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By Chinenye Anuforo
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In today’s rapidly-evolving digital age, internet access has shifted from a luxury to a fundamental cornerstone of daily life.
As vital as it is, sub-Saharan Africa, unfortunately, remains the least connected region globally, according to the GSMA’s 2023 report.
A mere 27 per cent of the population utilises mobile internet services, leaving a wide 13 per cent coverage gap and a staggering 60 per cent usage gap.
For unconnected low and middle-income countries, device affordability, digital skills and literacy pose major barriers to internet adoption.
Entry-level internet-enabled devices can cost up to 18 per cent of average monthly income. In sub-Saharan Africa, this figure skyrockets to a staggering 99 per cent for the region’s poorest 20 per cent.
Meaningful connectivity remains another significant challenge. A substantial 43 per cent of mobile internet users in surveyed countries expressed a desire to use the internet more frequently. The most common barriers cited include safety and security concerns, affordability, and connectivity experience.
The GSMA study highlighted the uneven commitment and contribution of various industries within the digital sector towards digital inclusion. A clear and consistent approach to improving digital skills, particularly for vulnerable and underrepresented groups, is urgently needed.
According to experts, bridging this gulf requires a unified front where relevant stakeholders collaborate and cross-pollinate with a view to deepening internet access.
In walking the talk, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is championing the efforts in empowering African youth with digital opportunities.
PIN said it remains committed to connecting underserved African youth with digital opportunities and protecting their rights. By providing digital skills training, access to affordable technology, and digital rights advocacy, PIN is empowering young people to thrive in the digital age.
Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, PIN’s Chief Operating Officer, during a media parley with journalists in Lagos recently emphasised the organisation’s mission: “We work to connect under-served African youth with improved livelihoods through our digital inclusion and digital rights programs.”
By empowering young Africans with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, PIN is helping to create a more equitable and prosperous future for the continent.
During the press conference, the group raised alarm on the challenges threatening digital rights and inclusion across the continent. Paul-Ugochukwu, highlighted the critical role digital rights play in Africa’s future.
“Africa is experiencing a digital revolution, but this progress comes with a widening digital gap,” she explained. “We see a lack of infrastructure, inadequate policies, and worrying trends like digital surveillance and censorship.”
These issues, the COO pointed out, stifle economic growth and social progress. They also directly contradict the role of a free press, a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.
PIN is at the forefront of the fight for a more just digital future in Africa. Founded in a humble cybercafé in 2007, the organization has grown into a powerful advocate for digital rights and inclusion.
“Our beginnings were humble, starting out of a small cybercafé, Stadnet Café, in Ajegunle in 2007. From these roots, PIN has evolved into a nonprofit that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights to improve the livelihoods of underserved young Africans. Since our Ajegunle days, we have worked in communities across Nigeria and, since 2017, across Africa, gaining experience, building community trust, and cultivating an organisational culture that positions us as a leading nonprofit in ICT for Development and Digital Rights on the continent. In this time, we have impacted the lives of over 150,350 under-served African youth, providing them with improved livelihoods through digital opportunities and protecting their online rights”, Paul-Ugochukwu said.
Continuing she said, “PIN is committed to creating a digital environment where technology uplifts human rights. We strive to harness the power of technology to empower underserved communities, mitigate digital divides, and ensure access to essential digital skills and resources.
“Our vision is a future where technology empowers individuals and communities, fostering socio-economic development and promoting digital rights.”
Over the past decade, the group advance digital inclusion and digital rights in Africa, implemented large multi-country programmes and managed funding from organisations such as the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Omidyar Networks, Open Society Foundations, Google.org, Government of the Netherlands and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (United States Government). Paradigm Initiative has organised the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) since 2013. DRIF is a bi-lingual (English and French) annual community-driven convening where Internet freedom activists from across the Global Majority meet to share experiences and research outcomes and learn and collaborate to advance Internet freedom on the continent. The thematic focus areas address current and emerging digital rights and inclusion issues. The forum targets at least 500 stakeholders each year, empowering them to address gaps and challenges in their communities.
PIN’s work goes beyond advocacy. According to her, the organisation is leveraging innovative toolkits to bolster the capacity of digital rights actors across Africa. These tools are designed to address the growing challenges posed by digital authoritarianism and online threats.
One such toolkit is Ayeta, a comprehensive resource that provides practical guidance on digital security, network disruption strategies, and policy advocacy. By offering tips on protecting devices, securing online accounts, and circumventing internet censorship, Ayeta equips individuals with the necessary knowledge to safeguard their digital rights. Additionally, the toolkit’s resource directory connects users to a network of digital security experts and relevant organizations.
Another tool developed by PIN is Ripoti. This platform enables individuals to anonymously report digital rights violations, such as internet shutdowns, online harassment, and censorship. By facilitating the documentation and reporting of these incidents, Ripoti contributes to a more informed and accountable digital landscape in Africa.
Through these initiatives, Paradigm Initiative is empowering digital rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organizations to navigate the complex digital terrain and advocate for a more open and inclusive internet. By equipping individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to protect themselves and their communities, PIN is playing a crucial role in advancing digital rights and freedom of expression in Africa
PIN boasts impressive milestones. They spearheaded the first-ever draft of a groundbreaking digital rights law in Africa, which served as a model for other countries. Through strategic litigation, they have secured court rulings that set positive precedents for digital rights across the continent.
“We consistently produce the annual Londa report,” she added. “This report captures the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa, providing valuable data and recommendations for policymakers.”
PIN’s message is clear: a digitally inclusive and rights-respecting Africa is not only possible, it’s essential. Paul-Ugochukwu urged the media to join them in advocating for a future where technology empowers, not hinders, human rights.
She concluded with a call to action, inviting attendees to delve deeper into the digital rights and inclusion landscape and join the fight for a more equitable Africa.
