At Digital Grassroots, we believe in the transformative power of open data. On March 2nd, 2024, we had the privilege of hosting the ‘Open Data as a Human Right’ Workshop at the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria – Nigeria to celebrate Open Data Day 2024. This workshop, organised with support from the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN), was led by myself, our Administrative and Advocacy Lead, and marked a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to empower youth and advocate for digital rights and sustainable development.

The workshop commenced with a warm welcome, setting the tone for an engaging and insightful day ahead. With 50 participants in attendance, including law students, legal professionals, and experts in open data and human rights, the event underscored our commitment to fostering inclusive community-building and gender balance across all our programs.

Insights and Key Highlights

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in insightful presentations, interactive sessions, and group practical exercises. Highlights included:

1. Insightful presentations on open data, access to justice, and digital rights by industry experts.
2. Group practical exercises focused on leveraging open data for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering collaboration, and driving meaningful change.
3. Thought-provoking discussions on the importance of open data in promoting transparency, accountability, and social equity.
4. Participant feedback reflecting on the value and impact of the workshop, emphasizing newfound knowledge and inspiration for future advocacy efforts.

Sessions:

1. Introduction to Open Data: Zainab Idris and Mahmud Muhammad Ibrahim introduced participants to Open Data.
2. Access to Justice: Musa Suleiman led an engaging session on understanding open data for access to justice, exploring topics such as the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
3. Human Rights Advocacy: Joy Gadani facilitated a thought-provoking discussion on open data as a human right and its intersection with digital rights, highlighting its potential to drive positive social change.
4. SDGs and Sustainable Development: Yazid Salahudeen Mikail concluded the workshop with a presentation on harnessing open data to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inspiring participants to take proactive steps towards leveraging data for sustainable development.

Practical Exercises and Group Discussions

One of the workshop’s most impactful components was the group practical exercise focused on exploring how open data can aid in the attainment of the SDGs. Participants were divided into groups and tasked with analyzing specific SDGs, proposing strategies for leveraging open data to advance progress towards these goals. The diversity of perspectives and insights generated during these discussions was truly remarkable.

Participant Feedback and Reflections

Participants hailed the workshop as a resounding success, citing its interactive nature, practical relevance, and engaging content as particularly valuable. From gaining insights into digital rights to exploring the potential of open data for sustainable development, attendees left the workshop feeling informed, empowered, and inspired to effect positive change in their communities.

Moving Forward

As we reflect on the success of the “Open Data as a Human Right” Workshop, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our speakers, participants, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed to its success. We remain committed to advancing the cause of open data and look forward to organizing similar initiatives in the future.

We invite you to read and download the full workshop report for a comprehensive overview of the discussions and insights shared during the event. Here’s also the link to our blog post about the workshop on our website.

About Open Data Day

Open Data Day (ODD) is an annual celebration of open data all over the world. Groups from many countries create local events on the day where they will use open data in their communities.

As a way to increase the representation of different cultures, since 2023 we offer the opportunity for organisations to host an Open Data Day event on the best date within a one-week period. In 2024, a total of 287 events happened all over the world between March 2nd-8th, in 60+ countries using 15 different languages.

All outputs are open for everyone to use and re-use.

In 2024, Open Data Day was also a part of the HOT OpenSummit ’23-24 initiative, a creative programme of global event collaborations that leverages experience, passion and connection to drive strong networks and collective action across the humanitarian open mapping movement

For more information, you can reach out to the Open Knowledge Foundation team by emailing opendataday@okfn.org. You can also join the Open Data Day Google Group to ask for advice or share tips and get connected with others.