CJID urges rethink of democracy, data governance

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on Monday opened its Third Annual Media Development Conference (MDC-03) in Abuja, with a call for African countries to rethink governance systems, protect civic space, and strengthen data rights as the continent navigates rapid political and technological change. Speaking at the event, CJID’s Chief Executive Officer, Dapo […]

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on Monday opened its Third Annual Media Development Conference (MDC-03) in Abuja, with a call for African countries to rethink governance systems, protect civic space, and strengthen data rights as the continent navigates rapid political and technological change.

Speaking at the event, CJID’s Chief Executive Officer, Dapo Olorunyomi, said the next decade would be critical for Africa’s democracy, development, and digital future.

Welcoming the participants from ECOWAS countries, Central Africa, Namibia and South Africa, he said the 2025 theme—“Reimagining Democracy, Development, and Data for the Next Decade”—was both timely and urgent.

“Africa stands at a crossroads. Our choices in this next decade will determine the fate of our democracies, the wellbeing of our economies, the integrity of our information ecosystems, and the dignity of our citizens’ digital rights,” Olorunyomi said.

He noted rising civic anxieties across the continent, citing shrinking civic space, declining trust in institutions and growing concerns about constitutional manipulation.

“Citizens feel unheard, young people feel excluded, and the promise of democratic renewal appears fragile. Democracy is not simply a series of elections—it is a system of values, of participation, and of social contracts renewed through trust,” he said.

Olorunyomi urged African governments and regional bodies to strengthen institutions, expand civic space and rebuild public trust.

The CJID chief warned that independent media—essential to democratic consolidation—faces unprecedented financial and political pressure.

“Advertising revenues are collapsing; donor support is thinning; and new forms of censorship threaten press freedom. Yet the demand for trustworthy information has never been higher,” he said.

He said reimagining development must include seeing the media as “a public good, essential for democratic life and economic progress,” supported by innovative business models, digital-safety training, fact-checking systems and civic literacy.

“The media is not a luxury—it is the oxygen of democracy,” he said.

Olorunyomi also raised concerns over what he described as “data colonialism,” saying global technology companies extract African data while influencing economies, elections and social norms.

“A continent historically subjected to the extraction of land, labour, minerals, and culture cannot afford a new era in which its data becomes the next frontier of exploitation,” he said.

He warned of “digital authoritarianism, intrusive surveillance, biometric overreach, weak data protections and algorithmic inequalities,” calling data sovereignty “a civilisational priority.”

Highlighting global models, he cited Indonesia’s fact-checking system, India’s Aadhaar digital identity, South Korea’s e-governance structure and Brazil’s digital-rights framework as examples Africa can learn from.

“This conference challenges us to invest boldly in sovereign data infrastructures, ethically governed digital ecosystems, and regionally coordinated regulatory frameworks,” he said.

Olorunyomi also emphasized CJID’s investment in young journalists through its Campus Reporter programme, now active in 34 Nigerian universities and expanding across 13 countries.

“We are proudly youth-led; my role is largely that of a mentor learning alongside them. Young Africans need policy protection, regulatory clarity and access to regional markets so their innovations can scale,” he said.

He thanked CJID’s board and grant-making partners for supporting its mission, stressing that Africa must shape—not merely inherit—its digital future.

 

“If we act with courage, plan with foresight, and govern with humility, Africa will not simply take part in shaping the next decade—it will help define it,” he said.