Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Google, others to host event

According to reports, delegates from Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda Zimbabwe, and a host of other countries will meet on March 8 and 9 for the 2016 Internet Freedom Forum, in Abuja, Nigeria, with the theme "Rights are rights, Online or Offline".

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), along with AccessNow, Google, Facebook, Civicus, and Internews are the organizers of the event.

“Several experts, Internet Freedom advocates, journalists and government officials from all across Africa have confirmed participation at the event,“said Adeboye Adegoke, Program Manager (ICT Policy) at PIN, according to a TechCabal report.

Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, Titi Akinsanmi-Bolarinwa, Lead, Policy and Government Relations, Google, Ebele Okobi, Head of Public Policy, Africa, Facebook, Ephraim Kenyanito, Sub-Saharan Africa Policy Analyst, AccessNow, BudgIT co-founder, Seun Onigbinde, Japheth Omojuwa, award-winning journalist, Tolu Ogunlesi, Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, among others, are some of the confirmed panelists, per the report.

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Media reports reveal that Legal Director at Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI), Nani Jansen, will deliver the keynote address. Jansen has served in freedom of expression cases before national and international courts, and human rights tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the UN Human Rights Committee, among others.

For government policy contribution to the conversation, PIN has invited the Nigerian Minister of Communications, the National Security Adviser, the Director General of Department of State Security Service, and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission.

The event is an invitation-only event, and you can register on the event website. The #IFF2016 Secretariat will contact all the selected applicants.