Paradigm Initiative

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐰𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has announced the winners of the 2025 edition of the Taiwo Bankole Scholarship Award, an award dedicated to empowering exceptional young people from the Ajegunle community with educational funding and preserving the legacy of the late Taiwo Bankole Ogunyemi, a pioneering volunteer of PIN’s work for his role in improving the lives of young people across Nigeria, especially in Ajegunle. This year's award ceremony celebrates a total of 10 beneficiaries, up from a previous 4, five male and five female awardees for the scholarship. See details: https://lnkd.in/eZ7aWR3j #ParadigmInitiative

🏆 Triple win for Whispers in the Wires! Our latest short film, Whispers in the Wires keeps winning accolades. The Up In The Sky-produced shortfilm has been recognised at the Lagos Advertising and Ideas (LAIF) Awards 2025 in three categories: Silver: Film LAIF (Public, Political & Social Communications) Gold: Film Craft / Best Production Design Bronze: Best Original Short Film LAIF is Nigeria’s leading creative awards body, celebrating the most innovative, impactful, and high-standard work by agencies and brands. This win is as much yours as it is ours, thanks to your unrelenting support for the work we do at PIN. Thank you for supporting storytelling that drives public good and social impact. 🔗 Watch the short film here: https://lnkd.in/eGxr8xq3  #WhispersInTheWires #ParadigmInitiative

16 jours d'activisme | Mettre fin à la violence dans tous les espaces, y compris en ligne « Après chaque publication, je reçois des messages et des commentaires me harcelant et me traitant de personne amère. » Victime de violence sexiste facilitée par la technologie (TFGBV). Rejoignez-nous le 10 décembre pour discuter des moyens de mettre fin à la TFGBV et de rendre les espaces en ligne plus sûrs pour tous. Inscrivez-vous ici : https://lnkd.in/ebQXEZXY #ClicksThatHurt #VoicesFromTheMargins

🔶 16 Days of Activism | Ending violence in every space, including online “After each post, I do receive messages and comments bullying me on how I am a bitter human” Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) victim. Join us on December 10 as we discuss ways to end TFGBV and make online spaces safer for all. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ebQXEZXY #ClicksThatHurt #VoicesFromTheMargins

Récapitulatif : Tendances des droits numériques lors des élections de 2025 En 2025, les élections à travers l’Afrique ont apporté à la fois des progrès et de nouveaux défis, et grâce à notre Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM), nous avons été présents à chaque étape. Cette année, nous avons suivi : - La montée de la désinformation pendant les campagnes électorales tendues - Les perturbations Internet utilisées comme outils de contrôle politique - Les préoccupations accrues liées à la surveillance numérique - La résilience et l’utilisation des outils numériques pour lutter contre les fraudes électorales Merci aux journalistes, observateurs, vérificateurs de faits, partenaires de la société civile et chercheurs qui ont contribué à renforcer les efforts de suivi cette année. #ParadigmInitiative

Recap: Digital rights trends in 2025 elections In 2025, elections across Africa brought both progress and new challenges, and thanks to our Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM), we were there every step of the way. This year, we tracked: - The rise of misinformation during heated campaign seasons - Internet disruptions used as tools for political control - Increased digital surveillance concerns - Resilience and use of digital tools to combat election malpractice Thank you to the journalists, observers, fact-checkers, civil society partners, and researchers who contributed to strengthening this year’s monitoring efforts. #ParadigmInitiative

DRIBLE, the future of decision-making in digital rights This year, Paradigm Initiative proudly launched the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE), a board game designed to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to navigate today’s complex digital landscape. Why does this matter? Because in the near future, these same youth and young adults, who are learning about digital rights through the game, will be in boardrooms shaping policy and influencing decisions on the use of technology, protection of data, and, of course, digital rights and inclusion. For us, DRIBLE is more than just a board game. It is the beginning of a new era of informed digital leadership on the continent. —------------------------------ DRIBLE, l’avenir de la prise de décision en matière de droits numériques Cette année, Paradigm Initiative a fièrement lancé le Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE), un jeu de société conçu pour donner aux jeunes les connaissances et la confiance nécessaires pour naviguer dans le paysage numérique complexe d’aujourd’hui. Pourquoi est-ce important ? Parce que, dans un avenir proche, ces mêmes jeunes, qui apprennent les droits numériques à travers le jeu, se retrouveront dans des salles de conseil à influencer les politiques et les décisions sur l’usage de la technologie, la protection des données et, bien sûr, les droits numériques et l’inclusion. Pour nous, DRIBLE n’est pas qu’un simple jeu de société. C’est le début d’une nouvelle ère de leadership numérique éclairé sur le continent. #ParadigmInitiative #DRIBLE

According to a new report, the rollout of Biometric Digital-ID systems across Africa presents a profound double-edged challenge: while they offer immense potential to drive financial inclusion, streamline governance, and boost regional trade for millions of currently underserved citizens, their rapid, continent-wide implementation raises critical human rights and governance concerns regarding data privacy, state surveillance, and the risk of digital exclusion for the most vulnerable populations. The fundamental dilemma facing African states and regional bodies like the AU and ECOWAS is how to ensure these powerful new digital infrastructures function as tools of liberation, offering full access and equity, rather than becoming new instruments of centralized control and systemic exclusion. Dr Tony Roberts, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies and co-editor of the report, says: “Worryingly, fundamental human rights, like education, healthcare and the right to vote are rapidly becoming conditional on enrolment in biometric digital-ID systems. While some may benefit from the convenience of digital-ID systems to access essential services, it is locking out millions of citizens who cannot enrol in biometric digital-ID systems, particularly those with disabilities. Some people with visual impairments have to pay people to help them use their digital-ID on mobile phones to access their social protection payments.” 'Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative  and co-editor of the report, says: “Many citizens do not want to enrol for a biometric digital-ID because they have good reason not to trust their governments with their biometrics and personal information. We have found examples of massive data breaches and in some countries personal data used to surveil and target peaceful critics of the government and opposition leaders." Details: https://lnkd.in/d8aaeXG6

❓What is biometric digital-ID ❓ Biometric digital-IDs use identifiers such as fingerprint and iris scans or facial recognition to obtain access to a range of government services and rights, such as voting. Many citizens choose not to enrol for biometric digital-IDs due to fears of data leaks or mistrust in their government. Already marginalised groups struggle to register for biometric digital-ID due to disability, illiteracy or associated costs - like mobile data, phone access or electric power for phone charging – which further deepens existing inequalities. Find out more 👇https://lnkd.in/esz5XaYf #DigitalID #BiometricID #Biometrics #Africa Tony Roberts Paradigm Initiative