West Africa Internet Governance Forum 2025: Full Schedule

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8:00am WAT

Beyond Awareness: Embedding Digital Security Practices in Marginalized Communities

Friday May 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am WAT

While digital transformation continues to reshape societies, marginalized communities in Africa often remain excluded from the benefits of secure digital practices. These communities face unique challenges, such as limited access to resources, low levels of digital literacy, and exposure to cyber threats. Despite efforts to raise awareness, a critical gap persists in embedding sustainable digital security practices tailored to the realities of these communities.
This interactive workshop will move beyond theoretical awareness to practical implementation. Participants will explore innovative strategies, grassroots-led initiatives, and actionable tools designed to integrate digital security into the daily lives of underserved populations. Through hands-on demonstrations and real-world case studies, this session will provide a platform to share experiences, foster collaboration, and equip attendees with a framework to address digital security challenges at the local level.

Key Objectives:
Identify Barriers: Explore the unique challenges marginalized communities face in adopting secure digital practices.
Share Innovations: Present creative, low-cost solutions and tools that align with the specific needs of these communities.
Empower Grassroots Organizations: Highlight the pivotal role of grassroots organizations in promoting localized digital safety initiatives.
Provide Practical Frameworks: Equip participants with tools and frameworks to build localized, sustainable digital security programs.

Expected Outcomes:
Participants will leave with:
A deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in embedding digital security practices in marginalized communities.
Exposure to innovative tools and methods tailored to underserved populations.
A framework for implementing sustainable digital security programs.
Enhanced collaboration between grassroots organizations, policymakers, and digital rights advocates to drive community-centric digital safety initiatives.

Target Audience:
Grassroots organizations working with underserved communities.
Digital rights advocates.
Policymakers focused on inclusivity and digital transformation.
Educators and trainers in the digital literacy space.
Technologists interested in accessible and localized digital security solutions.

https://waigf2025.sched.com/ed...

Godsway Kubi

Speakers

Angela Onyegbuna

Persis Yentumi

Friday May 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am WAT
Main Hall NCC annexe office

Main WAIGF Sessions, Digital Public Infrastructure and Data Governance

Area Workshop
NEW FIELD 1 Workshop

8:00am WAT

Prévenir et contourner les coupures de l'internet en Afrique.

Friday May 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am WAT

Workshop Room 2

L'Afrique risque d'être encore confronté à des coupures de l'internet. Au Sénégal, nous avons depuis 2016 fait un plaidoyer pour un renforcement juridique de la protection des utilisateurs et de la neutralité de l'internet. La session que nous proposons vise à sensibiliser les participants sur les risques de coupures et comment travailler à l'éviter. Le fait que les gouvernements ont souvent comme argument la diffusion des discours de haine sur internet pour faire des restrictions n'est plus à démontrer.

La session aura comme objectif de mettre en lumière l'importance d'un plaidoyer préventif en tenant en compte l'exemple que nous avons vécu au Sénégal dans le cadre des manifestations politiques (2021 -- 2024) afin d'outiller les citoyens des peuples africains a traverser des périodes comme telles le cas échéant.

Ce partage d'expérience sera suivi du partage de témoignage sur comment la population a vécu les coupures, les impacts au niveau économique et social afin de décourager les autorités dans leurs intention de couper internet très facilement.

L'autre aspect de la session mettra aussi en lumière le travail qui doit être fait pour enlever aux autorités leurs argument de diffusion des discours de haine pour couper, en faisant la promotion d'un usage responsable de l'internet.

En définitive nous aurons aussi comme objectif d'amener les plateformes à prendre leurs responsabilité dans la prolifération du discours de haine et trouver la documentation (textes juridiques) pour chaque pays concerné au niveau locale pour en finir avec les coupures de l'internet et soutenir le plaidoyer.
Dans le cadre du plaidoyer il faut comprendre que les responsables de plateformes ne prennent pas souvent en compte les besoins en Afrique. L'Afrique est le parent pauvre en ce qui concerne la responsabilité des plateforme. Nous aurons, dans le cadre de ce panel comme obligation de travailler en synergie pour engager nos différentes autorités de régulation du numérique à unir leurs forces sous la bannière de la charte africaine des peuples et de la convention de Malabo à s'unir pour engager les responsables de plateforme à mieux considérer l'Afrique.

https://waigf2025.sched.com/ed...

Emmanuel Maurice Diokh

Friday May 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am WAT
Workshop Room 2 NCC annexe office

Main WAIGF Sessions, Digital Cooperation and Global Internet Governance

Area Workshop
NEW FIELD 1 Session

8:00am WAT

Strengthening Digital Rights Protection: STANDS as a Best Practice Model

Friday May 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am WAT

Workshop Room 1

This session will highlight the STANDS (Stemming the Tides of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space) initiative, a Paradigm Initiative project, as a model for strengthening digital rights protection in West Africa. STANDS combines policy advocacy, legislative engagement, government capacity building, civil society support, and strategic litigation to address digital rights violations. The discussion will explore the initiative’s impact, successes, challenges, and how similar frameworks can be adapted across the region.
Session Format
Presentation: Overview of the STANDS initiative, its key strategies, and measurable impact.
Case Studies: Examples of policy wins, strategic litigation, and capacity-building efforts.
Panel Discussion: Experts will discuss lessons learned, sustainability, and expansion of digital rights protections.

Q&A and Recommendations: Participants will explore ways to implement similar models in their contexts.

Key Discussions
STANDS’ Impact on Digital Rights Protection

How STANDS has influenced policy, legislation, and digital security in Nigeria.

Successes in legal and advocacy efforts, including engagement with key stakeholders.

Case Studies of Successful Interventions

Strategic litigation cases and policy reforms.

Capacity-building efforts for government, civil society, and media.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

Effective engagement between government, civil society, legal experts, and international organizations.

Challenges and opportunities in fostering partnerships.

Sustainability and Future Expansion

Ensuring long-term impact and scaling STANDS beyond Nigeria.

Lessons for strengthening regional digital rights protection.

Policy Recommendations

Legislative and policy measures to enhance digital security and rights.

Strategies to improve digital literacy and advocacy efforts.

Why Attend?
Attendees will gain insights into how a holistic approach can drive digital rights protection, learn from real-world case studies, and explore strategies for regional adoption. This session offers an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing on best practices in digital rights advocacy.
Who Should Attend?
Policymakers and government officials
Civil society organizations and digital rights advocates

Legal professionals and human rights defenders

Researchers and academics focused on digital governance

Representatives from international organizations

Media practitioners covering digital rights and policy

Technology companies engaged in policy and advocacy

This session provides a platform to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations, and explore pathways for advancing digital rights in West Africa.

https://waigf2025.sched.com/ed...

Khadijah El-Usman

Paradigm Initiative, Senior Programs Officer, Anglophone West Africa

Khadijah El-Usman is the regional lead for Anglophone West-Africa at Paradigm Initiative with a focus to advance Internet freedom, and monitor the legal and policy framework around the region, to ensure that citizens’ rights are protected online.Khadijah is a legal practitioner... Read More →

Speakers

Gbenga Sesan

Adeboro Odunlami

Friday May 23, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am WAT
Workshop Room 1 NCC annexe office

Main WAIGF Sessions, Digital Cooperation and Global Internet Governance

Area Workshop
NEW FIELD 1 Workshop

West Africa Internet Governance Forum 2025