Decades ago, demonstrations in African countries were marked by placards and soapboxes in market squares. Today, with an Internet-savvy generation, it takes only a tweet or Facebook post to spark a revolution.
Although corruption and misgovernance have persisted, younger Africans are more inclined to attack these hydra-headed problems with a smartphone and a series of hashtags.
The smartphone has become today’s megaphone. Twitter threads serve as open courtrooms. Instagram posts highlight government negligence. WhatsApp groups are digital war rooms. What once were platforms for casual entertainment and gossip have evolved into spaces for accountability, justice, and change.
The root of digital activism in Nigeria traces back to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign in 2014. When Boko Haram militants abducted over 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigerians turned to demand their release. The hashtag rallied national indignation but also won global support from such international figures as Michelle Obama. The digital outcry pressured the government into intensifying rescue efforts.
The #EndSARS demonstrations in 2020 marked the peak of online activism in Nigeria. What began as a protest on Twitter against the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) snowballed into a national uprising. The hashtag was used over 48 million times by 5 million users between October 5 and October 20.
The decentralised nature proved the organisational strength of Nigerian youth. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram became platforms for coordinating peaceful protests. Digital platforms cut across ethnic, religious, and regional divides.
“Twitter was our command centre. Google Docs was where we monitored donations. Instagram showed us police brutality. We weren’t waiting on television or papers to present our story. We were presenting it ourselves, live, uncensored. I remember one night… someone tweeted that they were under arrest in Surulere. In no time at all, people started tagging attorneys, posting numbers for emergencies. That guy was free by dawn. That is the power that we now have,” recalls Chinelo Amaka, a 27-year-old digital strategist who helped coordinate protest logistics.
Another pivotal moment came when Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch, live-streamed the Lekki Toll Gate shooting on 20th October 2020.
Her broadcast, which reached over 150,000 people in real time, captured alleged violence by security agents and alerted the world to the Nigerian government’s response to peaceful protests.
Beyond protests, social media have transformed civic participation. In the 2023 general election, platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) became crucial campaign tools. Politicians, especially those outside the traditional political circles, engaged with citizens and shared their manifestos. Increased virtual political discussion aided mobilisation of youth for voting and more conscious citizenship.
Social media has also become a watchdog that keeps government authorities on their toes. Viral material exposing corruption, infrastructural decline, or administrative failure generally calls for the government to respond quickly.
The span of digital media ensure that complaints are no longer just hushed whispers but are transmitted to a national audience
Despite its successes, Nigerian online activism has several important challenges to overcome. Fake news and disinformation may hijack a genuine movement and lose the public’s trust. In addition to this, state actions to muffle opposition in the form of internet shutdowns or social media prohibitions are dangers to online freedoms.
Activists are frequently subjected to harassment online, tracking, and even physical intimidation in extreme cases, showcasing the risks of online dissent.
The digital revolution is not just for the young; it’s also bridging rural gaps. TechHerfrica, founded in 2023, trains rural women and market vendors how to use digital platforms to become financially included and economically empowered.
Its “HerLocal Market” programme allows farmers to sell to consumers directly, bypassing middlemen exploitation and increasing earnings.
Seun Makinde puts it into perspective: “When a woman in Ogbomosho is able to sell yams to a person in Lagos with her phone, that’s not only economic empowerment; that’s social change. And Techherfrica has opened me and others in my community up to access not only to a phone but also to the greater market.”
The history of digital activism in Nigeria is a pointer to a shift in paradigm in citizen participation. With increased internet penetration and enhancement in digital literacy, more Nigerians will increasingly use such platforms to beg for change. However, for digital activism to be what it should be, concerted efforts must be taken to defend digital rights, enhance media literacy, and ensure online platforms remain open and free.
In an era when a single tweet can spark a revolution and a live stream can expose hidden facts, digital spaces in Nigeria have become arenas of resistance, empowerment, and change.
