Nigeria Trains Journalists on Digital Rights Reporting

Dozens of Nigerian journalists just gained new tools to explain how technology laws affect everyday citizens.

The House of Representatives hosted a one-day training session in Abuja for journalists and media teams covering parliament. The goal was simple: help reporters better understand and explain emerging digital issues like cybersecurity, data protection, and artificial intelligence to the public.

House spokesman Akin Rotimi said legislative work has become increasingly technical. With Nigeria's new Data Protection Act already in effect and ongoing debates about cyber regulation, journalists need deeper knowledge to report accurately.

"Your work directly shapes public understanding of Parliament, public confidence in democratic institutions, and the quality of civic engagement in our country," Rotimi told participants.

The timing matters. Nigeria is racing to catch up with digital governance as technology reshapes everything from banking to elections. Parliament is now reviewing multiple tech-related bills, and citizens need clear information about how these laws will protect their online privacy and digital rights.

Gboyega Onadiran, chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, called the training essential. He noted that journalism no longer works just through headlines and press statements.

"We now work within a digital ecosystem shaped by data, algorithms, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and online rights," Onadiran said.

The Ripple Effect

This training represents a promising shift in how African democracies approach technology policy. When journalists understand complex digital issues, they can hold lawmakers accountable and help citizens participate in crucial debates about online freedoms.

The partnership between the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, a digital rights organization, shows lawmakers recognizing that transparency requires education. Better-informed reporters mean better-informed citizens who can engage meaningfully with policies that affect their digital lives.

The sessions included practical simulations and real legislative scenarios, giving journalists hands-on experience interpreting technical bills. This approach moves beyond theory to actual skills reporters can use immediately.

Nigeria's efforts could inspire other countries where digital policy outpaces public understanding, creating a model for bridging the gap between complex legislation and everyday citizens who need to know their rights.