Spaces for Change |S4C, South-Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) and Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre jointly organized the DIGITAL FREEDOM WALK and series of awareness raising activities in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day (IHRD) 2024. Held on December 10th, 2024, with support from the New Venture Fund, the walk round the streets of Enugu metropolis aimed at raising awareness about digital rights, cybercrimes and promoting safe cyber spaces in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. The walk underscored the recognition of digital rights as human rights, highlighting the importance of safeguarding online spaces for all citizens.
Chairman of the Interpol African Working Group on Cyber Crime and Director of the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre, CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, led the awareness campaign alongside senior executives of S4C and the SSDO. Hundreds of residents, law enforcement agents and local youths decked in white t-shirts and matching face-caps bearing numerous inscriptions walked through streets, chanting slogans and stopping at various points along the way to answer questions from both concerned citizens and the media. The questions asked focused on provisions of legal frameworks governing various kinds of online threats such as cyberbullying, cyberstalking, data breaches, misinformation, and censorship. As they walked, they distributed flyers, stickers and postcards educating citizens on the dangers of cybercrime, including issues like identity theft, online harassment, romance scams and financial fraud popularly known as ‘yahoo’.
The walk concluded with a press conference where the organizers addressed the press, calling on all stakeholders: government agencies, civil society organizations, and individuals to work tirelessly to protect digital rights and freedom of expression online. After the press conference, the team extended the awareness campaign to two secondary schools in Enugu State where they educated students on cyber security, cybercrime, sextortion, cyberstalking, and general online safety. Emphasis was placed on the unique vulnerabilities of women in online spaces and the importance of strong cyber hygiene practices. In light of the rising trend of teenage recruitment into cybercrimes, students learned the importance of using the internet responsibly.
The IHRD 2024 awareness campaign activities ended with a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu. Welcoming the delegation, Enugu State Commissioner of Police expressed his commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring the safety of citizens both online and offline. He welcomed the opportunity for greater collaboration with Spaces for Change and other partners to address cyber threats in Enugu State. He emphasized the need for capacity-building training for officers and men of his command and urged S4C to extend technical support to the command in this regard.
IHRD 2024 awareness campaign activities underscore the power of partnerships in fostering meaningful change and creating a society where human rights are protected both online and offline. Nigeria has made significant legislative progress to address cybercrime and protect digital rights, but practical implementation requires collaboration among stakeholders. Accordingly, the Digital Freedom Walk was a collective declaration to uphold justice, equality, and inclusion in today’s digital age.
