke expressed the concerns when they paid a courtesy call to the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau in Abuja, Nigeria recently.

PIN welcomes DRC's adoption of digital rights laws - ITREALMS

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The Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has welcomed the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) adoption of various regulatory laws relating to digital rights, reports ITREALMS.

These, ITREALMS gathered, include the Ordinance-Law N•23/008 of March 10 2023, authorising the ratification by the DRC of the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention), Ordinance-Law N•23/010 of March 13 on the Digital Code in the DRC, which addresses cyber security as well as the adoption at the National Assembly level of Law No. 23/009 of March 13 2023, laying down the modalities for exercising freedom of the press, freedom of information and broadcasting by radio and television, written press or any communication medium in the DRC.

Law enforcement agencies go on digital rights, cybercrimes

ITRealms:

Participants at a workshop on Digital Rights and Cybercrimes have called for increased capacity building for law enforcement agencies on handling issues related to cybercrimes in Nigeria and digital rights of the citizens, reports ITRealms.

Speakers at the workshop hosted by Paradigm Initiative in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice on Wednesday, 31st May 2017 focused primarily on section 24 and 38 of the Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.

According to the Program Manager at Paradigm Initiative, Adeboye Adegoke, “the focus on the two sections was deliberate. We focused on those sections because they are prone to be misapplied to infringe on the digital rights and freedoms of citizens, especially freedom of expression and privacy online. Section 24, in particular, has already been cited in more than ten documented cases of alleged illicit arrest and abuse of rights. Provisions of Sections 24 and 38 of the Act were examined at the workshop as they are believed to be threats to digital rights in Nigeria.  Section 24 poses a threat to freedom of expression online while section 38 gives security agencies the right to hold on to citizen’s information, thereby violating their rights to privacy of their information online.”

The workshop which provided an opportunity for participants to review cases of arrests related to sections 24 and 38 of the Act and the effects of these arrests on citizens. 

Participants were drawn from the Nigerian Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from various states in Nigeria and the FCT.

Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Mr ‘Gbenga Sesan, while introducing participants to Digital Rights, highlighted the importance of the internet to democratic participation in Nigeria, and stressed that though rights in the digital realm exist, they are not respected. 

He spoke on the provisions in the Cybercrimes Act 2015 that give law enforcement agents access to citizen’s data and how these provisions are prone to abuse. He illustrated with examples of ways in which files in government offices and Nigerian courts are currently being handled. 

According to him, “Surveillance and Interception must be lawful, with clearly stated procedures and clear judicial oversight to avoid abuse. Respect for human rights in the day to day activities of law enforcement officers helps to foster citizen and security agency cooperation. It is well known that countries that focus on innovation rather than clampdowns avail themselves huge economic opportunities. This can be seen through the relationship between the GDP of those countries and the level of internet penetration and internet freedom”.

Also speaking to participants at the training, Mr. George-Maria Tyendezwa, Head, Computer Crime Prosecution Unit at Federal Ministry of Justice stressed that we must differentiate between libel and slander from cyberstalking, and that one-time acts don’t constitute stalking mentioned in Section 24. 

He advised anyone that feels defamed not to use the apparatus of the state to oppress anyone but to go to court for remedy

According to Tope Ogundipe, Director of Programs at Paradigm Initiative, “we believe that law enforcement agents who participated in the workshop are better equipped in handling and managing cases involving Cybercrime as a result of this workshop. Our objective is to ensure that the Cybercrimes Act 2015 does not become an instrument of oppression in the hands of the powerful using security agencies as tools.”

The workshop was attended by operatives from Abuja, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kano, Lagos, Enugu and the FCT.

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PIN to host Internet Freedom Forum 2017 in Lagos

ITRealms:

 Plans have been advanced for the successful hosting of the Internet Freedom Forum (IFF) by the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), reports ITRealms.

The Director of Programmes at the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Tope Ogundipe, gave this indication in Lagos, in a chat with ITRealms, saying that all is now set for the successful hosting of the two-day event slated for the commercial nerve centre of the nation.

She also said that the forum is an annual event which focuses on indices around Internet Freedom in Nigeria and around Africa.

“The forum is planned to deepen discussions on how freedom and openness on the Internet promote socio-economic development in Africa,” she said.

Currently, she said, there have been registrations from over 35 countries, including 32 African countries.

Equally, she said, the 2-day conversation will involve policy experts, lawmakers, academicians, security agencies, and civil society organizations amongst other stakeholders. 

According to her, the Forum would hold between April 26 and 27 2017, by 9.00am daily at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

“The very rich conversations at this forum with global, regional and national experts participating will serve as an important information pool, and provide content producers the context to understand and navigate issues of the defense of a free and open Internet in Nigeria and around Africa,” she submitted.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

#IFF2017
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PIN delivers FoI to CommTech on Nigeria's ‘Eavesdropping’ satellites

ITRealms:

The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has submitted a letter to the office of the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu over the alleged eavesdropping capabilities of one of the two satellites being proposed by Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

According to PIN Director of Programmes, Tope Ogundipe, media report had stated that “inside sources at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) told Independent that one of the proposed satellites has eavesdropping capabilities.”

She also noted that the request was made in line with the objectives of PIN, hence “we call on the Federal Ministry of Communications to provide all the details involved in the building and launching of the two new satellites for the Nigerian government. As we have stated in the freedom of information request sent to the Ministry on February 2, 2017, the scaling up of the number of satellites in space may be noble but in order to ensure that this is done with utmost regard to digital rights of every Nigerian, every stakeholder, including the Ministry, must all act as watchdogs for our digital rights.”

Ogundipe equally pointed that even though there have been insinuations that these satellites are capable of eavesdropping on the communications of most Nigerian citizens when finally launched, PIN believes that the Ministry understands this to be an erosion on the fundamental human rights guaranteed by Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“With this belief, we are sure that these published allegations are just what they are and contain no truth,” she said.

Paradigm Initiative, she said, maintained its position of continuous monitoring of this development for new updates and ensure that a logical conclusion is reached on the matter. Noting that in the past 4 years, the organisation has used litigation to follow up on FoI requests that were not responded to.

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PIN makes FOI request on INEC over release of citizens data to third party

ITRealms:

A Lagos-based non-profit social enterprise, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the unauthorized release of citizens data to a third party known as voters.ng, reports ITRealms.

Investigations by ITRealms confirmed this release, just as PIN said its core objective as a stakeholder and practitioner in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria, is at the centre of advocacy efforts to ensure that not only do technologies and innovations improve the lives of every Nigerian citizen but that they are also done while conforming to fundamental rights of every Nigerian.

According to the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, among these rights are Freedom to Expression online, Right to Opinion, Transparency in Surveillance and most importantly, at the heart of this call, Right to Privacy.

“Not only are these rights protected, by extension by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) they are currently amplified in the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (HB. 490) which seeks to exhaustively engage issues of positive rights like these,” he said.

Sesan pointed out that statutorily, on the 19th of September, 2016, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria through its ICT Policy engagements has relied on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act of 2011 to request information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the true state of fact on the data of private citizens currently on the www.voters.ng platform.

This call, the Program Assistant  o ICT Policy, at PIN Tomiwa Ilori, said, was made to ensure that the rights of every Nigerian citizen are adequately protected especially in the age where technologies are capable of being used against individual safety.

He highlighted the importance, noting that not only does it smack of distrust and lack of due diligence by a public institution in performing its duties to find data of private citizens handed to them in trust in the hand of a third party without any evidence of consent of these citizens sought, it portends great danger to the digital survival of the nation’s social, political and economic environment.

In addition, Mr. Sesan, urged INEC to heed the call and comply with the request in the interest of all Nigerians.

“Also, we call on all stakeholders interested in ensuring that our social capital as a society is preserved to weigh in on this issue, join hands with us and see it to a logical conclusion,” Sesan enjoined.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops 

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Pix: ED, PIN, Gbenga Sesan and INEC chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

PIN gets Microsoft, Stanbic IBTC support for Tent Gathering

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Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has said Microsoft, the technology giant and Africa innovative bank, Stanbic IBTC, are solidly behind its 2015 Tent Gathering, ITRealms reports.

The event which will take place at the main Auditorium of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka will feature Tent @ OAU Student Panel Session and Clash of the Campus on November 24 to 26.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem; Adeniran Oluwaranti; Entrepreneurial speaker, Chude Chideonwu; Techie speaker, Emeka Okoye; Gbenga Sesan; Panel speakes, Boye Adegoke, Sola Amusan and Longe Odunoluwa.

Trainers at the event, ITRealms gathered,  are: Kalu Dimgba, Omotunde James, Kendra Nnachi and Okoye Nzubechukwu.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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PIN writes NCC, demands Freedom of Information on private data

ITRealms:

The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has written a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), demanding information on its alleged self-confessed monitoring and handling of private citizens data to security agencies, reports ITRealms.

PIN in an official press statement made available to ITRealms noted that NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta was quoted by ThisDay Newspaper on October 16, 2015 to have said at an International Trade Fair in Abuja that “the commission in collaboration with telecommunication operators monitor call data of suspected kidnappers and insurgents and forward same to appropriate security operatives, as soon as they are available ….” 

The FOI request, according to the Executive Director, PIN, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, sought to understand the processes, judicial oversight involved in handing over call data of private citizens to security agencies.

The NCC, PIN also said, has never hidden its intention to monitor citizens and violate privacy rights of citizens as could be seen in its controversial draft Lawful Interception of Communication Regulation which it seeks to use to legalize the already ongoing violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights to privacy of private citizen. 

ITRealms recalls that PIN already challenged the legality of using administrative procedure to limit constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens through that regulation of the NCC. 

“It is to this end that we wrote the NCC on identified red flags and subsequently made a submission at NCC’s public inquiry into its draft Lawful Interception of Communication Regulation. Our Policy Brief no. 6 addressed this with greater details,” Sesan said.

He emphasised that the initial FOI request which was sent on October 19 was acknowledged as PIN got a response from NCC on October 23, 2015, in which NCC sought further details of their request. 

“We have responded and provided all the details requested by NCC as at Monday October 26, 2015 and now hope to get an official response from the NCC within seven (7) days as stipulated by the FOI act,” PIN boss said.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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PIN holds #DigitalJobs project 1st anniversary

ITRealms:

The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has said it would mark first year anniversary of its project, #DigitalJobs with a brief ceremony, ITRealms reports.

Over the last one year, PIN has reached well over 14 million Nigerians with  #DigitalJobs project, a multi-media campaign informing high-potential young Nigerians of an online work platform; where people who have the required skills can provide their services to virtual employers and be paid.

ITRealms gathered that recently, the popular online work platform, bit.ly/elancedja, was upgraded to www.upwork.com to help online workers access more opportunities.

The campaign has employed various means to raise awareness, engage and deliver its activities over the last one year, and PIN will be unveiling what tremendous milestones this project has recorded as it marks.

 As one of the vital stakeholders on this project,PIN would be honoured to have you to grace this occasion, ITRealms learnt.

We would also be using the opportunity of this brief meeting to listen to your feedback and suggestions as we look towards taking the project to its next level.

In a statement by Adebola Agbaje, #DigitalJobs Project Manager, ITRealms reports, the event will hold on October 2^nd, 2015, time, 4pm – 6pm, while venue is 385, Herbert 

Macaulay way, Yaba-Lagos.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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PIN writes Buhari, accuses Dickson, Amaechi, others of hacking

ITRealms:

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has written a letter to the President Muhammadu Buhari, over what it called violation of human rights of private citizens as well as abuse of power by some Governors in Nigeria, ITRealms reports.

The Governors fingered in the letter, according to PIN Executive Director, Mr. Gbenga Sesan includes the incumbent Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, ex-Governor Godwin Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State who is also the current Minority leader in the Nigeria’s Senate, and ex-Governor  Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

PIN, ITRealms learnt, said that these national figures were engaging in illegal surveillance and hacking activities which involves them breaking into target computers and phones to monitor citizen’s private and confidential conversations on communication devices.

The letter was to demand that President Buhari use his good offices to protect the rights of citizens by Investigating and bringing to Justice every one found culpable in these illegal activities.

Copied in the said letter, ITRealms gathered, were; the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker house of representative, Chief Justice of the Federation, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice,  National Security Adviser,  National Human Rights Commission,  Femi Falana Chambers, Nigeria Bar Association, United Nations Human Rights Commission, Freedom House International, Department of State Security Services, United Nations Secretary General, and Amnesty International.

 

According to the Premium Times report which quoted sources from the National Security Adviser’s office and some of the governments under investigation, the illegal practice of intercepted calls and hacked phones and computers gave these public servants backdoor access  to many people’s private lives, at the expense of taxpayers they swore to serve. Right to privacy is a constitutionally guaranteed right of every Nigerian citizen.

As part of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria’s Internet Freedom Advocacy efforts, ITRealms reports, PIN raised an alarm when it was reported in the media that the Nigerian government under President Goodluck Jonathan invested massively in surveillance equipment as reflected in 2013 and 2014 National Budget. PIN published two Policy Briefs on May 29, 2013 and November 29, 2013, to identify the underlying issues and raise public awareness on the implications of these activities.

In addition to this, a Freedom of Information request was made to demand contract details of purchased surveillance equipment as listed in the country’s national budget for 2013 and 2014. The request was denied, following which PIN approached the Court in order to pursue justice.

The constitution is the supreme law in Nigeria and it does provide for freedom of speech, association, rights to privacy, etc. of every citizen. National Security has become a ready excuse for Government to acquire sophisticated technology with capability to monitor and spy private citizens’ online activities or conversations such as email, phone calls and all forms of text/chat messages. 

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