CIVIL Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders have emphasised the urgent need to expand broadband access in Nigeria and digitise public services to drive economic growth and ensure that digital opportunities reach all segments of society, especially low-income and underserved populations.
The recommendations were made at a forum held on Thursday, August 15, at the United Nations House in Abuja, organised by the United Nations Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the World Impact Development Foundation, and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.
The forum featured various members of civil society organisations in Nigeria, where they deliberated and made contributions on the current provisions of the Global Digital Compact ahead of the Summit of the Future that will be held in September in New York.
The purpose of the Global Digital Compact is to establish an inclusive global framework, essential for multi-stakeholder action required to overcome digital, data, and innovation divides.
It is expected to outline principles, objectives, and actions for advancing an open, free, secure, and human-centred digital future for all, one that is anchored in universal human rights and that enables the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In his opening address, Programme Specialist for Culture at the UNESCO Abuja Office, Philippe Delanghe, noted that the forum aimed to provide a vital opportunity to explore how digital transformation efforts could be realised within the framework of the global digital economy.
“UNESCO commends the Global Digital Compact for its role in fostering a safe and inclusive digital environment. We believe the government should prioritise pressing key issues such as digital skills, data privacy, cybersecurity, and the ethical use of technology,” he said.
He also noted that the discussion would be crucial in identifying how Nigerian civil societies could contribute to and benefit from the Global Digital Compact.
The representative of the Ministry of Communication, Salisu Saka, noted that the document was a global guide on how the United Nations wanted the world to move toward digital transformation.
“Largely, what is inside the document is about what we want to achieve; how to do that is left to the jurisdiction and the mandate of the member organisations to come up with their own approach and to manage the goal by implementing the initiatives,” he said.
The Editor of FactCheckHub and coordinator of the Nigeria Fact-checkers Coalition, Opeyemi Kehinde, emphasised the critical role of citizen participation in policy-making.
He said, “It is one thing for the government to pass laws on behalf of citizens; it is another thing for citizens themselves to get involved in how policies are formulated.”
Kehinde expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity given to CSOs to contribute to the Global Digital Compact for the UN General Assembly and emphasised the value of such participation in having a lasting impact on the future.
“We don’t need to be told that in today’s world, we are not only dealing with AI but also with other emerging technologies that are constantly evolving. It is important to recognise that as these technologies emerge almost every day, they are developing tools to innovate globally and make communications easier.”
Kehinde emphasised the necessity for governments to incorporate citizen concerns into their policies, citing this as the reason stakeholders were involved in the forum.
Other suggestions raised by the participants at the forum include the importance of cohesive data governance across government agencies and the establishment of digital governance structures throughout Nigeria’s 774 LGAs to ensure effective and secure data management at all levels of government, further enhancing the efficiency of public services.
Youth empowerment also featured prominently in the discussions, with a strong call for greater support for youth-led initiatives aimed at promoting digital inclusion, particularly in low-income communities. The experts recognised the potential of Nigeria’s young population to drive innovation and growth in the digital economy if given the necessary resources and support.
Moreover, the stakeholders advocated strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy by promoting digital skills and products within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and on the international stage.
On Artificial Intelligence, they called for the development of robust frameworks to mitigate potential harms and protect privacy, in alignment with the National Mental Health Act of 2021.
Concerns were also raised about the suppression of press freedom by the authorities and how the Nigeria Cybercrime Act was being used to victimize journalists in Nigeria.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or [email protected]
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.