A Non-governmental Organisation-NGO known as Accountability Lab has embarked on sensitization campaign to citizens of nasarawa state aimed at protecting them from digital rights violation in the state.
The Country Director of the NGO in nigeria, Mr. Odeh Friday disclosed this during a One-day workshop on digital rights, data protection, and accountability, held in lafia, the state capital.
Mr. Odeh Friday who tasks the participants at the training to use their various medium of communication to sensitize and educate the public on ethical reporting also emphasizes the need of strict adherence in confidentiality, and responsible data handling.
According to him, the workshop was organized with support from luminate, pointed out that digital rights infractions share regional similarities across nigeria, local nuances must be identified to force big tech and government institutions to react responsibly
“We are basically in nasarawa state to support the people to creating more awareness and the platforms where they can engage on digital rights and data protection.’ He added….”
“This is to enable us create awareness where we want to hear what the people have said. The key issues that cut across the state and part of the things we have heard is sexual harassment, surveillance, platform moderation, and every other thing that needs to be said with the people.”
He challenged residents of the state to explore emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence -AI as part of ways to ensure their data protection.
In a remark, The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Associate of the NGO Mr. Alfred Ijeloesa Agu charged the participants to be proactive in defending against any social injustices which includes, sexual harassments, intimidations and extortions by the people at the hemp of affairs of government and private individuals across the state.
According to him, The workshop is being supported by luminate, was aims to assist the participants to better engage in multi-stakeholders discussions on digital rights violation, online safety, and the nigeria data protection act.
“This engagement is an opportunity to build a network of informed and active local actors who can promote awareness, support affected persons, and contribute to inclusive and accountable digital governance in nasarawa state,” he said.
He said, their expectation from the one-day workshop is also to hear real-life experiences from youth and women affected by online harassment, fraud, and limited reporting channels, and learn ethical reporting practices, including consent, confidentiality, and responsible data handling.
Earlier, in her address, the Gender Associate, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Akakan Markson emphasized that the current digital age requires immediate, collaborative, and structured action to protect citizens online.
She explained that the workshop was designed to address the unique digital rights challenges facing diverse demographics in the state, including community members, journalists, students, women, and creatives.
Some of the participants at the one day workshop who spoke, Dr. Esther Akaa and Mr. Isaac Ukpoju commended Accountability Lab Nigeria for the engagement on issues concerning digital rights, data protection and accountability.
The workshop brought together different young people, journalists, women association and community actors to discuss digital right violation, online risks, and governance challenges in the state.
COV/Aliyu Muraki/Lafia.
