Digital Security Capacity-Building for CSOs and Media in South-East and South-South Nigeria

Digital Security Capacity-Building for CSOs and Media in South-East and South-South Nigeria

In July 2023, Dataphyte (The Interactive Initiative for Social Impact) partnered with Spaces for Youth Development and Social Change to facilitate two intensive capacity-building sessions on digital security for civil society organizations and media practitioners across the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.

The trainings were designed in response to the growing digital threats facing civic actors, journalists, and activists in Nigeria and the wider West African region. As more journalists move their platforms online and civic actors rely heavily on digital tools for advocacy, mobilization, and accountability, their exposure to surveillance, cyber-attacks, and rights violations has significantly increased. This project aimed to address those risks by equipping participants with practical knowledge and skills to navigate digital spaces safely.

Over the course of two sessions, participants were trained using tailored modules that covered:

• Investigative Journalism Practice in the Digital Space: Risks and Rewards

• Deep Dive on Digital Rights in the West African Context

• Data Protection Strategies, Roles and Responsibilities

• Practical Session on Digital Safety Tools

• Digital Safety and Security Through a Gendered Lens

The sessions combined expert presentations, practical exercises, and interactive discussions to ensure participants not only understood the concepts but also gained hands-on experience with digital safety tools. Training materials and post-training exercises were also developed to help participants consolidate their learning and continue applying best practices beyond the sessions.

This initiative highlights Dataphyte’s commitment to strengthening civic space and supporting journalists and civil society with the skills they need to operate securely in a rapidly evolving digital environment. By tackling emerging threats through education, the project contributes to safeguarding democratic participation and freedom of expression in Nigeria and West Africa.