As you may already know, our journey began with a simple dream: to equip young people with digital skills and provide them with access to computers and digital opportunities. As we reach the halfway mark into 2026, we find ourselves reflecting on just how far that dream has come. Nearly two decades later, hundreds of thousands of young people reached and countless lessons learned, empowering underserved communities remains at the heart of everything we do. What started as a vision has grown into a movement that continues to transform lives across Africa and the Global South. It is with this in mind that we look ahead to the commemoration of World Youth Skills Day in the coming weeks. For us, it is more than a date on the calendar. It is an opportunity to celebrate the impact that your support has made possible and to reaffirm our commitment to helping young people build the skills they need to thrive in a digital world.
In this edition, we highlight some of the milestones we have achieved together and offer a glimpse into the exciting work still ahead.
Key Highlights
• One year of DRIBLE, more to come!
• AI and data privacy for civil servants in Nigeria
• Preaching digital rights and documentation at Walter Sisulu University
• When Extremism Goes Digital: How Violent Groups Are Exploiting Online Spaces in the Sahel
• Building digital rights capacity across Africa
• Read Echoes from LIFE
One year of DRIBLE, more to come!
This year, the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE) is expected to go to at least 15 African countries. But do you recall the early days of the DRIBLE University tour? Join us as we revisit the first-ever DRIBLE experience session, hosted at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Relive the video highlights here
Calling for data accountability in Nigeria
How does someone get arbitrary access to voters’ personal information, and why is nothing done about it? On June 3, Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, joined News Central’s breakfast show, where he discussed the ongoing probe into suspected voter information leak in Nigeria, calling for accountability and transparency. Watch the full show here.
Echoes from LIFE is now available
Every life changed has a story worth telling. It is for this reason that Paradigm Initiative is excited to unveil yet another edition of Echoes from LIFE, our publication that continues to bring together first-hand testimonies from beneficiaries of our LIFE (Life Skills, ICTs, Financial Readiness, and Entrepreneurship) Legacy programme. Through their own voices, young people from underserved communities across Africa share how access to digital skills, mentorship, and opportunity has transformed their lives, from first encounters with technology to employment, entrepreneurship, leadership, and community impact.
These powerful stories are a reminder that when young people are equipped with the right tools and support, they don’t just change their own futures, but can also inspire others to do the same. Read Echoes from LIFE and experience the lasting impact of the LIFE Legacy initiative, one story at a time.
Events
Human rights implications and policy gaps in delivering digital social protection (DSP) services across Africa
Digital Social Protection (DSP) systems, which leverage digital IDs, biometric verification, mobile payments and AI-driven targeting, promise efficiency, reduced fraud and expanded coverage for vulnerable populations. These include informal workers, women, youth, migrants and persons with disabilities. However, rapid digitisation has amplified the risks, as seen in poor rural connectivity across Africa and power outages, which affect the use of DSP by these marginalised groups. This will be the focus of the Net Rights Coalition (NRC) learning call on June 4, 2026, as we share insights on inclusion and exclusion, data risks and best practices in DSP implementation. Sign up to participate.
Building digital rights capacity across Africa
June was a busy month for Paradigm Initiative’s capacity-building efforts as we continued to equip stakeholders across the continent with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate an
Meanwhile, in Ghana, on June 9 and 10, PIN convened media practitioners, law enforcement investigators, and prosecutors for a two-day Digital Rights Academy. Participants explored emerging digital rights challenges and discussed how digital technologies are reshaping access to information, justice, and civic participation. The sessions also highlighted the role of responsible digital rights practices in fostering a safer and more inclusive digital ecosystem.
The momentum extended beyond West and Central Africa. Through Digital Rights Academies hosted on June 22 and 23 in Tanzania, June 24 in Zimbabwe, and June 30 in Benin and Zambia, participants from diverse backgrounds engaged with critical issues affecting the digital rights landscape. These trainings provided practical insights, encouraged cross-sector collaboration, and strengthened the capacity of local actors to respond to digital rights challenges within their respective contexts.
Preaching digital rights and documentation at Walter Sisulu University
What would a digital rights haven look like? On June 11, students at Walter Sisulu University in South Africa explored this question during a session on Digital Rights in the Global South, facilitated by Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan. The session, the evolving digital landscape. In Cameroon, PIN partnered with Civic Watch Cameroon to host a Digital Policy Engagement Series (DIPES), and a Digital Rights Academy (DRA) on June 8 and 9. Sessions focused on strategic litigation, documenting digital rights violations, and a practical walk-through of the Digital Rights On-demand Learning (DROL) platform.
third in the 2026 Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Programme (DRIMP), introduced students to the intersection of technology and human rights, examining international human rights standards, key digital rights principles, emerging digital threats, and the policies that shape our digital lives. The fourth session, ‘Documenting Digital Rights’ was facilitated by the organisation’s Communications Officer, Giyo Ndzi on June 18, shedding light on PIN’s documentation and awareness processes, tools and platforms.
Strengthening Judicial Capacity on Privacy and Data Protection in Nigeria
From June 15 to June 18, Paradigm Initiative hosted a high-level capacity-building workshop for High Court Judges in Nigeria, organised in partnership with Meta, the National Judicial Institute (NJI), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The specialised training explores key issues, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), cybercrime, artificial intelligence policy, digital security, and the growing evidentiary challenges posed by deepfakes and emerging technologies. By equipping
High Court Judges with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate an evolving digital landscape, we are contributing to a more informed, rights-respecting justice system.
AI and data privacy for civil servants in Nigeria
On June 13th, Programmes Officer, Sani Suleiman joined the Locally Led Development (LLD) Gov-Tech Fellowship Programme to serve as a facilitator for one of their fellowship sessions, where he talked about ethical and legal considerations in their work as civil servants. In his presentation, Sani focused on data privacy (Nigeria Data Protection Act), responsible AI in government, and digital rights & citizen protection. The fellowship programme is designed to equip civil servants with practical Gov-Tech knowledge and skills to support digital transformation in government. Among key outcomes from the session was the request to incorporate Paradigm Initiative’s (PIN’s) Digital Rights OnDemand Learning (DROL) Platform into the fellowship curriculum.
Media corner
The signal we cannot ignore: What the LONDA 2025 report reveals about Africa’s digital rights
At the 2026 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26), PIN released the 2025 Londa report featuring 29 African countries. The report highlights both countries that enacted progressive laws to protect user data and those that intensified internet shutdowns, surveillance, and arrests to control online spaces. It further reveals stark contrasts in how different regions handle digital freedoms. By comparing 2024 and 2025 scores, the report highlights both significant legislative leaps and concerning democratic regressions across the continent, as PIN’s Programmes Officer, Muhammed Bello, explains in his latest article for Global Voices.
Weekend Read
When Extremism Goes Digital: How Violent Groups Are Exploiting Online Spaces in the Sahel
In the Sahel region, the digital realm has become a critical front in the fight against violent extremism. While armed groups have long been active on the ground, social media and messaging apps are now central to how they recruit, mobilise, and finance their operations. Recent discussions at the TikTok Safety Summit in Dakar highlighted troubling new trends: monetary recruitment incentives, short-form video manipulation, and hybrid criminal-extremist networks. These raise
urgent questions about how to effectively prevent radicalisation online in the region, as our latest Policy Brief reveals.
The Paradigm Initiative Story: A Work in Progress
“The most important resource of any organisation is its people…”
“To do anything big, you need to get help, preferably from people who may even be smarter than you are!”
“Go for the highest mark obtainable and not the first position.”
“Luck is a factor in success… sometimes you happen to be at the right place, at the right time, having the right conversation.”
Are you reading the PIN book - The Paradigm Initiative Story: A Work in Progress - with us? The paperback version is now available. Share your favourite quotes from the book with us, and remember to grab a copy with a 40 percent discount using the discount code AUTHOR40.
Plan your month with Paradigm Initiative.
• July 1: Digital Rights Academy, Benin
• July 7: AI Literacy Workshop for Teachers, Lagos edition
• July 15 and July 16: Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM) Morocco
• July 28: Digital Rights Academy, Uganda
• July 27 to July 30: Uganda Internet Governance Forum
• 30th June: Digital Rights Academy, Zambia
Check out our events calendar to stay updated about our activities
Letter to Ajegunle
In the beginning was a dream
Dear Ajegunle,
How time flies. It felt just like yesterday when we sent you our first letter for the year. Today, we are halfway into 2026, having covered a lot of ground and setting our sights on even bigger things. As June marked men’s mental health month, it was a time for us to reflect on supporting men and young boys in this digital age where exposure is rife and adequate moderation remains wanting in many instances.
This should remind you of the maga don pay days and how our essay campaign, ‘The Alternative’ helped young people explore other ways to stay away from the harmful use of digital platforms and the internet. You should have come across more of this in chapter two of our current read, The Paradigm Initiative Story: A Work in Progress. Please tell your friends in Lagos and beyond who are yet to purchase that they can get it with a 40 percent discount using the discount code AUTHOR40.
Almost twenty years after what started as a dream, we are still on the same path, encouraging responsible internet use and
promoting alternatives to cybercrime and other vices. The methods and challenges may have evolved, but the mission remains the same. Wait until you start reading testimonials from the latest edition of Echoes from LIFE.
As we look ahead to the rest of 2026, that mission continues to gather momentum. From equipping teachers with AI literacy and empowering more young people through digital skills, to advancing policy conversations, protecting children’s online safety, and amplifying African voices through research and storytelling, we remain committed to building a digital future that leaves no one behind. Every programme, every publication, and every conversation is another step towards ensuring that technology becomes a bridge to opportunity rather than a barrier.
And when the kids ask what we did in your time to make a difference, put our song, Maga No Need Pay on repeat and let them know there is always a healthier alternative.
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.
