Dataphyte Foundation

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@Dataphytefdn was represented by @LucyOkonkw19700 at the official launch of @Spaces4Change's new report, “Victims Speak: Techniques, Patterns, and Impacts of Targeted Surveillance in Nigeria.” The event brought together voices of individuals who shared troubling experiences of surveillance and the emotional, social, psychological, and personal toll it has taken on their lives. The conversations at the launch reinforced a growing reality: privacy is no longer only a digital issue; it is increasingly a civic, governance, and human rights concern. As technology becomes deeply embedded in everyday life, concerns around surveillance, data access, consent, and accountability can no longer be overlooked. From mobile phones to digital platforms and everyday applications, the tools many people rely on daily now possess the capacity to collect, track, and monitor personal information at unprecedented levels. Nigeria’s Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations (LICR) further raises important questions about oversight and citizens’ digital rights, as it requires communication platforms operating within the country to maintain interception capabilities for government access. The reality is that many citizens may already be under different forms of surveillance without fully realising it. The devices we carry, the platforms we interact with, and the digital footprints we leave behind continue to generate vast amounts of personal data. The increasing surveillance of citizens by both state and non-state actors shows the urgent need for stronger transparency, accountability, legal safeguards, and independent oversight around data collection, interception, and surveillance practices in Nigeria.

New Campaign Alert 📢 A new nationwide survey on digital safety and online harms in Nigeria is now live on Goloka. Share your experiences and contribute to shaping conversations around digital safety and platform accountability in Nigeria. Sign up now: goloka.io/signup

Dataphyte joined other stakeholders at a Civil Society Alliance on Fair and Responsible Investment Governance in Nigeria (CSAFRIN) event convened by @PolicyAlert and @ActionAidNG. CSAFRIN is a network of civil society organisations and grassroots groups advocating for investment agreements, policies, and practices that align with Nigeria’s development priorities, as well as its climate and energy transition commitments. The session focused on strengthening civil society organisations to ask more targeted questions and critically assess the structure and implications of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in Nigeria, particularly their socio-economic impact. Discussions centred on how many of Nigeria’s BITs remain rooted in an earlier framework that prioritised investor protection over regulatory flexibility and legal openness over strategic control. Within this context, it was noted that Nigeria now operates in a markedly different economic and policy landscape shaped by persistent fiscal pressures, heightened climate commitments, increasing demands for economic diversification, and growing scrutiny of extractive sector governance. The event also addressed ongoing reforms linked to the global transition away from fossil fuels.

While the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, presented to the National Assembly a 75-page roadmap for decentralisation of the police force, there is a numbers game playing out in our streets that we can no longer ignore. The global gold standard for safety is roughly 311 police officers for every 100,000 citizens. In sub-Saharan Africa, the average is 275. But in Nigeria with a population of over 200 million, we are operating at a staggering deficit of just 120 per 100,000 citizens. When we talk about "slow response times" or "police exhaustion," we aren't just complaining about efficiency; we are witnessing the physical limits of a stretched-thin force. State Policing isn’t just a political buzzword; it’s a recruitment necessity. By empowering states to hire locally, we aren't just changing the badge, but finally putting enough "boots on the ground" to tip the scales back in favor of the law-abiding citizen, protect their lives and properties, and strengthen trust and economic growth. #NationalSecurity #PoliceReform #Nigeria #HumanCapital #PublicSafety

The Biodiversity Reporting Toolkit, developed by @Dataphytefdn, is a practical guide designed to help journalists produce accurate, data-driven, and impactful stories on biodiversity and environmental issues in Nigeria. twp.ai/4hpgSP

As we celebrate the Workers’ Day, it’s worth looking beyond appreciation and focusing on what truly matters which is workers’ welfare. The new minimum wage of ₦70,000 shows a shift in policy, but what it means in practice will depend on how consistently it is implemented across states. While some state governments have started to comply, and a few are doing more, this moment is a reminder that fair pay, timely salaries, and policies that protect workers should remain a priority.

As we join the rest of the world to mark Workers’ Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate our own people, the Humans behind Dataphyte We’re proud of this team. A group of dedicated, thoughtful, and hardworking individuals who show up every day and give their best. Each of you brings something unique, and that’s what makes this place what it is. Looking back, there’s so much to be proud of, the work we’ve done, the stories we’ve told, and the impact we’ve made together. Let today be a moment to slow down and appreciate the fruits of your labour. Spend meaningful time with family and friends, rest deeply, and embrace the fullness of the moment. Happy Workers’ Day.

We joined policymakers, researchers, and private sector actors at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (@csea_afric) for a high-level convening anchored on the IMF World Economic Outlook, themed “The Global Economy in the Shadows of War.” The presentation, led by Moreau Flavien of the International Monetary Fund, provided a sobering analysis of a global economy under renewed strain. Conflicts are no longer isolated disruptions, they are becoming structural forces shaping economic trajectories. Rising defence spending is increasingly crowding out investments in critical social sectors, while inflationary pressures and high interest rates continue to test the resilience of economies, particularly in developing countries. For Nigeria, the implications are immediate and far-reaching. As highlighted by panelists including Uche Uwaleke, Ebipere Clark, and Ndubisi Nwokolo, there is an urgent need to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation, address systemic leakages, and explore adaptive economic models that prioritise resilience drawing lessons from global examples such as China’s demand management strategies. At @Dataphyte, these conversations strongly align with our ongoing work at the intersection of data, governance, and economic accountability. From analysing public finance trends and tax reforms to tracking how fiscal decisions impact everyday citizens, we are committed to translating complex economic shifts into accessible, evidence-based insights. More importantly, this global context reinforces the urgency of our sub-national data work, whether in agriculture, energy, or public service delivery. As economic shocks cascade downwards, it is often communities like smallholder farmers, informal workers, and vulnerable populations that feel the deepest impact. Our work seeks to ensure that these realities are not invisible in policy conversations. As the global economy adapts to a future shaped by uncertainty and conflict, Nigeria’s response must be grounded in data, transparency, and deliberate policy choices. The message from CSEA is clear: resilience will not be accidental, it must be built.

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting representatives from the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (@swofon) Secretariat as part of our ongoing collaboration to strengthen data-driven advocacy for smallholder women farmers across Nigeria. Our discussions built on a shared objective which is to generate credible, disaggregated evidence that captures the demographic, socio-economic, gender, and farming realities of women farmers at the sub-national level. This evidence is critical, not just as data points, but as policy reference tools for policy advocacy and decision-making process by government actors, SWOFON and other stakeholders. In the coming weeks, our joint teams will be on the ground across states, engaging directly with smallholder women farmers to document their lived experiences, constraints, and opportunities for policy intervention We remain grateful to the International Budget Partnership (@OpenBudgets) for their continued support in advancing this important work. At its core, this collaboration is about more than data, it is about visibility, inclusion, and ensuring that the realities of women farmers are reflected in the policies that shape their lives.

The Biodiversity Reporting Toolkit, developed by @Dataphytefdn, is a practical guide designed to support journalists in producing accurate, data-driven, and impactful stories on biodiversity and environmental issues in Nigeria. twp.ai/4hpQ6v

Our academy coordinator, Kehinde Ogunyale (@Prof_KennyJames) was on Real FM 99.3 Abuja to discuss @Dataphyte's research on the Citizen Delivery Tracker (CDT) , developed by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (@CRDCUPolicyFGN ) in partnership with @AccountLab. The conversation was centred on the theme “You reported it. CDT recorded it. Did the government act?” and examined the effectiveness of citizen reporting mechanisms in driving government accountability and improvements in service delivery. Our findings show there is strong public interest in accountability, but very low awareness and usage of the platform. About 82% of respondents said they are interested in tracking government performance, and 83% actively look for information about government activities. Yet 64% of them have never even heard of the CDT, and 74% have never used it. This gap between interest and actual usage points to a major awareness problem. Among the small number of people who have used the platform, the experience is largely positive. Around 54% said the CDT is useful, and 87% found it easy to navigate. This suggests the platform itself is not the main issue, but rather how little it is known or accessed. Citizen reporting across key sectors like insecurity, healthcare, education, and finance remains low, which weakens the system’s ability to drive accountability. Even when reports are made, only about one in three complaints are resolved either fully or partially, raising concerns about how serious feedback is being handled. On the institutional side, adoption is inconsistent. Some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are actively engaged, while others are not integrated into the system at all. Access is also highly centralised, meaning many MDAs cannot directly view or respond to complaints and must rely on the CRDCU to mediate. This slows down response time and reduces effectiveness. There are also technical and operational gaps. The platform lacks strong analytics, real-time dashboards, automation, and a mobile-friendly experience, all of which limit its reach and performance in a country where many users rely on mobile access. Overall, the CDT reflects a high-demand, low-usage reality. Nigerians clearly want accountability, but the systems meant to support it are not yet reaching enough people or delivering consistent results. With better awareness, decentralised access for MDAs, improved data systems, and stronger follow-through on complaints, the CDT could become a powerful tool for tracking government performance and improving service delivery.

As a build-up to the 2027 general elections, and also in preparation for the upcoming bye-elections in Ekiti State and Osun State, the team earlier this morning reviewed our revamped Dataphyte election portal which is designed to track live incidents, surface insights, and report live election results as its unfold. But beyond the interface and features, this is really about readiness. Elections move fast. Information spreads even faster. And in that space, accuracy, context, and timing matter. This platform is built to help us stay ahead of that curve, capturing what is happening on the ground, verifying it, and turning it into clear, usable information for the public. The Ekiti and Osun bye-elections will be our first real test for the revamped DEP portal. A chance to see how the system performs under pressure, how well we can track patterns as they emerge, and how quickly we can translate raw data into meaningful stories to provide citizens with firsthand information and strengthen Nigeria Democratic processes. This morning’s review was to see where we are, what needs to be improved, and how prepared we are for what is ahead. Because strong election coverage is not just about announcing results. It is about helping people understand the process, the shifts, and the signals that shape those results. We are not waiting for 2027 to get it right. We are starting now.

Nigeria is home to 4,700+ plant species, 940 bird species, and 290 mammals, yet our ten-year media analysis shows biodiversity reporting is visible but largely episodic and lacking depth in data-driven, investigative, and policy-focused coverage. Only 3.6% of stories are investigative. 75% are event-driven news. That changes today. This toolkit equips journalists at every level with: ◆Data tools (GFW, NOSDRA, QGIS, IUCN Red List) ◆Field reporting frameworks ◆◆8 in-depth Nigerian case studies ◆Ethical and safety guidelines ◆The Dataphyte 7-Box Story Model Biodiversity loss is not an environmental niche story, it's about food security, public health, livelihoods, and national development. Our journalists must tell it that way. Download free: bit.ly/DataphyteBiodi… #BiodiversityJournalism #DataJournalism #Nigeria #EnvironmentalReporting #Dataphyte

Happy Birthday, @Abdek_SDGs On behalf of everyone at Dataphyte Foundation, we celebrate you today and honour your dedication to strengthening accountability, advancing data-driven governance, and creating meaningful impact through thoughtful programme leadership. Your commitment to public interest work, civic innovation, and evidence-based change continues to inspire excellence across our team and beyond. We wish you a new year filled with good health, renewed strength, greater accomplishments, and continued impact. Happy birthday, and thank you for all you do.

If we are being honest, digital transformation has moved faster than trust, and that gap is exactly what this conversation is about. On May 7, 2026, Joshua Olufemi (@jayangbayi) will be joining a global panel at the DIGEST - A Global Network Global Conference to tackle a question many institutions avoid, which is "Are we truly reclaiming trust, or simply managing distrust?" From driving data transparency to building platforms that make public information usable, Joshua’s work sits at the centre of this conversation, where technology meets accountability and where trust is constantly being tested. Expect a grounded, honest discussion on: • Why digital systems struggle to earn public trust • The politics shaping digital transformation • How data and media can rebuild (or erode) confidence • What it really takes to close the trust gap 📅 7th May 2026 ⏰ 1–2 PM (BST) 📍 Pennine Lecture Theatre, Sheffield Hallam University If you're close by, kindly join. It is a conversation we all need to be part of. Be there.

After months of research, field reporting, and analysis of 10 years of biodiversity coverage across some Nigerian media outlets, the Biodiversity Reporting Toolkit is now live. Most biodiversity stories in Nigeria are event-based, donor-driven, and lack data depth. Critical issues like habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and ecosystem decline are underreported or poorly interrogated. This toolkit directly addresses that gap. What you’ll get: ◆ A step-by-step guide to producing data-driven biodiversity stories ◆ Nigeria-focused datasets and how to find and use them ◆Case studies from investigations across Kano, Rivers, Ogun, Edo, Cross River, Sokoto, and the FCT ◆A framework for linking biodiversity to policy (NBSAP, Global Biodiversity Framework) ◆Practical methods for tracking impact, not just publishing stories Whether you’re reporting on forests in Cross River, wetlands in the Niger Delta, or urban biodiversity in Lagos, this toolkit shows you how to go deeper and report with evidence. Download here: bit.ly/DataphyteBiodi… #Biodiversity #DataJournalism #EnvironmentalReporting #Nigeria #InvestigativeJournalism

The National Information Technology Development Agency (@NITDANigeria ) and Dataphyte Foundation, Co-Chairs of the Digital Governance Thematic Group of the Nigeria @opengovpart, today welcomed the inauguration of the Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Group (MSCG) set to implement the National Action Plan (NAP IV) Digital Governance commitments, which won the OpenGov challenge award at the 2025 OGP Global Summit. dataphyte.org/blogs/technolo…

He described the Toolkit as “a practical guide for the adoption of ethical, inclusive, and interoperable digital transformation by Nigeria’s Federal/Subnational MDAs” and the Scorecard as the “indicator framework and performance assessment methodology for MDAs digital adoption.”

Also present was the civil society coordinator for the OGP, Mr Uchenna Arisukwu, and representatives of civil society organisations such as the Integrity Group, the DigicCivic Initiative, Spaces for Change, as well as members of the media. Dataphyte Country Director, Oluseyi Olufemi, presented the Multi-stakeholder Group’s working documents - the Digital Governance Toolkit and Scorecard - draft copies developed by Dataphyte Foundation for onward review, validation and use by members of the MSCG.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (@NITDANigeria) and Dataphyte Foundation, co-chairs of the Digital Governance Thematic Group of the Nigeria Open Government Partnership (@opengovpart), welcomed the inauguration of the Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Group (MSCG) set to implement the National Action Plan (NAP IV) Digital Governance commitments, which won the OpenGov challenge award at the 2025 OGP Global Summit. The MSCG comprises representatives of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the members of the NITDA team, the Bureau of Public Procurement (@BPP_NG), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System PLC (NIBSS), Galaxy Backbone, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), and other government members of the newly constituted Digital Governance MSCG.