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.
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, 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.
