Admin
- February 4, 2026
Application Period: February 4, 2026 to February 25, 2026
The Digicivic Initiative invites applications for the Digital Rights Litigation Surgery (DRLS), a professional development and capacity-building programme designed to strengthen legal responses to digital rights violations in Nigeria.
The Digital Rights Litigation Surgery is a practice-oriented programme that equips lawyers with the legal, strategic, and advocacy skills required to advance digital rights litigation, civic space protection, freedom of expression, data protection, and technology-related human rights. Through hands-on learning, case analysis, and post-training engagement, the programme seeks to build a pool of lawyers committed to public-interest and pro bono digital rights work.
Digicivic Initiative, registered as ‘ADVOCATES FOR THE PROMOTION OF DIGITAL RIGHTS AND CIVIC INTERACTIONS INITIATIVE’ is a non-governmental entity and is deeply driven by public interest. Our core mission revolves around advocating for digital rights and civic space. We aim to raise awareness about digital rights, empower individuals to actively safeguard these rights in accordance with legal frameworks and collaborate with other industry experts and organizations to create a world in which digital rights are respected and civic space can thrive.
Primary Purpose:
- To strengthen the capacity of lawyers to engage in strategic digital rights litigation and legal advocacy in Nigeria.
- To build practical skills in handling cases related to freedom of expression, civic space, data protection, and technology-enabled rights violations.
- To expand a network of pro bono lawyers supporting digital rights protection and public-interest lawyering.
Geographic Focus: Nigeria
Target Audience: The programme is open to legal practitioners with an interest in digital rights, public-interest litigation, technology law, or civic space protection.
Qualifications:
Applicants must be qualified legal practitioners called to the Nigerian Bar.
- Demonstrated interest or experience in digital rights, human rights, technology law, media law, data protection, or public-interest litigation.
- Strong commitment to pro bono legal work and collaborative engagement with civil society and affected communities.
Participants’ Responsibilities
- Participants will be expected to actively engage in training sessions, case-based discussions, and assigned learning activities.
- Participants will commit time to post-training pro bono digital rights litigation or legal support, in collaboration with Digicivic Initiative.
- Senior lawyers may be required to provide mentorship, strategic guidance, or supervision support to early-stage participants.
Programme Benefits
- Practical training on digital rights litigation, strategic case development, and legal advocacy.
- Exposure to real-world digital rights cases and emerging legal challenges in Nigeria.
- Opportunities to engage with experienced digital rights practitioners, litigators, and civil society actors.
- Inclusion in Digicivic Initiative’s growing network of digital rights lawyers and public-interest advocates.
- Post-training opportunities for continued engagement in digital rights litigation and advocacy initiatives.
Outcome
- Improved capacity of lawyers to litigate and respond to digital rights violations.
- Strengthened pro bono legal support for digital rights and civic space protection in Nigeria.
- Expanded collaboration between lawyers and civil society organisations on public-interest digital rights cases.
Timeline: This application call is open from February 4, 2025 until February 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM (WAT).
This Digital Rights Litigation Surgery is implemented with the support of funding from Luminate, as part of efforts to strengthen civic space and digital rights in Nigeria.
