TechHer Sparks National Dialogue on Digital Trust in Port Harcourt

The cost of misplaced digital trust isn’t only measured in hacked accounts or stolen data; it shows up in subtle but dangerous ways, the erosion of privacy, the spread of misinformation, and the quiet normalisation of online harm. This reality took centre stage at TechHer’s Coffee & Circumvention (C&C) event in Port Harcourt, the second convening of the year under the Internet Freedom Festival initiative. Supported by Luminate, the session explored the theme “The Illusion of Online Trust and Safety,” unpacking how users often confuse digital familiarity with genuine security.

Hosted by TechHer, an organisation dedicated to advancing digital literacy and safer online spaces for women and communities, the event brought together a diverse audience within and beyond Port Harcourt, all united by a shared concern: how much of the “trust” we feel online is real, and how much is engineered.

In her opening remarks, Jemimah Inyangudo, Communications Officer at TechHer, set the tone for the day, noting how the internet blurs the line between intimacy and exposure. “The internet gives us the illusion of closeness,” she said. “It makes it easy to overshare, to assume safety, and to trust what feels familiar. But behind that comfort often lies manipulation and social engineering that prey on trust. That’s why TechHer uses events like this to create space for reflection, learning, and accountability.”

One of the session’s standout activities was the Permission Bingo, an interactive exercise that revealed just how exposed participants were to data tracking, profiling, and potential exploitation. As attendees checked boxes tied to everyday online habits, many discovered how easily apps, websites, and platforms collect and sell personal information. The activity underscored a core insight: convenience often comes at the cost of consent.

Nneyen, a student at the Nigerian Law School’s Port Harcourt campus, posed the anchor question of the day: “When does it end? When does the digital violence end? Can there really be trust online?” Her question set the tone for the main session, facilitated by Ugochi Ihe, TechHer’s Digital Literacy and Education Lead, who examined how misplaced confidence in digital systems creates pathways to harm. “Online trust doesn’t end; it evolves,” Ihe responded. “As the internet changes, our understanding of safety must change with it. Users must stay aware, platforms must stay accountable, and communities must keep learning.”

Ihe introduced Kuram 2.0, TechHer’s enhanced platform for reporting and responding to online gender-based violence (OGBV). When a participant asked how individuals can recognise when they’ve unconsciously caused harm online, Ihe explained that the platform addresses precisely that concern.
“Kuram 2.0 helps people see themselves not only as victims or witnesses, but as participants in digital spaces,” she said. “It includes self-assessment tools that prompt reflection, because accountability begins with self-awareness.”

She closed her session by highlighting the Volunteer Lawyers Network, encouraging Bar students to apply. “Safety needs more than awareness; it needs justice,” she said. “As future lawyers, you are essential to building an internet where rights are respected and harm is addressed with integrity.”

Another participant from the Port Harcourt Board of Education, commended TechHer’s work and asked how its programmes reach schools. Peter Akinnusi, TechHer’s Head of Programmes, explained, “We’ve taken these conversations into secondary schools, especially in peri-urban communities around Abuja,” he said. “We’ve also trained students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Our goal is to build a digitally aware generation that questions what it clicks, shares, and believes.”

A participant from the state Board of Education commended TechHer’s work and inquired about how its programs reach schools. Peter Akinnusi, TechHer’s Head of Programmes, outlined the organisation’s educational reach, saying, “We’ve taken these conversations into secondary schools, especially in peri-urban communities around Abuja,” Akinnusi explained. “We’ve also trained students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Our goal is to build a digitally aware generation that questions what it clicks, shares, and believes.”

As the event concluded, participants reflected on how the illusion of trust shapes online behaviour. “Online safety isn’t just about passwords or privacy settings,” observed Grace Nyaka, a law student. “It’s about understanding power, who benefits from what we share, and who pays the price when we don’t think twice.” Nyaka expressed enthusiasm about the Volunteer Lawyers Network, calling it “a vital bridge between awareness and justice.”

In her closing remarks, Inyangudo reminded attendees that awareness must translate into conscious practice. “The illusion of online trust is powerful because it feels real,” she said. “But we can unlearn it. We can build a culture of conscious trust, one rooted in empathy, consent, and accountability.”

With continued support from Luminate, TechHer is advancing critical conversations on digital safety, literacy, and justice across Nigeria. Through inclusive, reflective spaces like Coffee & Circumvention, the organisation empowers communities to navigate the internet with awareness, transforming digital trust from illusion into informed, collective responsibility.