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Nigeria’s Digital Rights Under Threat: CSOs, Journalists Urged to Prioritize Online Safety
By prince Benson Davies
The non-governmental organization, Spaces for Change, has expressed concern over the increasing number of digital threats facing civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists in Nigeria. The organization made this known during a two-day Digital Security Clinic held in Port Harcourt, which trained over 40 participants on how to protect themselves and their data in a volatile digital environment.
The training, which covered topics such as data protection, digital rights, cyber security, and tech-facilitated gender-based violence, aimed to equip CSOs and journalists with the necessary skills to identify and mitigate digital threats. Michael Itegbe, the organization’s tech officer, noted that the rapid migration of civic engagement to digital platforms has created gaps that malicious actors are exploiting.
Participants at the clinic praised the initiative, describing it as timely and essential for organizations that increasingly face harassment and privacy breaches in digital spaces. Cynthia Okereke, Programme Manager at Together to Win Foundation for the Deprived, said the training deepened her understanding of digital human rights and cybercrime, and she plans to step down the knowledge to the communities she works with.
The training is part of Spaces for Change’s broader effort to build digital resilience within Nigeria’s civic sector. As online risks continue to evolve, the organization is committed to supporting CSOs and journalists in protecting themselves and their data.
The initiative is a welcome development, given the increasing number of digital threats facing CSOs and journalists in Nigeria. The training will help participants to identify phishing attempts, malware, and other cyber threats, and to strengthen their digital safeguards to carry out their work safely.
