Behind The Bytes: February Recap
February at Dataphyte
February was a month of action at Dataphyte—fostering critical discussions, driving policy engagement, and expanding our data-driven initiatives. From high-level dialogues on civic space to deep dives into policy accessibility, here’s a look at how we made an impact.
Highlight Event: Addressing Insecurity and Civic Space
We wrapped up the month with a fireside conversation at the High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in partnership with Dataphyte Foundation.
Joshua Olufemi, Executive Director, Dataphyte Foundation giving opening remarks
At the event, Dataphyte shared key findings from its media monitoring report, which examines how evolving security threats affect civic space—especially how the media reports attacks on press freedom and civil society organisations.
Mr. Joshua, Executive Director of Dataphyte Foundation, emphasised the need for storytelling that goes beyond breaking news to highlight lived experiences. He also stressed the importance of community engagement and access to hyperlocal data, with platforms like Goloka.io already working to make grassroots information more accessible.
Data Story Lab 3.0
This month, the Dataphyte Academy hosted the third edition of the Data Story Lab, bringing together journalists, researchers, and civic tech enthusiasts to explore innovative ways to tell stories with geographic data.
The three-hour online training served as a platform for idea exchange, helping journalists enhance their storytelling with geographically referenced information. Participants also gained practical insights on visualising geographic data using tools like ArcGIS and Google Earth.
More than 106 participants, including researchers, and journalists from 63 newsrooms, universities and organisations, joined the session from 4 countries, including the United States of America, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Nigeria.
AI Innovation: Goloka.io and Beyond
Dataphyte continues to push the boundaries of AI-driven solutions with Goloka.io, a platform designed to improve access to hyperlocal data. February saw significant progress in refining its features to enhance usability for journalists, researchers, and policymakers. The initial release of Goloka 2.0 marked a major milestone, introducing powerful tools for geolocation data collections and access.
As part of its commitment to media sustainability through product innovation, Dataphyte Insight—a policy think tank providing data-driven analysis on socio-economic issues, policy frameworks, international trade, and politics—is evolving. This expansion enhances user experience and strengthens its subscription model, ensuring deeper insights for young Nigerians, businesses, and Africa. The new platform launches soon, offering even greater access to critical data.
Dataphyte at 5: A Story of Impact
As we turn five, we reflect on the milestones that have shaped our journey. We are deeply grateful for the progress we've made—growing from an idea into a platform that bridges data, media, and policy for meaningful impact. Over the years, we have amplified critical conversations, shaped policy discourse, and empowered communities with data-driven insights.
March will be a month of storytelling, where we share our journey step by step—celebrating our wins, learning from challenges, and envisioning the future of data-driven advocacy in Nigeria. Stay with us as we take you through this milestone.
Dataphyte in the Media: Addressing Procurement Challenges in Healthcare
What happens when hospitals don’t get the medicines and equipment they need—not because they don’t exist, but because of inefficiencies in procurement? That was the heart of the conversation when Kehinde Ogunyale, a data journalist at Dataphyte, joined Classic FM to discuss healthcare governance and procurement challenges in Nigeria.
With the 2025 budget in focus, Kehinde broke down the numbers, highlighting how much has been allocated to healthcare and what it really means for service delivery. He also explored the real-life impact of procurement inefficiencies—why some hospitals struggle with shortages and how much is lost financially due to gaps in the system.
The discussion touched on past efforts to improve procurement, what’s working (and what isn’t), and how digital systems and transparency initiatives could change the game. More importantly, he shared data-backed strategies on what policymakers can do differently to ensure funds go where they’re needed most—helping Nigerians get better access to quality healthcare.
At Dataphyte, we believe that behind every data point is a real-life experience. By bringing these insights to the public, we’re keeping the conversation going and pushing for the change that matters.
State of Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Challenges and Solution
Kafilat Taiwo and members of the panel
Kafilat Taiwo, a Data Journalist at Dataphyte, was a guest on the Public Conscience program, hosted by PRIMORG on KISS FM, Abuja.
Her invitation followed an investigative report exposing how gender bias restricts access to healthcare in Nasarawa State. The report highlighted that beyond understaffing and underfunding, cultural and religious beliefs are limiting healthcare services and putting women’s lives at risk in some parts of Nigeria.
During the panel discussion, Kafilat shared her findings on how gender discrimination affects both patients and health workers. She explained how cultural norms and religious values contribute to this issue and called for urgent action to address it.
She emphasised the need for increased recruitment in the healthcare sector, proper health education—especially at the grassroots level—and accountability in the allocation of health funds. Additionally, she stressed the importance of restructuring medical and nursing schools to meet higher standards, ensuring better healthcare services for all.
Insight into the NAFDAQ DG’s Death Penalty on Counterfeit Drugs
Lucy Okonkwo, Research Analyst at Dataphyte gives insight on the trending issue of the NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye advocating a death penalty for counterfeit drug peddlers on News Central.
Lucy Okonkwo, a Research Analyst at Dataphyte, joined News Central's Afternoon News Now to provide insight into the issue. She highlighted how fake drugs disproportionately affect Nigeria’s working population, causing serious health risks and economic losses.
Lucy suggested that National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) could work closely with the federal government to improve collaboration with hospitals and educate citizens on identifying counterfeit drugs. However, when asked about Prof. Adeyeye’s call for the death penalty, she maintained that while stricter regulations are needed, the decision ultimately rests with lawmakers and moralists.
Knowledge Sharing and Thought Leadership
In February, Dataphyte published 14 newsletters, 4 special reports, 15 data cards and 2 investigations, providing insightful analyses on Nigeria’s evolving socioeconomic, political, and gender-related challenges through our weekly editions: Pocket Science, SenorRita, Marina & Maitama, and Data Dive.
Pocket Science examined the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs on Nigeria’s consumer market, a topic that has sparked global debate since February. The publication also explored key financial realities, including the new FMBN mortgage ceiling, how household sentiment is shifting amid economic uncertainty, and the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day, questioning whether the celebration has become more about gifts than love.
SenorRita continued its deep dive into gender issues, highlighting the growing incidence of femicide, gender disparity in academic leadership, and the burden of depression among Nigerian women. It also shed light on infertility in both men and women, a critical yet often overlooked issue in reproductive health.
Marina & Maitama provided updates on Nigeria’s economic and policy shifts, from the scrapping of the visa-on-arrival policy to the ongoing impact of fuel subsidy removal 18 months later. Other key topics included Nigeria’s inflation reality, increasing port and bank withdrawal charges, and the potential for growth in cocoa production and entertainment industries.
Data Dive assessed broader governance and policy concerns, notably the Gambaryan episode, which sparked debates about the rule of law and corruption allegations. Additionally, it analysed Africa’s position in a post-aid world and its implications for the continent’s economic independence.
Beyond these newsletters, Dataphyte also released in-depth reports and investigative pieces that provided critical insights into Nigeria’s security, economic, and digital landscapes. A special report examining 15 years of the Boko Haram insurgency highlighted the enduring security challenges in the region, while an economic feature explored the DSTV and GOTV price hikes and their impact on Nigerians already struggling with inflation.
Two investigative reports shed light on critical social issues: "Health Matters" documented how the Source of Hope Foundation is transforming healthcare for vulnerable communities in Nasarawa State, while "Every Child Counts" examined Oyo State’s push for free education as a model for improving literacy and school attendance. Additionally, Dataphyte released a two-part series on data protection and digital rights, guiding SMEs on navigating data protection laws and informing students about their digital rights in higher education.
Through these publications, Dataphyte remains committed to delivering data-driven insights that help Nigerians navigate the country’s ever-changing economic, political, and social landscape. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking analyses in March!
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Behind The Bytes – Bridging Data, Media, and Civic Engagement