2024: A Year to Remember and Celebrate
Hi Readers,
As 2024 draws to a close, we at Dataphyte are filled with gratitude and pride for the remarkable milestones achieved this year. From pioneering initiatives to meaningful collaborations, 2024 has been a year of growth, impact, and innovation. Thank you for being part of our journey!
With your invaluable contributions, we executed several initiatives aimed at reinforcing democracy, advancing gender equality, and enhancing governance through data-driven methodologies.
In the year, we successfully convened a diverse assembly of experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders to deliberate on the influence of foreign powers, including Western nations, Russia, and China, on Nigeria’s democratic framework. This dialogue yielded practical recommendations to mitigate adverse foreign influence and strengthen democratic governance in the region.
Likewise, we concluded our training program for 25 journalists from Nigeria's South-South and South-East regions under the gender data mainstreaming project. The 30-month project supported the broadcast media in Nigeria with the capacity to use data to promote gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria.
Funded by the New Venture Fund (NVF), the project supported over 70 broadcast journalists and in 2024 alone, the third and final cohort produced over 60 data-driven radio and TV programs, reaching an estimated audience of over 21 million Nigerians at the grassroots with content to raise awareness of critical gender-related issues.
We also implemented the Small-holder Women Farmers Database initiative, aimed at developing a digitalised database of over 700 thousand smallholder women farmers across Nigeria. This project funded by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) empowers women farmers by providing them with the essential knowledge to effectively utilise their farmer database for sustainable agriculture advocacy and informed policy decision-making.
As part of our data access and accountability strategy, we launched the Just Energy Transition (JET) Minerals Project. The project continues to increase access to green minerals in Africa, build capacity of accountability stakeholders to monitor, and manage resources and revenue within the African energy and extractive industries. This project, funded by the USAID in partnership with the CJID, is currently implemented in four countries - Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dataphyte’s civic technology platform, ANFANI and Goloka are combined with human resource and training to drive the project.
The partnership with the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource center) produced a series of environmental impact assessments and reports based on the comprehensive data collection initiatives to understand consequences of oil exploitation in six Niger Delta states. The reports underscored the urgent need for enhanced policy measures and robust regulatory frameworks within the oil industry to address pressing environmental concerns.
Furthermore, Dataphyte initiated a digital governance literacy and technology accountability initiative to review increasing innovation and investment in frontier technologies across the Nigerian governments’ parastatals and to increase knowledge of digital laws and regulations among citizens and civic organisations. This is being implemented as part of an ongoing collaboration with NITDA as Technology and Innovation Working Group co-chairs of the Open Government Partnership(OGP) programme.
Programmatically, the year also marked the culmination of the collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability Program funded by the MacArthur Foundation. The programme aimed to promote Access to Information and Social Accountability for the Socially Secluded project produced 10 investigative reports through story grants, with one of the stories winning a prize at the just concluded West Africa Journalism Awards.
These initiatives exemplify our shared commitment to utilise data as a powerful tool for effecting positive societal change and influencing public policy outcomes.
Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to advancing our efforts, propelled by your continued partnership and encouragement. We anticipate many more years of impactful collaboration.
Highlights of Our Achievements in 2024
Pioneering Data Journalism
Published over 473 exclusive data-driven stories, comprising 141 informative data cards, 23 investigations, and 309 in-depth reports uncovering insights and driving transparency across governance, public finance, and development.
Published 158 branded data-driven reports as weekly newsletters to our mailing list.
We created #FAACFacts dashboard and 7 interactive visualizations to analyse the "Federal account allocation committee (FAAC) allocation to local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria”, providing users with data-driven insights to better understand government allocation trends at the local government level.
Expanded the reach of our storytelling through interactive data visualisation tools, making complex information accessible to all.
Created a community of practice for campus journalists and writers. More details on this in 2025!!!
Capacity Building & Training
Trained over 250 journalists, student journalists, researchers, and civic actors on using data for advocacy and accountability through workshops and webinars.
Twenty-five broadcast journalists were trained on how to use data effectively in mainstreaming gender in broadcast coverage of socio-economic and development themes. Six of these trainees became a part of Cohort 3 of Dataphyte’s Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship for 2024.
Partnered with the CJID to train 95 investigative journalists and civic actors from Nigeria, DRC, Ghana, and Mozambique on using data for accountability and advocacy in the extractive sectors. This is part of the USAID-funded project to increase access to information in the African green minerals sector. Dataphyte is leading the data collection, training and development of the Africa Green Minerals Open Data portals with the goal of supporting the use of green minerals data for investigative reporting and anti-corruption advocacy across the continent.
In partnership with the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), we trained 150 data enumerators on effective data collection to gather demographic information on smallholder women farmers across Nigeria.
Our Dataphyte Academy launched and completed 2 cohort sessions on Data Analytics and Management training.
Research & Policy Advocacy
Released 4 policy brief publications on “The Media's Agenda-Setting Role: Insights from the Coverage of Nigeria's 2023 Elections”, “Nigeria: One Year of Foreign Policy under President Tinubu”, "Foreign Influence in West Africa’s Security Sector” and "Illegal Chinese Mining in Nigeria and its Political Implications", in addition to 15 existing publications across agriculture, elections, foreign influence, health, budget, and technology.
Launched our state-of-the-art Dataphyte Innovation Hub and the Dapo Olorunyomi Theatre (DOT) in Abuja, Nigeria.
Key External Engagements in 2024
Global Outreaches & Representations
Showcased Goloka, our AI-powered data solution at Africa Media Festival 2024.
Hosted a Panel session at the 4th Geopalooza event in Nairobi, Kenya.
Participated in a panel discussion on "The AI Revolution: Should We Issue Warnings or Welcomes?" at the Center for Investigative Journalism summer conference at Goldsmiths University of London.
Presented a workshop on ‘Synergy between Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and Artificial intelligence (AI) in data collection and storytelling’ at the 20th African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), in Johannesburg, South Africa.
We participated in the 8th Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network Forum (ICRN Forum) at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where we shared our insights and experiences in "Employing data-driven journalism to analyze and visualize corruption patterns, exposing systemic issues and holding perpetrators accountable.
Dataphyte’s innovative approaches towards reporting corruption in Nigeria presented at 8th Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network Forum (ICRN Forum
Dataphyte UK proudly became a member of Essex Chambers of Commerce, further solidifying our commitment to supporting Essex and UK businesses with their data, insight, and research needs.
We participated in the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) "Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI Dialogue," shared insights on the global AI landscape, and emphasised the need to balance ethical data use, fairness, and monetization in Africa.
At the 2024 DataFestAfrica conference centred on “AI-Enabled Transformation: Shaping the Future Together”, we showcased our AI-powered products, Nubia AI and Goloka.
Kunle Adelowo, Tech Development Lead showcasing Goloka and Nubia AI at the 2024 DataFestAfrica conference in Lagos, Nigeria
At the 2024 Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, we moderated a panel with Sigma Award-winning data journalists, discussing projects like uncovering mass graves in Nigeria, tracking China-Taiwan tensions, and exposing pollution monitor evasions, highlighting the impact of data in addressing global issues.
Hosted a panel session at the National Accountability Summit 2024.
Featured on the Channels TV’s Morning Brief show, where we shared insights on 'The Economics of Wage Increase.'
Strategic Partnerships
Partnered with the CJID on data access, training, and technology resourcing for the USAID funded Just Energy Transition Green Minerals project.
Partnered with HEDA to provide data access and insights on the Assessment of the effects of International Oil Companies operations in the south-south states in Nigeria.
Partnered with the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) for data collection and capacity training on using insights from aggregated data for advocacy and accountability.
Collaborated with Archivi.ng, Daily Trust, and Business Day to utilize Nubia AI for analysing big data and historical archives, revealing untold stories from Nigeria's past, present, and future.
Programmatic Events that Shaped 2024
In 2024, we executed several impactful projects aimed at strengthening democracy, advancing gender equality, and improving governance through data-driven approaches. One of the highlights was the Stakeholders Dialogue on Foreign Influence in West Africa's Security Sector, where experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders discussed the role of foreign powers like the West, Russia, and China in shaping Nigeria’s democratic values.
The discussions led to practical recommendations for reducing negative foreign influence. This project has led to the creation of a podcast series on ‘Foreign influence in Africa’,
Another key initiative was the Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship, where we trained 25 journalists from Nigeria's South-South and South-East regions to use data storytelling to promote gender equality. Six (6) of these journalists were chosen to form the 3rd cohort of our fellowship. These fellows produced over 60 data-driven programs that reached millions of people, raising more awareness about gender-related issues.
In addition to this, we worked on projects like the agri database for the SWOFON and a data portal for the JET Minerals project. The SWOFON project in addition to the development of a database, provided capacity building for women farmers helping them understand the use of data in informed decision-making and advocacy. The JET Minerals project focused on making data in the African green minerals sector more accessible, providing capacity training and supporting investigative reporting and anti-corruption efforts.
In the HEDA project, we produced a report on the environmental damage caused by oil exploitation in Bayelsa State, emphasising the need for stronger policies and better regulations in the oil industry. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to using data to drive positive societal change and influence public policy.
Dataphyte Academy also commenced its first phase of “Data Story Lab” which was targeted at engaging journalists in analysing data-driven stories, covering key issues in Nigeria and globally. The goal was to understand how these data stories are created, analysed, and reported, with over 300 registered journalists from across different sectors.
Our efforts in 2024 shaped public discussions, pushed for better policies, and promoted a more inclusive and accountable governance system across various sectors, contributing to socio-economic development.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we celebrate these milestones, we are excited about what lies ahead. In 2025, we will deepen our commitment to:
Expanding our data journalism, advocacy and accountability efforts.
Building more partnerships and collaborations to amplify civic impact.
Empowering more people with data literacy and innovative tools such as our hyperlocal data collection tool, ‘Goloka,’ for the precise gathering of hyperlocal information for research and data-driven decisionmaking, the ‘Anfani’ platform focused on beneficial ownership, promoting accountability and advocacy by ensuring transparency in ownership structures. Additionally, our AI-powered storytelling tool, ‘Nubia,’ harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to create compelling narratives. These three platforms are the result of identifying key data gaps in Nigeria and Africa. For Goloka, that need is the relative lack of primary data collection for various sectors in large swathes of the continent, while Nubia significantly reduces the time between getting raw data and producing actionable insights. Transparency in ownership structures is critical in fighting the corruption that holds back Nigeria and Africa, which is where Anfani comes in.
We hope to deepen our commitment to raising a critical mass of data analytics and AI practitioners. We look forward to kicking off several multi-faceted approaches that combine education, innovation, and collaboration in one ecosystem. These approaches include leading several micro-data projects; formulating AI policies with practitioners and empowering community networks with sophisticated AI tools. Our target by the end of the year is to build a sustainable and thriving data analytics and AI ecosystem within Nigeria and several other countries with which we interact.