Building Digital Resilience for Activists

Naija Feminists Media (NFM) has equipped 16 women human rights defenders (WHRDs), including journalists and leaders of women’s rights organisations, with practical digital safety skills to help them navigate online threats and protect themselves and their organisations.

The training, supported by Pollicy, was held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Ogba, Lagos, with NFM founder, Simbiat Bakare, facilitating the sessions.

The programme brought together women human rights defenders from NFM’s community and networks, including support groups and women with disabilities, to strengthen their capacity to identify digital risks and adopt safer online practices in their advocacy and organisational activities.

Practical Modules and Hands-On Assessment

Participants received comprehensive training in social media security, secure browsing, internet censorship circumvention, computer hygiene, and data encryption.

The sessions focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge to protect their digital identities, secure sensitive information, and navigate online spaces more safely while using digital platforms to advance their advocacy.

NFM assessed participants’ understanding through interactive, gamified group activities, during which attendees highlighted key lessons from the training and demonstrated their grasp of digital safety practices.

Strengthening Protection Across Advocacy Spaces

Participants reported improved knowledge of digital safety and social media security, alongside increased confidence in engaging in online activism. They also expressed their intention to apply the skills acquired to their advocacy work and within their respective organisations to strengthen internal digital security practices.

For some participants, the training marked their first formal introduction to digital safety and social media security. Attendees described the sessions as vital in deepening their understanding of online risks and the concrete measures required to protect themselves across digital environments.

The training formed part of NFM’s ongoing efforts to enhance the digital safety capacity of women human rights defenders, particularly feminists who rely on online platforms to promote social change and amplify women's rights issues. Through the initiative, the organisation continues to foster safer digital practices among women activists engaging in public discourse and advocacy campaigns.