The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), with support from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), has trained 25 Nigerians on digital platform accountability, digital rights and decentralised technologies.
The one-day workshop, held on Tuesday in Kano, brought together journalists, civil society actors, digital rights advocates, persons with disabilities and technology enthusiasts to discuss the influence of major technology companies, commonly known as Big Tech, on democracy, privacy and users’ rights.
Speaking at the workshop, CITAD Executive Director, Malam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, represented by Buhari Abba, said the training was designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of digital rights, platform accountability, digital sovereignty and open-source technologies.
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He said the dominance of Big Tech companies had raised concerns about data exploitation, surveillance, misinformation and corporate control of digital spaces, making it necessary for users and stakeholders to demand greater transparency and accountability.
Discussions covered the influence of Big Tech on democracy, global advocacy for platform accountability, misinformation, responsible content moderation and the Fediverse, a network of independently operated social media platforms that interact without relying on a single corporate-controlled system.
The sessions were facilitated by Hamza Ibrahim, Ali Sabo and Muhammad Bello Yahaya, who addressed key issues relating to digital rights, platform accountability, misinformation and decentralised technologies.
Ya’u, through his representative, also highlighted CITAD’s efforts to provide practical alternatives to dominant digital platforms through its DANCIT (Dandalin CITAD) mobile messaging application and dComms initiative.
He explained that DANCIT was designed to support local communication, collaboration and civic engagement, while dComms promotes privacy-focused decentralised social media platforms connected to the Fediverse.
According to him, the initiatives seek to give users greater control over their data, reduce dependence on Big Tech companies and promote safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
One of the participants, Maryam Sa’ad Sule, described the workshop as an insightful experience that improved her understanding of digital rights, online privacy, platform accountability and decentralised digital platforms.
“Attending this workshop was an insightful and rewarding experience. I gained a better understanding of digital rights, online privacy, platform accountability and the importance of decentralised digital platforms,” she said.
She added that the sessions broadened her understanding of the need to reduce dependence on Big Tech companies and promote safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
Sule appreciated CITAD and APC for providing the opportunity to acquire the knowledge.
The facilitators urged participants to apply the knowledge gained and use their professional platforms to raise awareness about digital rights, demand accountability from technology companies and promote open-source and decentralised technologies.
