Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
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Dear Reader, What would it take for you to finally achieve that life-changing goal you have always had in mind? For many, the answer might be a university degree, the perfect job, funding, or the right connections. But for others, it is something much simpler: one opportunity. It could be a friend who shares a link, a training programme discovered on social media, or simply being in the right place at the right time. As we joined the rest of the world in marking World Youth Skills Day 2026 this month, we found ourselves reflecting on the power of that first opportunity. From the inspiring stories featured in our newly launched Echoes from LIFE publication to the full-circle journey of a former participant who first encountered Paradigm Initiative through one of our programmes five years ago and went on to become a member of our team, this edition is a celebration of what happens when people are given the chance to learn, grow, and lead. Our work has always been about people and creating opportunities that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and inspire lasting change. We are delighted to share these stories with you today in the hope that they remind you, as they have reminded us, that sometimes all it takes to change a life is one opportunity. Happy reading!
Key Highlights
• Who gets to shape the rules of AI in Africa? • Celebrating Youth Skills Day with Echoes from LIFE • When Extremism Goes Digital: How Violent Groups Are Exploiting Online Spaces in the Sahel
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Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
• PIN gains new ground in North Africa • Digital Social Protection in Nigeria: Addressing Inclusion and Rights
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outcomes, it resulted in the publication of the communiqué on Child Online Safety and Policy Direction in Nigeria. Check it out here.
Who gets to shape the rules of artificial intelligence? From July 6 to 10, Paradigm Initiative joined global leaders, policymakers, and technology stakeholders at the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva to contribute to conversations shaping the future of digital governance. The team was represented by Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager, Partnerships and Engagements, and Bridgette Ndlovu, Partnerships and Engagements Officer. Over the course of the forum, our team participated in key discussions, including “Closing the Connectivity Gap in the Age of AI and E-Governance” and “Beyond State vs. Corporate: Community Data Governance Models from the Global Majority,” bringing African perspectives to global conversations on AI, connectivity, and community-led data governance. Full details of PIN’s participation here.
Every child deserves to be safe online As more Nigerian children go online to learn, play, and connect, they also face growing risks like cyberbullying, online grooming, and harmful content. This is why PIN assembled civil society, government, child protection experts, and other stakeholders to chart a better path for child online safety in Nigeria. Among other
Celebrating Youth Skills Day with Echoes from LIFE Do you remember the first time you used a computer? Thanks to our LIFE (Life Skills, ICTs, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship) Legacy initiative, hundreds of thousands of young people from underserved communities have come closer to their dreams. What began as a vision to bridge the digital divide in a single community has grown into a movement that Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
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has empowered hundreds of thousands of young Africans with digital skills, access, and hope. The latest edition of the Echoes from LIFE captures some of their experiences, stories and lessons learned from the programme. Download the publication here.
Digital Social Protection in Nigeria: Addressing Inclusion and Rights As Nigeria accelerates its transition toward Digital Social Protection (DSP), a new policy brief by Paradigm Initiative and WIEGO (Women in Informal Economy: Globalising and Organising) examines the impact of these systems on the people who need them the most. Drawing on research with informal workers, who account for over 65% of Nigeria’s workforce, the brief highlights how technologydriven welfare systems can unintentionally create barriers for vulnerable communities. Challenges around digital identity, access, affordability, and usability risk excluding the very populations these initiatives are designed to support. Titled “Digital Social Protection in Nigeria: Addressing Inclusion and Rights,” the brief calls for a more inclusive, rights-based approach to digital transformation and the prioritisation of accessibility, participation, and the lived realities of communities. Read the full policy brief here.
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Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
Paradigm Initiative participates in the Global Mechanism Paradigm Initiative (PIN) joined the first plenary session of the Global Mechanism on developments in the field of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs, which was held from 20th July to 24th July, 2026, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA chaired by Ambassador Egriselda López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations. The mechanism succeeds years of negotiations under the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) and is intended to provide a permanent, single-track forum for discussions across five established pillars, such as existing and potential ICT threats, rules and norms of state behaviour, the application of international law, confidence-building measures, and capacity development. The organisation was represented by Judith Ogutu, Senior Manager, Communications, who also attended several side events held on the sidelines of the plenary meeting.
Events Digital rights gaining ground in North Africa This month, PIN made an impressive contribution to its expansion efforts, hosting two events in the Northern African region. On July 15, we hosted a Digital Rights Academy, followed by a Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM) session on July 16. The two-day engagement marked a new chapter in the organisation’s work to promote digital rights and inclusion across the African continent. It also reinforced our commitment
Weekend Read
to fostering conversations on digital rights, civic participation, and inclusive digital development in every corner of the continent.
AI literacy workshop for teachers AI is not here to replace teachers, but to empower them. From creating lesson plans to improving classroom productivity and introducing students to emerging technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers exciting possibilities when used responsibly. This was the basis of Paradigm Initiative’s workshop on AI for teachers in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 7. We assembled 80 secondary school teachers from 40 schools to learn practical AI skills they can take straight into their classrooms as part of our goal to build AI-ready schools, one teacher at a time.
From the Streets of #EndSARS to Regional Lead: My Five-Year Journey on the Pages of Paradigm Initiative From discovering digital rights during the #EndSARS movement to helping shape programmes, train judges, engage policymakers, and represent Paradigm Initiative on continental platforms, the story of Muhammed Bello Buhari, former Programmes Officer at Paradigm Initiative, is a reminder that investing in people creates ripple effects far beyond a single programme. As he turns the page to a new chapter, Bello shares his full-circle story of meeting PIN, becoming a fan, and eventually a team member. Read the full story here.
ILO’s Convention: A Win, But Not the Finish Line For anyone concerned about workers’ rights, the most significant labour development this month is the adoption of the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026, by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 12 June 2026. Adopted with 406 votes in favour, the Convention establishes the first international labour standard dedicated to workers on digital labour platforms. Historic for several reasons, Paradigm Initiative’s Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
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Research Lead, Sani Suleiman, notes in his latest blog post that the win is just the start of an even more important race. Read the full blog post.
Shaping the Future of Global A Governance What does meaningful and inclusive AI governance look like? A new civil society read-out report from the 1st United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance offers valuable insights into that question. Developed collaboratively by five civil society coalitions, the Global Digital Rights Coalition, the Global Digital Justice Forum, the Global South Alliance, MAP-AI, and the civil society members of the Gender in Digital Coalition, the report captures key reflections, shared priorities, and recommendations emerging from the Dialogue’s thematic discussions. The publication calls for future global AI governance processes to be more inclusive, rights-based, and responsive to the needs and experiences of communities worldwide, particularly those in the Global South. It also underscores the importance of meaningful civil society participation in shaping AI policies that are equitable, accountable, and peoplecentred. Read the full report here.
Plan your month with Paradigm Initiative. • August 4: Digital Policy Engagement Series (DIPES) Tanzania • August 5: Zambia Decides: The Role of Technology in Rights, Democracy, and Elections • August 12: NRC Webinar: Measurement and Accountability in Tackling Internet Censorship Check out our events calendar to stay updated about our activities 6
Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
Letter to Ajegunle
Letter to Ajegunle: Our birthday wish? Rights, digital rights and more rights Dear Ajegunle, A few days ago, we were scrolling through images from PIN’s 15th anniversary celebration as we prepare to step into our 20th year. Like we would say in the streets, it was “come and see, go and tell”. The fanfare, the smiles and the dance moves that left trending songs at the time overplayed. But most importantly, the stories of impact created in the lives of those we have come across as an institution. It is in such moments that we pause and reflect on how vivid the dream we are living today once was. A dream born in your streets, among young people trying to find their place in a rapidly changing world. It was a dream that believed technology could be more than a tool for connection, and become a pathway to opportunity, inclusion, and a better tomorrow. Look at us now. The dream that began in Ajegunle has travelled far beyond the places we first imagined, crossing borders, connecting communities, and finding new voices across the continent. Today, we write to let you know we have
opened yet another door. For the first time in our history, Paradigm Initiative stepped into North Africa, and Ajegunle, we wish you could have seen it. Through our first Digital Rights Academy and Digital Rights and Elections in Africa engagement in the region, we opened a new chapter in our continental journey, bringing together voices around digital rights, civic participation, and inclusive digital development. 19 years is a long time. The tools may have changed, the times may have evolved, and the challenges have definitely grown. But the dream has remained steady. The difference now is that the conversation is no longer happening in one place but across Africa. Today’s song recommendation is “Aïcha,” the iconic track by Algeria’s Rai legend Khaled. Released in 1996, the song tells the story of a man trying to win a woman’s love with riches, only for her to remind him that what she seeks is respect, equal rights, and true love. And Ajegunle, as we approach our 20th anniversary, what else can we ask for but rights, digital rights, and more rights? While in Morocco, we learned a phrase: لصو بردلا ىلع راس نم Man sāra ʿalā ad-darb waṣala, which means whoever walks the path will arrive. We are still walking. Yours truly, The PIN Fam Letter to Ajegunle is a new segment of the PIN newsletter dedicated to the vibrant town of Ajegunle, where Paradigm Initiative’s journey began. Through these letters, we celebrate our roots, reflect on our growth, and share the stories of change that have come from these streets to communities across Africa.
Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
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Monthly Newsletter - July 2026