The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced a two-day capacity-building workshop for its Legal and Investigation Officers, aimed at addressing the growing wave of human rights violations in Nigeria’s digital space.
Declaring the training open at the Bukari Bello Auditorium in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, stated that the NHRC must continually adapt its mandate to reflect the evolving realities of a technology-driven society.
He emphasised that fundamental rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, and association remain intact in the digital age, warning that these rights are increasingly threatened by surveillance, data breaches, algorithmic discrimination, internet shutdowns, and online censorship.
According to Ojukwu, NHRC officers now serve as frontline defenders of these rights and must be equipped with the requisite digital expertise. The training, organised in collaboration with Paradigm Initiative and Digicivic Initiative, responds to a surge in complaints relating to digital rights violations.
He noted that the Commission’s ability to effectively investigate, litigate, and advise government institutions depends on strengthening its digital competence. He further outlined critical issues confronting officers, including balancing national security with digital privacy, safeguarding citizens from online harm without suppressing dissent, and ensuring that law enforcement practices comply with constitutional and international human rights standards.
Participants are expected to deepen their understanding of key legal frameworks, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the Cybercrimes Act 2015, alongside emerging judicial precedents.
Ojukwu referenced the Federal High Court decision in Akosa v. Eat & Go Ltd., which awarded damages for unsolicited marketing messages, as evidence of the judiciary’s readiness to enforce digital rights protections. He urged officers to align their investigative and legal processes with such progressive jurisprudence.
The workshop will also enhance practical skills in investigating unlawful data processing, privacy breaches by both state and non-state actors, and the misuse of technology to suppress freedoms. It is further designed to strengthen the Commission’s capacity to engage government institutions and technology companies on rights compliance.
Ojukwu outlined three guiding principles for the NHRC’s digital rights agenda: ensuring that technology aligns with human rights values and empowers citizens; fostering collaboration with regulatory bodies such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission, as well as civil society and the private sector; and adopting innovative approaches to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies, and algorithmic bias.
Describing internet access as a “gateway right,” he stressed that safeguarding digital rights is essential to protecting democracy and human dignity. He also disclosed that the Commission would strengthen its institutional mechanisms for rapid response to digital rights violations and advocate rights-based standards in government technology deployment.
He charged participants to translate the knowledge gained into practical outcomes, particularly in addressing cases involving unlawful phone searches, data breaches, and online censorship.
Participants at the workshop expressed optimism that the training would enhance their operational effectiveness and boost public confidence in the Commission’s work.
