TechHer Sparks Conversations on Digital Trust and Safety at Lagos Coffee & Circumvention
The cost of digital illiteracy is not merely financial; it is measured in compromised safety, stolen privacy, and silenced voices. This reality took centre stage at TechHer’s Coffee & Circumvention (C&C) event in Lagos, a quarterly convening under the Internet Freedom Festival initiative. The event, generously sponsored by Luminate, deepened ongoing conversations about the urgent need for digital literacy, privacy awareness, and stronger legal protections against online violence.
The event hosted by TechHer, an organisation committed to leveraging its convening power to facilitate conversations and advocate for change in the broader society, brought together a diverse audience, from students, journalists, lawyers and creative professionals, united by a shared concern about the vulnerabilities that accompany digital participation in Nigeria’s fast-evolving online landscape.
In her opening remarks, Ugochi Ihe, TechHer’s Digital Literacy and Education Lead, framed the conversation around the illusion of digital trust and the danger of ignorance in online spaces. “What you don’t know online can hurt you, and bad-faith actors are counting on that,” she said. “Ignorance isn’t bliss in the digital world; it’s currency for those who exploit trust and silence.”
Through interactive activities and discussions, participants explored the hidden trade-offs of convenience and the growing risks of online exposure. During the Permission Bingo game, filmmaker Dawn Ntekim-Rex reflected on how little attention users often pay to app permissions and privacy settings. “This conversation exposed how easily we trade privacy for convenience, but most of us click ‘accept’ without thinking,” he said. He attributed this habit to “the illegible and verbose nature of app permission terms that most people can’t even begin to understand,” while pledging to make better, safer digital choices going forward.
The event also examined the intersection of digital rights and justice. Barrister Morenikeji Savage, in a plenary session highlighted the urgent need for legal reform in response to rising cases of online gender-based violence (OGBV), saying, “This session made me see how outdated laws are failing to meet the realities of online violence. If the internet is part of our daily lives, then justice must live there too,” she said. Savage further posed a key question to the facilitators and peers: “What practical steps can young lawyers take to push for legal reforms that recognise and address digital forms of violence?”
Her question transitioned into a session led by Barrister Princess Adesuyi, a member of TechHer’s Volunteer Lawyer Network (VLN), an initiative designed to connect pro bono lawyers with survivors of OGBV. Adesuyi underscored the importance of bringing empathy, expertise, and innovation into legal responses to online harm. “What happens in the inbox, the comment section, or the group chat is not ‘just online,’” she said. “It’s part of a wider culture of violence, and the law must catch up.”
The VLN, established by TechHer and also supported by Luminate, continues to bridge the gap between survivors and justice systems while nurturing a new generation of lawyers equipped to confront digital rights violations.
In her closing remarks, Jemimah Inyangudo, TechHer’s Communications Lead, enjoined participants to move beyond awareness and take actionable steps toward digital safety. “Stay safe online, but also stay accountable,” she said. “I encourage everyone here to take the digital self-assessment test on kuramng.org to better understand your level of safety, or, in some cases, perpetration.” She also expressed gratitude to Luminate for its continuous partnership, particularly in supporting survivors of OGBV through the Volunteer Lawyer Network and in amplifying awareness on digital violence and justice.
TechHer reaffirmed its deepened commitment to advancing digital literacy, championing online safety, and strengthening advocacy for gendered digital justice. Through initiatives like Coffee & Circumvention and its wider digital rights programs, the organisation continues to build inclusive, informed, and resilient communities capable of navigating and transforming the digital landscape.
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