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Tag: Paradigm Initiative

  • Paradigm Initiative signs MoU with Senegal’s CDP on data protection

    Paradigm Initiative signs MoU with Senegal’s CDP on data protection

    Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a leading African digital rights and inclusion organisation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Senegal’s Commission de Protection des Données Personnelles (CDP) to advance data protection and digital inclusion in the West African nation.

    The agreement is aimed at fostering collaboration between the two entities to ensure Senegalese citizens are better equipped to navigate the digital economy while safeguarding their personal data.

    According to PIN, the MoU underscored a shared commitment to raising awareness, providing redress for data rights violations, and creating a rights-respecting digital environment.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Executive Director of PIN, ‘Gbenga Sesan, emphasised the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in securing the digital economy.

    Sesan stated: “We are happy to work with the CDP and any agency of government on data protection, not just us, but civil society in general.

    “Government, private sector, civil society, and media must work together for us to enjoy the best of the digital economy. We can’t keep talking about the digital economy without protecting it.”

    Sesan highlighted PIN’s extensive work in data protection across Africa, noting its involvement in Nigeria’s Data Protection Law, enacted on 2 June 2023.

    He also referenced the organisation’s earlier efforts with the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which was presented to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 but was not signed, leading to the separation of digital rights and data protection legislation.

    He added: “We agreed very quickly to work together on ensuring Senegalese citizens are trained on digital inclusion and data protection.

    “When rights are violated, they can seek redress through the CDP.”

    PIN, which operates in six African countries—Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—also runs an online platform to support individuals whose data has been abused.

    President of CDP Senegal, Ousmane Thiongawe reiterated the commission’s role as the sole authority responsible for authorising data collection and transfers by companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government entities.

    “Before any entity gathers or transfers data outside Senegal, they must seek CDP’s approval,” Thiongawe said.

    He noted that in cases of data breaches, the CDP engages with affected companies to assess damages and find solutions.

    Thiongawe stressed that data protection principles in Senegal aligned with global standards, ensuring consistency with frameworks in countries like Nigeria.

    “Whether in Senegal, Nigeria, or elsewhere, we operate on the same basic principles,” he added.

  • Paradigm Initiative organizes workshop ahead of Google Impact Challenge

    Paradigm Initiative, a social enterprise in the ICT sector, has organized a proposal workshop ahead of the Google Impact Challenge.

    The program held at Reo Devotion Hotel in Jos, Plateau State was to create awareness about the ongoing Google Impact Challenge to Nigerians and train entrepreneurs on how best to write grant pitches.

    Speaking at the program, Oluwaseyi Adefemi the finance and assets Officer for Paradigm Initiative explained that the program was planned to help entrepreneurs harmonise their business plans to win the $250,000 funding for four winners of the challenge, while eight finalists will get 125,000 dollars.

    Tosin Abolaji, Program Lead for the LIFE, a digital inclusion Initiative added that the workshop is to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas into reality.

    “Three countries are involved in this challenge, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa inclusive and we want Nigerians to be part of the beneficiaries of this funding,” Abolaji stated.

    Abolaji said Paradigm Initiative would visit seven regions in the country to effectively educate them and link them to professionals that would help them assess the level of their proposals.

    “The regions include Aba, Abuja, Jos, Kano, Lagos Port Harcourt and Yola and we will link you up to our 12 judges, featuring MI Abaga, Chocolate city rapper, Kano Nwankwo, Ex footballing legend, Mo Abudu, Chairman and CEO of Ebonylife TV, John Momoh, Chairman and CEO of Channels Media Group and so much more.”

    While going through the proposal requirements, Abolaji stressed the need for honesty in the various applications and advised participants to visualize their ideas and be goals oriented.

    The Google Impact Challenge Nigeria supports nonprofits and social enterprises with game-changing ideas to create economic opportunity in their communities.

    Organizations are to apply with their most innovative proposals which will close by 4th July, 2018. 12 Finalists chosen will get access to Google.org funding, mentorship and resources where 4 winners will be given 250,000 dollars and final eight, 125,000 dollars.

    Participants are expected to visit the link below to know how it works: https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/nigeria2018/how-it-works

  • Paradigm Initiative donates Computers to Schools

    Paradigm Initiative has donated 47 computer sets to eight secondary schools across Nigeria. The Lagos-based social enterprise made this known in a statement signed by its Communications Officer, Sodiq Alabi.

    The beneficiaries include El-Leonora College, Umbrella High School and Soland Int’l School, all based in Ajegunle, Lagos State. Others are Al-fijr International School, Zaifat Secondary School, ECWA Aro Restoration School and Hameedah Secondary School, all based in Kano State. New World Secondary School, Aba, Abia State also got some of the computers.

    Paradigm Initiative has over the years made a name for itself as a leader in digital inclusion efforts in the country and the donation of computer systems to schools is part of the organization’s strategy at bridging the digital divide in the country.

    Speaking on the development, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Inclusion Program Manager Tosin Abolaji said, “We recently scaled our digital inclusion programme to schools and one of the things we discovered is the inadequacy of computer systems for the training. We decided to donate ninety desktop computers to schools that have demonstrated interest in practical digital skills training. We are in the process of identifying more schools that would benefit from this intervention.”

    Mallam Kazeem Zakari, the principal of Al-fijr International School Kano-one of the beneficiary schools, said, “The donation of computer sets to our school is most commendable. We really appreciate the gesture and we are very happy because these systems will make our computer practical session easier.”

    Paradigm Initiative runs a free digital inclusion programme known as LIFE, in three under-served communities in Aba, Ajegunle and Dakata, through which it provided free ICT and entrepreneurship training to over 600 youths in 2017 alone. The organisation is dedicated to improving livelihoods of young people by providing them with “ICT-enabled” support system and the donation of the computers furthers the objective of the organisation.

  • Paradigm Initiative Trained 667 Youths in 2017  

    Paradigm Initiative, a prominent social enterprise in the ICT sector, has revealed how it provided free training in ICT and entrepreneurship to 667 youths in 2017. This is contained in the 2017 Annual Report of the organization recently released to the public.

    The Lagos-based organisation operates three training centres in Ajegunle (Lagos), Aba (Abia) and Dakata (Kano) where it runs its LIFE program that is dedicated to empowering young people in under served communities with life-changing Life skills in ICT, Financial readiness and Entrepreneurship skills. The LIFE program, which took off in Ajegunle in 2007, has now trained over 5, 000 in its eleven years of existence.

    In 2017 alone, Paradigm Initiative graduated 248 trainees who successfully completed the 10-week intensive training program at its three centres. The organisation trained 96 persons through its newly-introduced LIFE@School program. Another 332 female beneficiaries participated in various digital readiness workshop organised by the organisation. This brought the total number of  beneficiaries of Paradigm Initiative’s digital inclusion efforts in 2017 to 667.

    Gbenga Sesan, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, expressed his delight over the success of the programme.

    “While our focus is on impact and not numbers, we are glad to see that more under-served youth are getting connected to opportunities through our digital inclusion and digital rights programs.”

    Read Alone: Paradigm Initiative Commends Passage of Digital Rights Bill

    Besides the impressive numbers, the organisation also recorded definitive impact on its trainees. Tosin Abolaji, the organisation’s Digital Inclusion program manager, said, “For many of our trainees, the LIFE program is their first productive contact with a computer system. Within ten weeks, we introduce them to the use of computer, Office Suite, web and graphics design, and programming languages, among other things. They leave our centres with useful skills that have seen many alumni’s earning abilities improve significantly. We give them a solid foundation that could be leveraged for a career in the ICT sector or outside it.”

    “We don’t just provide free training, we also follow up with alumni to help them put their newly-acquired skill to use. For instance, 15 of our 2016 trainees got internship opportunities while 147 of them are now using their skills as employees or as entrepreneurs. This is the kind of impact we live for.”

    In preparation for the 2018 cycle of training, the organisation recently replaced all the desktop computers at the training centres with new, high-functioning laptops. The centres also received new power generating sets.  The organization said its investment in the new equipment is to ensure its students learn under the best of conditions.

    According to Favour Obiorah, an alumnus of the training program, “The LIFE program has made a very big difference in my life, because I can now design websites for business owners. I can now write out a business plan, map market strategies and how to target the market for me to succeed as an entrepreneur.”

    The organisation credited its ability to reach so many youths across three different states to the kind support of its partners especially “Intel Corporation, through its She Will Connect Initiative”.

  • How Facebook and social media can foster digital engagement

    How Facebook and social media can foster digital engagement

    The conversation on how social media can foster political attachments through digital engagement has begun.
    Stakeholders from Government Agencies, the private sector and the civil society alike have continued to hold talks and lively debates on issues affecting internet freedom and digital engagement by government agencies in Nigeria.
    A round-table held in Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, last week, and several issues were discussed on the matter bordering on: data privacy and protection, law enforcement, libel, fake news, and digital engagement by the government. The round-table followed the first edition held in Abuja last year.
    Effective digital engagement by government agencies remains a big priority for the Federal Government because of its immense potential, this was the position of Tolu Ogunlesi, the Head of Presidency Office of Digital Engagement (PODE). Ogunlesi was speaking at a stakeholder meeting on digital rights and digital engagement organised by Paradigm Initiative, Facebook and PODE.
    Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan emphasized the need for continuous conversation between stakeholders in the private sector, civil society and the government on digital rights issues in Nigeria.
    “Digital right issues are far too important to our democracy and it is crucial that we engage in conversations with security agencies and public servants on how we can ensure freedom of people online while keeping the nation and citizens safe.”
    In her remarks, Public Policy Manager, Africa of Facebook, Akua Gyeke said:
     “Facebook is an important platform for political conversation in Nigeria, and we are happy to be a part of this. Facebook is dedicated to keeping people safe online, foster civility and responsible behaviour whilst promoting free expression and sharing.”

    Read Here: Facebook’s Nigerian tech hub coming

    Tolu Ogunlesi, who led the conversation on a proposed Digital Engagement Policy for the Federal Government admitted that the Government had no current workable social media policies on ground.
    He however assured all stakeholders in attendance that his office was working hard on creating digital engagement standards that would guide all government offices in their use of digital tools to ensure effective communication with the public.
    “There is currently no social media policies for the Federal Government. This is understandable as social media use is relatively new in government circle. But this situation has led to inconsistency in the way government offices use digital media.
    “We are currently working on creating a digital engagement policy for the federal government. It will provide guidelines on platforms to use, accounts administration, logo and naming standard, editorial policies, archival system, content process and management, among other things.”