Telecom
Fighting Digital Threats: A Call for Comprehensive Protections for Journalists
Calls for enhanced cybersecurity training and stronger laws to protect journalists were prominent at the recently concluded leading human rights summit in Taipei, Taiwan- RightsCon.
This emerged from the session titled “Battling Shadows: The Global Struggle Against Attacks on Journalists,” moderated by Theorose Elikplim Dzineku of Digispace Africa.
The panel included Jeanne Elone, Manager at Facebook; Zoe Darme, Senior Manager of Knowledge and Information at Google; ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative; Jonathan Rozen, Senior Africa Researcher at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); and Doreen Raheena Sulleyman, Editor of Techpreneur Magazine.
It unanimously emphasised the necessity of protecting journalists and ensuring their safety, given the considerable risks associated with their professions.
There was also a strong emphasis on the implementation of effective laws and policies regarding digital rights, alongside those that criminalise impersonation of journalists, harassment, and doxxing—a form of cyberbullying that exploits sensitive or confidential information for the harassment, exposure, financial harm, or other exploitation of targeted individuals.
An appeal was made for newsrooms to train journalists and media personnel on digital threats and to inform them that such threats are real. “Newsrooms should adopt mandatory cybersecurity training for journalists and ensure it is conducted annually or biannually, as technology is dynamic,” Doreen added.
‘Gbenga highlighted that Paradigm Initiative has been conducting digital security training for journalists, in addition to developing two digital toolkits—Ripoti and Ayeta—that enable users to report digital rights violations and protect themselves online.
He indicated that the organisation will be launching the digital rights and inclusion in Africa report-Londa, which will reveal the increasing surveillance of journalists.
The report is set to be unveiled at the 2025 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), taking place in Lusaka, Zambia from 29 April to 1 May 2025. In March, PIN will host a digital security training session in Kenya, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to media safety and digital resilience.
Jonathan from CPJ said the organisation provides both financial and non-financial support to journalists, as well as resources on how to prepare for internet shutdowns and smear campaigns. They also have checklists for editors and risk assessment tools for journalists to protect themselves.
The panel was clear that in the digital age, the journalism profession and journalists at large face significant challenges. While technology-assisted tools and social media platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for newsgathering, storytelling, and audience engagement, they also present notable threats such as harassment, surveillance, and issues related to deepfakes.
The session explored the multifaceted ways in which technology is being used to undermine journalistic integrity and personal safety while discussing strategies to counter these threats.
The PIN delegation to RightsCon comprised ‘Gbenga, Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager for Partnerships and Engagement, Judith Ogutu, Communications Manager, and Miriam Beatrice Wanjiru, Programmes Officer for East Africa.
They joined hundreds of global players at the event which took place from February 24th to 27th February 2025. They participated in several panel sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions, and private meetings.
They also provided thought leadership in the following thematic areas: emerging technologies, content moderation, data protection, encryption, global processes, trust and safety, internet shutdowns, digital inclusion, journalism, surveillance, and accountability online.
Federal government has unveiled an ambitious plan to deploy 7,000 telecommunications towers across the country, with 80 per cent allocated to Northern Nigeria to address the region’s acute connectivity deficit.
The federal executive council had already approved the 7,000 towers project by March 2025 to support digital transformation and 5G rollout, with formal rollout scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The project’s first tower will be installed next week in a rural Abuja community of 5,000, where insecurity compounds connectivity challenges.
Unlike conventional masts, these towers will double as digital hubs, providing internet to schools, hospitals, and local government offices.
“Most of these clusters are in the North. That’s the reality. There are a few clusters in the South-West, you know, that are not connected, but the bulk of the clusters are in the North, Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, told TVC recently.
He continued, “So, almost 80% of these towers will be going towards filling that gap in the North. The rest will now patch up where we have left off.
“Unlike traditional telecom masts, they will deliver internet to local schools, hospitals, and government offices, maximising their impact. Wherever we put them, we use the same infrastructure to serve the community.”
Tijani highlighted a collaborative model where mobile network operators will connect to the towers’ cables, reducing redundancy and optimising resources.
Nigeria’s digital landscape remains uneven.
As of January 2025, 128.3 million Nigerians, 54.3 per cent of the population, lack internet access, ranking the country fourth globally for unconnected populations.
Broadband penetration stands at 48 per cent, with over 50 per cent of Nigerians living there, facing significant barriers, including unreliable electricity and low digital literacy.
Progress has been made, with the number of people in unserved and underserved areas falling from 36.8 million in 2013 to 23 million in early 2025, yet the connectivity gap remains a formidable challenge.
The 7,000-tower initiative, distinct from the separate Project 774, forms part of a broader strategy that includes satellite technology, such as Starlink, and fibre-optic cables, which Tijani described as the backbone of reliable connectivity in advanced markets.
The government’s focus on the North reflects the region’s disproportionate share of unconnected communities, while the project’s design aims to address both digital and security challenges.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty, West Africa’s leading interconnected data center facility, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s digital economy and the broader African ICT landscape.
L-R: Mr. Ken Nwogbo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of CommunicationsWeek Media, Editor Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty and Dr. Muhammed Rudman, Chief Executive Officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) at the 2025 Africa’s Beacon of ICT (ABoICT) Merit and Leadership Awards, organized by Communications Week media.
At a ceremony in Lagos, Nnamani was named among the Top 50 Most Valuable Personalities in Nigeria’s Digital Economy by KnowHow Media.
According to the organizers, this recognition reflects his unwavering commitment to innovation within Africa’s tech ecosystem.
Segun Oruame, Vice-Chairman of KnowHow Media, emphasized Nnamani’s significant impact on Nigeria’s ICT landscape, highlighting his role in advancing the country’s digital economy.
Adding to his accolades, Nnamani was also honored with the ICT Growth Impact Award in Data Centre Infrastructure at Africa’s Beacon of ICT (ABoICT) Merit and Leadership Awards, hosted by Nigeria Communications Week.
This award acknowledges his instrumental role in developing telecom and ICT infrastructure across multiple African nations, including Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, and Angola.
Expressing gratitude for the recognitions, Nnamani dedicated the awards to his team at Digital Realty, acknowledging their continuous support.
He reaffirmed his commitment to fostering industry growth and driving innovation across Africa.
Telecom
SBTS Group CEO Evelyn Lewis Named Among Nigeria’s Top 50 Digital Economy Leaders for Youth-Focused Tech Initiatives
Evelyn A. Lewis, CEO of SBTS Group, has been named one of Nigeria’s “50 Most Valuable Personalities in the Digital Economy” by IT Edge News.Africa, recognizing his visionary leadership in digital transformation, innovation, and youth empowerment.
Presented during the “Nigeria: State of the Digital Economy 2025” colloquium and awards ceremony in Lagos, the recognition highlights Lewis’s role in shaping Nigeria’s digital future. The high-profile event, organized by Knowhow Media (publishers of IT Edge News.Africa), brought together top policymakers, digital innovators, and ecosystem enablers across public and private sectors.
At the center of Lewis’s recognition is his commitment to building Africa’s digital economy through skills and job creation. Under his leadership, SBTS Group—in collaboration with the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI)—is implementing an ambitious plan to:
- Train 5 million Nigerian youths
- Create 50,000 digital jobs by 2030
This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program.
SBTS Group’s proprietary Intelligent Capacity Building Model (ICBM), developed under Lewis’s leadership, is at the core of this effort. The model closes the gap between digital training and employment, offering career-focused tracks in:
- Cybersecurity
- Software Development
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
- Digital Entrepreneurship
ICBM is currently being rolled out across DBI campuses nationwide, forming a scalable framework for skills development.
SBTS and DBI will kick off the next phase of their national rollout with new training and BPO centres in Abuja and Enugu, scheduled for launch in June 2025. These centers are expected to create over 5,000 jobs in their first phase, acting as blueprints for replicable, sustainable digital employment hubs nationwide.
Beyond training, SBTS has also built a national unified digital learning and registration platform for DBI. The system integrates national identity tools such as NIN and BVN, supports student sponsorships, facilitates enterprise partnerships, and enables career tracking—laying a foundation for a data-driven, transparent digital skills ecosystem.
“This award reaffirms our commitment to building Africa’s digital economy from within,” said Evelyn Lewis. “At SBTS Group, we believe that human capital is Africa’s greatest asset. By empowering our youth, we’re investing in a future where Africa leads in innovation and competitiveness.”
The 50 Most Valuable Personalities (50MVPs) initiative annually celebrates visionary leaders accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation. The 2025 edition recognized contributors across tech, governance, and entrepreneurship under the theme:
“Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Transformation: Insights on Challenges and Emerging Opportunities.”
Other 2025 honourees include:
- Obadare Peter Adewale, CVO, Digital Encode
- Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Poverty Reduction
- Ayọ̀wándé Àdalémọ, CEO, Wave5Wireless
- Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa & Morocco – Africa Data Centres (ADC)
- Ike Nnamani, CEO, Digital Realty
- Daser David, President/CEO, Digital Bridge Institute
- Suleiman Isah, Commissioner for Communications Technology & Digital Economy
- Shuaibu Kabir Bello, CEO, KMDC
- Olawole Owoeye, Co-founder, Cedarview Communications
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