With only 13 days to go, momentum is building for the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26), scheduled to take place from 14 to 16 April 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

DRIF26

So far, over 800 participants from across the world have registered, representing civil society organisations, policymakers, tech innovators, academia, media, and advocacy groups.

This year’s edition of DRIF received 449 session proposals from speakers in 51 countries, reflecting the growing interest and engagement in shaping Africa’s digital future.

DRIF 2026 is hosted in collaboration with the organisation’s partner, Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH), and sponsored by the Ford Foundation, Google, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Luminate, Human Rights Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Mott Foundation, TikTok, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, and Wikimedia Foundation. A special thanks for their unwavering support for DRIF.

Among the flagship initiatives at DRIF26 is the unveiling of the 2025 Londa Report, which highlights the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa and features the newly introduced Score Index, which ranks countries’ adherence to core digital rights and inclusion principles.

Londa provides governments, civil society, and tech actors with actionable insights to foster more inclusive, accountable, and resilient digital ecosystems.

The report is one of the main toolkits that will be unveiled during the Forum, alongside the short film premiere and interactive workshops.

Also to be launched at the Forum is the Digital Rights On-Demand Learning (DROL) platform, and a report on information integrity in Africa, powered by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Other highlights include the Freedom Online Coalition’s engagement with the community as a build-up to celebrating its 15th anniversary, discussions addressing the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Resolutions, and key community activities such as launches, tech demos, panels, and engagements with high-level stakeholders from companies, the African Union, and Internet governance experts.

Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager, Partnerships and Engagements, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), said: “DRIF26 is more than a Forum; it is a digital rights movement. Every year we are not meeting to talk, we meet to measure our progress as a community and to empower each other to shape digital policies, promote digital inclusion, and frame our collective strategies and commitments.

This is why we take away community recommendations from our engagements. Amidst a challenging funding landscape, we appreciate all the efforts from the community for this cause. Join us in making this iteration our best one yet.”

Previously known as the Internet Freedom Forum (IFF), DRIF has been held since 2013, bringing together nearly 3,000 delegates from over 70 countries worldwide.

This year’s DRIF will be the first time the forum is being hosted in a French-speaking country, covering the following thematic areas: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Trust and Accountability, Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Digital Inclusion and Marginalised Groups, Digital Security, and Human Rights and Freedoms.

Individuals and organisations can also support the forum.

The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has unveiled Accelerator Cohort 3.0 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s space technology ecosystem and support the growth of local startups.

The initiative will be a major highlight of the 2026 Nigerian Satellite Week scheduled to hold on March 30 and 31 in Abuja, where key players in the satellite and digital infrastructure sectors are expected to converge.

In a statement signed by Stephen Kwande, the Head of Corporate Communications, the company described the new accelerator as its most direct investment in building long-term competitiveness within Nigeria’s space economy.

According to NIGCOMSAT, the programme is designed to support early-stage ventures working across satellite applications, last-mile connectivity, agriculture, logistics and other areas where space-based technology can drive impact.

The company said previous cohorts of the accelerator had already contributed to developing innovative solutions and building the human capacity needed to position Nigeria for the next phase of the global space industry.

“With Cohort 3.0, we are making it clear that the accelerator is not a pilot project but a permanent feature of how Nigeria develops its space-tech companies,” the statement said.

NIGCOMSAT noted that the Nigerian Satellite Week has grown into a major platform for policy discussions, partnerships and investment in the sector.

The 2026 edition is expected to attract top government officials, defence leaders, development finance institutions and technology entrepreneurs from across Africa.

Jane Egerton-Idehen, managing director of NIGCOMSAT, said the event also marks two decades of Nigeria’s journey in the space economy.

“Twenty years ago, Nigeria took a bold step to secure its place in space. What we are seeing today is the result of consistent effort and vision,” she said.

She added that the company is focused on shaping the next phase of growth through innovation, partnerships and investment in local talent.

NIGCOMSAT also highlighted recent milestones, including a Low Earth Orbit connectivity partnership with Eutelsat, improved revenue performance and increased global recognition in satellite operations.

Other activities lined up for the event include a Startup Demo Day, where selected African startups will pitch their ideas to investors, and a stakeholders’ forum to discuss policies and infrastructure needed to scale Nigeria’s satellite economy.

The company said the initiative reflects the growing role of satellite technology in national development, particularly in areas such as communications, security and digital services.

NIGCOMSAT, established in 2006 and wholly owned by the Federal Government, provides satellite-based services including telecommunications, broadcasting and broadband across Nigeria and parts of Africa.

The Federal Government has unveiled a N12bn Digital Economy Research Fund aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and supporting Nigeria’s long-term digital transformation agenda.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, announcing the launch of an expression of interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters.

“Today my heart is filled with deep joy as we announce the Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a N12bn research funding scheme designed to place ideas, evidence, and research at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation,” the minister said.

According to him, the programme is being funded under Project BRIDGE, a federal initiative to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria to expand connectivity and enable a modern digital economy.

“This programme is being funded under Project BRIDGE, our initiative to deploy 90,000km of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria to expand connectivity and enable a modern digital economy,” he said.

The minister noted that as the government expands digital infrastructure nationwide, research-backed approaches are required to ensure inclusive benefits.

“As we deepen our digital infrastructure coverage, thoughtful, evidence-based approaches are required to be deployed in society to ensure everyone benefits from this significant investment,” he added.

He observed that digital policy decisions are often shaped by market forces and political cycles rather than rigorous research and long-term thinking. “Too often, the ideas shaping digital policy come predominantly from markets and political cycles rather than from research, evidence, and long-term thinking,” the statement said.

Under the initiative, six national research clusters will be established across key pillars of the digital economy, including connectivity and meaningful use; digital public infrastructure and government services; digital skills and human capital development; digital economy and jobs; online trust and consumer protection; as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The clusters will be led by up to 36 professors drawn from Nigerian universities, working alongside international academic partners, with more than 200 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates, expected to generate policy-relevant research.

“For me, the goal goes beyond research output. We are looking for better policies that lead to stronger institutions and a more prosperous society,” the minister said.

He described the initiative as one of the ministry’s most meaningful programmes, noting that it is intended to produce ideas that will outlast any single administration. “Because nations that lead the future are not simply those that deploy infrastructure; they are the ones that cultivate ideas,” he said.

The ministry invited academic and research institutions interested in participating to review the Terms of Reference released alongside the EOI and submit proposals to lead or collaborate within the national research clusters.

It added that a press conference would be held in the coming week to provide further details and engagement opportunities for vice-chancellors and research institutions across the country.