NHRC Trains Officers to Safeguard Digital Rights in Nigeria

By Toffa Momoh | Abuja

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is continuing its training for Legal and Investigation Officers to strengthen protection of digital rights as Nigeria’s online space expands.

At the third cohort of the programme held at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, told officers they now act as frontline defenders of digital rights. He said their role goes beyond traditional human rights cases to cover new challenges in the digital environment, and urged them to deepen their grasp of the laws governing the sector.

Dr. Ojukwu said the fast-changing digital landscape requires officers to build new skills in handling issues around online rights, privacy, and cyber-security.

The NHRC’s scribe welcomed recent court rulings that advance digital rights in Nigeria, pointing to Akosa v. Eat & Go Ltd., where the Federal High Court awarded damages for unsolicited marketing messages.

Dr. Ojukwu called the decision an important precedent for data privacy and said such judgments support the Nigeria Data Protection Act and reinforce citizens’ rights online.

The senior human rights officer outlined three priorities for protecting digital rights: aligning innovation with human rights standards, encouraging collaboration among stakeholders, and fostering creative, resilient responses to digital challenges.

The training covered digital rights and emerging issues, freedom of expression and access to information online, and digital security for human rights defenders.

The NHRC said the programme is part of its ongoing effort to equip officers with the skills needed to address human rights concerns in Nigeria’s increasingly digital environment.