Paradigm Initiative - Afrikan Heroes

Paradigm Initiative Launches Short Film on Digital Rights and Inclusion

October 14, 2021

Nigerian based Social enterprise Paradigm Initiative (PIN), known for building an ICT-enabled support system and advocating digital rights to improve livelihoods for under-served youth, is premiering its second high definition short film – FOCUS, a short film showcasing the state of digital rights and inclusion across Africa, at Film House Cinema, Lekki in the presence of diplomatic representatives, stakeholder, media and movie lovers.

PIN works to connect underserved young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures protection of their rights. Across Africa, they work to connect African youth with improved livelihoods through their digital inclusion and digital rights programmes.

PIN Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul- Ugochukwu

Directed by Tolulope Ajayi, Focus is a short film drawn from PIN’s 2020 annual digital rights and inclusion report dubbed Londa. The report depicts the state of digital rights and inclusion in 20 African Countries.

PIN monitors the environment, documents violations, and reports on the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa annually. Londa is a title of Zulu origin calling for action to protect or defend. The annual report is an advocacy tool for engaging with different stakeholders in the reported countries, serves as a yardstick for measuring performance, and provides critical recommendations for improving the digital space.

PIN Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul- Ugochukwu said: “Focus is an exploratory way used by PIN to best impact the society through storytelling while spotlighting key issues plaguing the digital rights and inclusion ecosystems. With this short film we hope to inspire change and bring about radical thinking and adjustment.”

Through the digital rights and inclusion community, meaningful strides in some African Countries are being taken to bridge the digital divide. The report also acknowledges the positive developments in the environment.

The 2021 consolidated Londa edition analyses the state of digital rights and inclusion on the continent, examines violations and gaps, investigates the use and application of policy and legislation, highlights milestones, and proffers recommendations for improving the digital landscape in Africa.

This edition captures among other issues, the digital divide worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and unearths infractions on different thematic areas such as privacy, access to information, and freedom of expression with the legislative and policy background well enunciated.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Paradigm Initiative launches tools of impact in the digital space

September 18, 2021

Social enterprise Paradigm Initiative (PIN) known for building an ICT-enabled support system and advocating digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for under-served youth, will be hosting a hybrid festival, from September 20-23, 2021 in Senegal. PIN works to connect underserved young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures protection of their rights. Across their regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and beyond, they work to connect African youth with improved livelihoods through their digital inclusion and digital rights programmes.

Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, Chief Operating Officer at Paradigm Initiative

Tirelessly working to promote digital inclusion and defend digital rights at a time when it matters the most, the PIN Festival- Senegal is a celebration of all their successes achieved between 2020 and 2021 by the team and the support of partners.

The festival is aimed at government ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of human rights commissions, and other related agencies, members of parliament, private sector leaders, particularly in the tech industry, civil society organisations, religious and cultural leaders, academics, media organizations, journalists and the general public.

During the four-days attendees can expect the launching of PIN’s new office and LIFE programme in Senegal. In addition, they will be treated to a box set launch of several reports and initiatives (Tools of Impact in the Digital Space) focussed on Data Protection, Londa, Digital Security, Health Surveillance and Focus.

PIN will also host a Digital Rights Academy positioned towards Francophone countries aimed at building the capacity of new digital rights defenders as well as provide a platform for discussions, networking and mapping action plans for enhancing digital rights and inclusion in Africa.

Speaking about the festival, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, Chief Operating Officer at Paradigm Initiative said the team is excited about the Senegal festival. It is going to be a celebration and a great opportunity to highlight the great work we do at PIN in advocating for digital rights and inclusion within Africa.

“The PIN Festival is a celebration of all the effort that has gone on behind the scenes to advance digital rights and inclusion in Africa during the COVID-19 period by PIN. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic posed many threats to human rights both online and offline and brought many disruptions to the world of work as many organisations had to make adjustments to their plans and programmes. Ironically, the pandemic was the much-needed wake-up call that highlighted the importance of technology and solidified why PIN exists.”