Within the past two weeks, the organization has recorded two very disturbing contents on the internet, both of which degrade and dehumanise women and the individuals involved.

The first was a posting of sexual escape of students of Chrisland, Lagos in faraway Dubai which went viral, leading to the suspension of academic activities in the school. While the second concerned a lady in Ado-Ekiti who was invited to a hotel room by her friend who had arranged with his three accomplices, gang-raped her and also posted the act on the internet.

A third case was a lady who was kidnapped for money, it occurred earlier last month in Abuja when a man on social media invited her to his hotel, kidnapped her and demanded 50 Million ransom from her parents.

In a speech delivered by Engr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, Executive Director of Centre for Information Technology and Development noted that, there have been many other such cases in which social media friends lured their female friends only to rape them and in some instances, kill them to cover up the crime.

“Cases of young girls falling victims of this technology assisted crime have been on the rise and are contributing negatively to the efforts to address and overcome the gender dimension of the digital divide in the country, which casts women on the negative side of the divide and making it difficult for them to access and make use of the opportunities and benefits digital technology offers for educational advancement, economic empowerment and social inclusion.

“CITAD has for the past five years been engaged in monitoring and countering gender violence online and take this very serious, because we have in an earlier research found that gender-based violence online has been a major factor inhibiting factor for the effective use of digital spaces by girls and women in the country as they have internalised the fear that harmful content online has induced in them”. He said.

Eng. Yunusa further explained that harmful content online is targeted at female politicians and women in careers such as female journalists and academics, with the aim of discouraging them from those spaces, thus furthering their marginalization in those spheres.

Women are cyberphobia as result of gender violence – CITAD

In addition, parents and husbands are also using the same excuse to prevent their daughters and wives from using the internet. Unfortunately, in the world we live today, we must all make use of the internet.

Eng. Yunusa revealed that the country and society that suffer from this criminal misappropriation of the powers of the internet. As learning, commerce, social interactions and government services move online.

Women constitute slightly more than half of the population of the country, as the majority of these women are remaining offline as a result of gender violence online and other harmful contents, which means that a large population of Nigerians are left behind.

“In this situation, Nigeria cannot achieve the sustainable development goals as most of them require effective deployment and use of the internet.

“Girls are at a disadvantage in getting admission to higher education because they have been prevented from learning to use digital skills which are necessary for passing the entrance examinations to the higher institutions in the country.

“Yet here in the North we complain of a lack of sufficient number of female doctors and other health related professionals, even when we deny girls the opportunity to learn digital skills to gain admission to study for the medical profession”. He added.

Women are the majority of citizens who are identity excluded in Nigeria and consequently also financial services excluded, making it difficult for them to access financial services and progress in business.

Lack of identity also is inhibiting their ability to exercise their freedom of movement as some important modes of travel cannot convey people without authenticated identity.

Technology as National threat to gender – CITAD

The Centre for Information Technology and Development confirmed that technology assisted gender violence online making it a serious national problem that the government has to consider and take necessary means to address it.

The Executive Director expressed their empanelling of a Committee by the Federal Government to study and propose solutions to ensuring the protection of children online.

CITAD recommend solutions to technology-assisted gender violence

In this respect CITAD will like to call on the federal government as well as state governments to as a matter of national urgency:

Set up a panel to study and propose solutions to technology-assisted gender violence, including proposing legislations on how to deal with it. In making this call, we would like to caution against throwing the baby with the bathwater. Government should not use this as an opportunity to inhibit access to the internet for citizens but rather improve on how citizens are able to access and safely use the internet.

The Federal Government should incorporate safety and privacy online in the computer studies curriculum of secondary schools. In this way, computer studies can then not just be done to get a credit for admission to higher institutions but also to get life skills that will prepare the students for successful immersion into the digital world.

While we have made computer studies compulsory at secondary schools, we have not incorporated safety issues in the curriculum. These gaps should be addressed quickly because learning computer studies is not just for passing examinations but to gain skills that are needed to fit into the digital world of today.

Lot of the criminal uses of the internet is related to poor understanding of digital rights. In particular, the government itself has not shown proper appreciation of the importance of digital rights. Without a bill of digital rights, the use of the digital space can be counterproductive as we see it now. In this respect, the National Assembly should quickly pass the Digital Rights Bill and the President should sign it.

The federal government should also come up with a national digital inclusion agenda that will address the many challenges that inhibit the effective access to and use of the internet. This will contribute greatly in addressing the various dimensions of the internal digital divide in the country.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) invited a former Nigerian diplomat, Ambassador Habu Ibrahim Gwani, to its monthly discussion on leadership and youth development titled ‘Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS)’.

ILERIS is an initiative of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) aimed at enriching the lives of young people through mentorship and inspiration.

Accomplished personalities from different backgrounds and professions are invited on monthly basis to speak to the participating youth about their lives, challenges, obstacles, successes, careers, etc with a view to unpacking some hints for the participating youth to copy and apply in order for them to also succeed in their endeavours and careers.

The discussion, which took place in the National Library of Nigeria, Gombe State, on 30th March 2022, was attended by youth and elders, who were opportune to be inspired by Ambassador Gwani through his speech about life experience and struggles, Today Post NG learned.

Ambassador Gwani took the audience back to his early life, from a tender age to studies, his vast years of experience in Nigeria and abroad, and his broad contribution to the community in and outside the country.

He opened up to the youth on the steps to success in life, saying any visionary youth must be focused and determined to make a difference in society.

In his speech, he described the struggles, challenges and rejections he went through before standing where he is today and achieving his goals was just the result.

The main secret of his life, he said, was being honest and trustworthy. Similarly, he attributes his behaviours to having parents who do not tolerate dishonesty and idleness in life.

He also called on the youth to look at his life and build upon their destiny, believing that only “a good boy becomes a good man”.

He also called on the youth to embrace technology in making their daily activities lives more manageable, especially in research and writing.

He finally called for massive writing, lamenting the scarcity of books and writings on the history of Gombe and Nigeria at large.

Confirming Ambassador Gwani’s speech, Professor Saleh Abdu described how he attended the same secondary school as Gwani, saying his life was truly inspiring since then.

After the discussion, the special guest of honour, and the Director of CITAD, President Dr Y Z Ya’u donated many books to the Nigerian Library, Gombe for the benefit of the people of Gombe State.

The Coordinator of the National Library, Gombe and the Host of the event, Mr Abubakar Yakubu received the books and expressed his gratitude to CITAD. He also explained how the library would distribute the books to 26 other National libraries around the country.

Ugo Aliogo

The Coordinator of Nigerian School of Community Networks(NSCN) Haruna Adamu Hadejia, has called on the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, to ensure full implementation of the draft National Policy on Community Networks.

Hadejia, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at a media briefing enjoined the Galaxy Backbone Plc to provide communities with access to its backbone for them to use as their community networks getaways.

He urged the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to support the upgrading of the many communities’ digital centres they set up in the country to serve as basis of community networks for communities that desirous and passionate to set up such in their communities.

He  appealed to the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) to develop guidelines and regulations for the operation of community networks in the country and to allow communities to access and use TV White Space (TVWS) for the purposes of setting up community networks

He further explained that NITDA needs to work with communities at grassroots level to drive digital literacy which is critical for the effective utilization of digital technology and which is the foundation upon which the digital transformation agenda of the country would rest.

He urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to sustain evidence-based advocacy for the establishment of CNs across the country.

Hadejia called on the private sector operators to as, part of their corporate social responsibility to support communities to set up community networks.

According to him, “We call on all other stakeholders, including political office holders to support communities to go digital as critical contribution to community development. We also call on the private sector operators to see community networks as complimentary, but not competitors. Community networks have failed to take roots in Nigeria because we do not have a national policy to guide their emergence and provide a supportive environment for communities to leverage various opportunities to bridge the connectivity gaps.

“Community networks are telecommunication infrastructure designed, deployed and managed by communities to meet their communication need. Globally these community networks are helping many countries such as in Kenya, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico to address the internal dimensions of their digital divide.

“The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has said there are 114 communities where GSM signals are either weak or not at all. These are called underserved and unserved communities. These communities could, if there is a policy that would provide clear rules for interconnectivity, frequency and spectrum allocation and use, etc, could mobilize their own resources and create their communication infrastructure to address their need.

“The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has in the last eight months, been engaging the policy makers especially the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, the telecommunication regulators, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other stakeholders in the country such as NITDA, USPF and Galaxy Backbone with the aim of arriving at a consensus on developing a national policy for community networks. They all agreed on its desirability, noting that community networks will help greatly in accelerating efforts of government to address the digital divide and to prime the country to achieve its digital transformation agenda.”

By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has presented prizes to winners in the 3rd round of its ‘Report a Project Competition’.

The Centre said the champions were honored to encouraged them continue contributing their best for the sustainable growth and development of the society.

The program, according to the Centre is in support from MacArthur Foundation and is targeted at encouraging students from tertiary institutions to report abandoned or poorly executed projects in their respective communities.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Centre Dr. Y.Z Ya’u said the project was in line with the pursuit for a collective action to demand accountability from the government at all levels.

The Executive Director who was represented by the Centre’s Campaigns and Communications Officer, Mal. Ali Sabo explained that the idea is an accelerated step to holding governments accountable for its actions in the spirit of transparency as a critical element of good governance and improving citizens’ livelihood.

The winner of the competition, Mr. Taneem Garga, from Plateau state was presented with a Computer, while the first runner-up Ishaq Abdullahi Shehu from Kano Municipal got Huawei Nova and the second runner-up Ridwan Garba from Gwale local L.G, Kano state was presented with Huawei Y6 Pro.

By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – A Non-Governmental Organization, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has expressed concern over statistics in Kano which indicated that gender-based violence reigns high in the state.

The organization said the statistics about the increase in gender-based violence in Kano has grown in alarming proportion hence, the need for all hands to be on deck to combat the menace.

The Gender Program Officer of the Center,  Zainab Aminu, raised the concern while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Kano.

According to her, the data collected in the Month of February through Centre’s GBV Mobile App depicts the persistent occurrence of Gender-Based Violence, most especially the high number of sexual harassments.

She said “In comparison with the data obtained in previous months, GBV cases are still being perpetrated”, adding that 15 cases were reported via our GBV App for the month of February which includes Rape, Sexual Harassment, Wife Battering and others”.

“It is in view of this that we urge the state government to adopt laws to protect women and girls, and as well establish Referral Centers and Forensic Centers for victims”

“We would like to commend the efforts of our traditional and religious leaders and all stakeholders in intensifying their effort to create awareness against GBV”.

Zainab further appeals to parents, relatives and others to always report cases either directly to the centre or to other sister NGOs as well as to government agencies such as National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) or Hisbah.

“GBV strives when we all keep quiet. We cannot win the battle against it unless every perpetrator is brought to the book”.

By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – A Non-Governmental Organization working to Prevent Gender-Based Violence in Kano, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has said that if an end must be brought to gender-based violence in the state there must be a concerted effort of all stakeholders to curb the menace.

The Gender Officer of the Centre, Zainab Aminu, made the call in Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education Kano, during a sensitization lecture organized to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8 – is a day that commemorates the social, political and economic achievements of women as well as creating awareness on issues that affect women and girls and to proffer solutions to them.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” This year’s campaign is represented by the #BreakTheBias hashtag and calls on people to work towards a world that is equitable, inclusive, and free from bias and discrimination against women.

Zainab, who congratulated women all over the world on the day, reminded them of the need to use the occasion to create awareness on sexual and gender based violence issues with the aim of finding a lasting solution.

She added that Gender-based violence is a universal problem, and the solution to the problem requires awareness, sensitization and all stakeholders to work together in addressing the problem.

She said, “Violence against young girls and women is a severe human rights abuse. It is driven by both ageism and sexism but also affected by other characteristics such as marital status or having a disability”.

On his part, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Boss, Kano Zonal office reiterated their commitment to collaborate with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), to raise awareness and fight sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the state.

Abdullahi, expressed the need to advance and sustain the campaign against all sorts of violence against the girl child and identify more partners to be involved in the struggle. He urged parents, religious institutions, community members and the media to encourage victims to speak out on cases of abuse or violence.

Dr. Bashir Sani, who is the Director Guidance and Counseling of the college urged the participants to use the knowledge learned during the session and give same to their communities.

Dr. Sani also commended CITAD for organizing the training, saying, it was timely and they are committed to partnering with the organization towards achieving the common goal.

By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has organized a 2-days training for selected youths from Kano South Senatorial District on the use of Social Media for Accountability in Rano local government area of Kano state.

The training, themed; “Social Media for Accountability”, allowed the participants to acquire relevant skills on the use of social media for accountability and the areas of deploying various platforms for networking, political participation, holding leaders accountable, content creation, entrepreneurship, and a host of others.

During the training, the Centre’s Campaigns and Communications Officer, Mal. Ali Sabo who doubled as the resource person took the participants with lessons on social media best practices within the purview of global digital trends.

The participants also gained knowledge and learned the basic rudiments on the best practices on building and maintaining an online presence for monetary gain with an emphasis on YouTube. Mal. Ali has also taught the participants how to create powerful and captivating written and visual content, which according to him, enhances effective communication, particularly for businesses with their target audience.

The participants were also equipped and exposed to the various features of social media platforms and their usage, techniques of social media engagement, and how to lend a voice on governance by leveraging the technology and its trends.

In his remarks, the CITAD’s Admin and Documentation Officer, Mal. Buhari Abba, who is also the Project Officer, Journalists for Accountability said the Centre organized the 2-days training to educate the youth on the effective use of social media to seek accountability as well as for the improvement of personal and professional development.

A participant at the training, Mukhtar Lawal Abdullahi Rano commended the Centre for organizing the training which, according to him, has exposed them to the use of social media Instrumentalities to hold leaders accountable and improve their lives.

Another Participant, Binta Wada Abubakar acknowledged the giant stride of the organizers. She said the training has positively impacted her life with first-hand knowledge on how to use social media to demand accountability from leaders and participate actively in any issue of national importance on social media.

Center for information technology and development (CITAD) organised its first sensitization programme in Kano at Nigeria security and civil defence corps zonal headquarter.

The programme welcomed stakeholders from different organizations, includes Idris Adamu the commandant of civil service, A.A Haruna the assistant commandant, Barrister Asma’u Suleiman a social secretary in Nigeria bar Association and also a lecturer in law school, Kawu Adam Sule, a lecturer in the department of sociology, Bayero university kano.

Commandant Idris Adamu, commended CITAD on their effort towards enlightening the officers on gender-based violence.

He stressed that “gender-based violence has become a worldwide problem and assured the public that they are civil defence who defend the defenseless”.

Kawu Adamu Sule buttressed on the concepts of gender-based violence and how the public can curtail the menace of gender-based violence.

“We are in a patriarchal society which makes women vulnerable, calling on people to make personal and collective efforts to end impunity, change harmful social norms and report issues to relevant authorities”.

Barrister Asma’u Suleiman, also advised the civil defence officers to do their homework properly by using wisdom not the power of their uniform.

Zainab Aminu gender officer CITAD, expressed reasons why they choose civil defence out of all security agencies, discloses that NSCDC are the top security personnels Nigerians trust.

Segun Awofadeji

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in procurement, to promote transparency and accountability.

This was disclosed by a Senior Programme Manager of CITAD, Isa Garba, when he led his team on advocacy to SUBEB and his management.

According to him, CITAD trains directors and deputy directors on accountability and transparency in public service.

“We are here today to inform you that CITAD is granted by the United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID) through the ‘State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness’ (State2State) to implement a governance project in Bauchi State,” he explained. “The goal of the project is to strengthen citizens’ participation in governance through active participation in the budgetary and procurement processes of the state.”

According to him, the project’s objectives include enhancing the capacity of 40 CSOs to engage both government and citizens in the budget process to improve citizens’ participation in budget processes and the skills of 40 government officials, among others.

He added that in the implementation process, CITAD would work with SUBEB and engage legislators in increasing the budgetary allocation to the education sector and help the agency in monitoring projects.

In his response, Permanent Commissioner, Alhaji Idris Hardawa, said, “Our books are always open for you to go through, and we are ready to work with you in achieving a transparent procurement atmosphere. We are partners with you in the development of the basic education sector.”

He added, “Everything we do here is open and transparent in line with financial and procurement regulations. We ensure that due process is followed in procurement transactions.”

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the area of procurement in order to promote transparency and accountability as well as improve basic education.

The expression was made by a Senior Programme Manager of CITAD, Isa Garba when he led his team on advocacy to the Chairman of SUBEB and his management, Dr Surumbai Dahiru Usman.

Isa Garba said that CITAD has been working in the education sector of the state for a few years in the area of engaging some secondary schools for the conduction of the state-level inter-secondary schools ICTS Quiz and also at the national ICTs quiz where the then Government Technical College, Gadau won second position and government Arabic College, Jamaáre won the second position.

Training of SBMC on the roles to play for effective service delivery and monitoring of schools in the state;
Training of media on Participating in the activities of UNICEF educational activities in the state.

It is also to improve their ability to plan and budget, raise revenues, increase civil society participation, and oversee service delivery in the health; education; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors.

The State2State works primarily at the state level, but also supports federal institutions and local government areas.
State2State specifically recognizes the role of the state governors and commissioners in driving forward reforms in Nigeria, but, importantly, gives equal weight to the essential role that national fiscal and development policy, citizen demand, and local innovation, collaboration, and learning across and among states play in solving governance, financing, and service delivery challenges.

He said that, “Sir, we are here today to inform you that CITAD is granted by the United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID) through the “State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness” (“State2State”) to implement a governance project in Bauchi state”.

“The goal of the project is to strengthen citizens’ participation in governance through active participation in the budgetary and procurement processes of the state”, he added.

According to him, “While the objectives of the project are: Enhance the capacity of 40 CSOs to engage both government and citizens in the budget process as means of improving citizens’ participation in budget processes; Enhance the skills of 40 government officials on the interface with citizens to collect, collate and use citizens input in the budget process and Facilitate the monitoring of procurement processes in the focal areas of education, health, youth and women development”

He said that, “In the implementation process on this project, CITAD will be working with SUBEB as a key area of our interest. Specifically, our engagement in the SUBEB will focus on building the capacity of the procurement unit of the board and also on how citizens can actively participate in the development of the education sector of the state”.

It will especially engage the legislators in increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector, help the agency in monitoring projects using an Android Application that will be developed and utilize as an interface avenue between the communities, their representatives at the house of assembly and the board to ensure that contracts are executed base on the contract agreements and specifications, as at when due and follow up with the Ministry of finance and the house of the assembly when there is a delay in the release of funds and any other engagement that will promote effective service delivery of the sector.

“Therefore, we are soliciting the support of your office to work with us in achieving the objectives of the project as well as contributing our quota in transforming the education sector of the state which is the major deliverables of the board”, he concluded.

In his response, Permanent Commissioner 1, Alh Idris Ahmed Hardawa said that the Board has in place a procurement office that is working in line with all procurement and financial regulations.

He said that, “Our books are always open for you to go through and we are ready to work with you in achieving a transparent procurement atmosphere. We are partners with you in the development of the basic education sector”.

The Permanent Commissioner 1 added that, “everything we do here is opened and transparent in line with financial and procurement regulations, we ensure that due process is followed in procurement transactions”.

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers…  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education

An NGO, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) says it is collaborating with the Bauchi State Bureau for Public Procurement Unit (BPPU) to improve procurement processes and deepen due process in the state. Mr Isa Garba, the Senior Programme Manager, CITAD, stated this during an advocacy visit to the Director-General of BPPU, Mr Joshua Sanga, on Friday in Bauchi. He said that CITAD was implementing a project under U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the “State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State)”. “To implement a governance project and strengthen citizens’ participation in governance through active participation in the budgetary and procurement processes of the state,” he said. Garba noted that the partnership would facilitate monitoring of procurement processes in the focal areas of education, health, youth and women development. “Another component of the partnership is the development of an Android Application that will serve as a network between the citizens, legislators and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. “The application called Office of the Citizens will serve as a link through which people in the communities will be reporting the status of projects in their communities. “Both the ministry of budget and their representative in the house of Assembly will see the report and react to it accordingly,” Garba said. He, however, appealed to the director-general of BPPU to always avail the staff of the office to serve as resource persons in media programmes. Sanga appreciated CITAD for its commitment to improving the procurement process in the state. He said that the programme was in line with the present administration policy on public procurement and due process. Sanga assured that the due process office would always be there to support the project, especially projects that have a direct bearing on the citizens.

This government is always ready to work with partners, who want to improve citizens’ understanding of the procurement processes and the Freedom of Information Act in the state,” Sanga said. Bauchi Govt partners CITAD to improve procurement process

Continue reading at https://northeaststarlive.com/bauchi-govt-partners-citad-to-improve-procurement-process/ | Widely Read Magazine

Text of Press Conference addressed by Y. Z. Yaú. the Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) at Treasurers Sites and Conference, Abuja on February 10, 2022

Last week, precisely on February 2, 2022, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) convened a meeting of stakeholders in the telecommunication sector on the need for a National Strategy for community networks to address the various dimensions of the digital divide in the country. The meeting, which was attended by over 40 people including people from government agencies, representatives of private sector, development partners, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), professionals, civil society organizations, community based organizations piloting community networks and academics, had the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Prof Isa Ali Pantami, represented by the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr Abdulaziz Aliyu delivering the keynote address.

Participants at the meeting affirmed the viability of community networks as one of the innovative strategies that is being used by many countries across the world in addressing their connectivity gaps, especially where mobile network operators (MNOs) have found too unprofitable, either because the populations are spare, communities are poor or they are hard to reach. The understanding is that there is need for new business models of small, flexible and nibble providers to fill the gaps that bigger players (MNOs) cannot fill.

Participants also realised that unleashing the potentials of community networks to address connective gaps requires a robust policy on community networks. Unfortunately, as of now, Nigeria does not have such a policy.

In the meeting, CITAD recounted the efforts it had made so far in advocating for a national policy on community networks. These efforts include:

Meeting with the team of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to explore ways on how a community networks policy could be articulated for the country

Submission of a position paper to the NCC on its request, making the case for a policy regime and providing policy experiences from other countries

Follow-up communications to find out if the NCC had commenced the process of getting a policy for Nigeria

Meeting with the Hon Ministry for Communication and Digital Economy, robbing minds on the how the community networks sub-sector could be catalysed through policy making

Submission of a policy briefing notes to the Minister at his request, providing pathways for the development of the national community networks

Making further submission during the consultation processes for the policy on the 5G licensing

Meetings with a number of IT related agencies such as National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Galaxy Backbone, etc as part of an advocacy drive on the need for such a policy

Addressing a series of press conferences to drive the point that Nigeria needs a policy for community networks to address the digital divide

Participants, including the Representative of the Hon Minister agreed that it was urgent that Nigeria had its policy for community networks. In particular, the Representative of the Minister averred that if all that was needed to catalyse the emergence and growth of community networks in the country, then the matter was simple since the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy is well known for his proactiveness in articulating policies for the digital space in Nigeria.

We at CITAD acknowledge the various efforts that the Minister in particular has put in repositioning the country for a digital transformation. We note for the example that in the last couple of years, he has led in the following, among others:

The development and steady implementation of the Federal Government National Digital Economy Policy NS Strategy (NDEPS)

The implementation of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024) by NITDA

The articulation of a new National Broadband Plan and Policy

Developed a vibrant digital ecosystem that supports Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDE) and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in a way that engenders innovation

Provisioned robust digital platforms to support government digital services and drive the digital economy

We conclusion of the development of the National Start-up Bill which is being transmitted to the National Assembly whose key objective is to create laws that will support the growth of the tech start up ecosystem in the country.

All these policies, laws and initiatives are important digital transformation elements for the country. However, with the digital divide in the country, the good objectives of these policies and programmes will be difficult to achieve. In particular, a large number of people in rural areas and hard to reach communities will be left behind as the experience has shown that even when broadband is rolled out, economic and accessibility factors are key hindrance to their affordability in these communities. The initiatives have not, in a fundamental way addressed the issues of bridging the connectivity gaps in the over 114 underserved and unserved communities in the country. It is instructive that the number of unserved and underserved communities is the result of the pain taking work of another government agency, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). Community networks remain the tool to unleashing the creativity of citizens, mobilising their resources, skills and other endowments to meet their collective digital communication challenge by themselves without asking for government to fund such bridging efforts or waiting for MNOs who are reluctant to do so because what is left are the unprofitable leftovers.

It is in this connection and in furtherance of the voice of the stakeholders meeting, we would like to renew our call on the government to as a matter of urgency provide the country with a national policy on community networks. The advantages are too numerous that we should not give to farther procrastination.

In particular, we would like to:

Call on the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy to set up a mechanism for the development of a National Policy for Community Networks

Call on the NCC to develop guidelines and regulations for the operation of community networks in the country and to allow communities to access and use TV White Space (TVWS) for the purposes of setting up community networks

Enjoins the Galaxy Backbone PLC to provide communities with access to its backbone for them to use as their community networks getaways.

The USPF to support the upgrading of the many community digital centres they set up in the country to serve as nucleus of community networks for communities that desirous and passionate to set up such in their communities

NITDA to work with communities at grassroots level to drive digital literacy which is critical for the effective utilization of digital technology and which is the foundation upon which the digital transformation agenda of the country will rest.

Call on the private sector operators in the sector to as, their corporate social responsibility support communities building community networks.

Call on all other stakeholders, including political office holders to support communities to go digital as critical contribution to community development.

Center for Information Technology and Development has called on Nigerians to refrain from any act of hate for the continued unity and peaceful existence of the country.

CITAD Project Manager, Malam Hamza Ibrahim made the called while presenting a survey report titled “Extinguishing Hate Speech, Roles that Politicians, Religious and Community are to follow in combating the menace.”

common among Nigerian populations.

Ibrahim said going by what happened in the history of Nigeria, joining hands in mitigating the problem of inciting comments by different sections of the society should be encouraged.

He added that, it is high for all the stakeholders, politicians, religious and community leaders to lead the masses in promoting peace.

According to him, “This is an outcome of our research finding conducted in various states which we engaged all stakeholders including the media, to come up with something that will be a yardstick in discouraging anything of this nature by enlightening different community groups.”

He emphasised the need for mutual respect and tolerance among Nigerians, describing that as a catalyst for peaceful coexistence of the country.

“We strongly call on Politicians, Religious and Community Leaders at their different levels to use the opportunity they have in preaching for peace, good values, and shun away from any comments that are capable of bringing hatred among their followers with other groups or section of the public.

“Reports shows that hate speech can cause many unwanted things especially chaos among others.

“Religious leaders from Islam and Christianity, should adopt the system of promoting positive advantages of peace in their places of worship.

“Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) and Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) are suppose to be at the forefront of sensitizing their members as it’s in the teachings of the two major religion,” Ibrahim stated.

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Shun hate speech, CITAD tells Nigerians https://dailynews24.ng/shun-hate-speech-citad-tells-nigerians/

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The Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation, has launched a two-day training for eighteen youths from Northern Nigeria on awareness campaign against misconceptions on COVID-19.

Speaking at the launching of the training in Kano state on Monday, Executive Director of CITAD, Zakari Ya’u, said the training became imperative in a bid to fight misinformation and disinformation against COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination.

According to him, the only way to fight the pandemic is to get everybody vaccinated, noting that misinformation and disinformation surrounding the vaccine was what discouraged people from taking the jabs.

Mr Ya’u noted that the centre had noticed the level of disbelief and mistrust against the vaccine, that is why it conducted research on how to come up with strategies to counter the misconceptions.

The strategies, according to Mr Ya’u, include awareness campaigns on radio stations in some northern states.

The executive director explained that 98 candidates applied for the training, but only 18 were selected across Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kogi, Plateau and Borno states.

He said: “We carefully selected the candidates after following due process. They are here in Kano state for a two-day training for campaign against misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccine.

“People have called on the government to give them palliative to accept the vaccination. This is not a good point. The point is that, you have to be healthy if you want to agitate for your right.

“We have to get everybody vaccinated if we want fight this pandemic to the end. Let everybody get vaccinated. But the level of mistrust and misconceptions is too high. That is why we have come with this strategy,” he added.

Mr Ya’u said after the training, the participants would engage in massive campaigns for the vaccine in their respective states, adding that they would be given some stipends every end of the month for a period of one year.

While charging the participants to discharge their duties diligently, Mr Ya’u also announced that there would be competition as part of the awareness campaign and winners would get handsome gifts.

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COVID-19: CITAD pleads with citizens to get vaccinated https://newsdiaryonline.com/covid-19-citad-pleads-with-citizens-to-get-vaccinated/

https://wikkitimes.com/2021/12/15/citad-trains-18-covid-19-vaccine-champions-in-six-states/

CITAD Ta Bada Da Horo Na Akan Allurar Riga-kafin COVID https://dailynews24.ng/cibiyar-citad-ta-fara-bayar-da-horo-na-kwanaki-biyu-akan-allurar-riga-kafin-korona/

Why you need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 — Expert https://dailynews24.ng/why-you-need-to-be-vaccinated-against-covid-19-expert/

https://thenigerianpost.com.ng/2021/12/18/vaccination-only-way-to-fight-dangers-of-covid19-mr-y-z-yau-executive-director-citad/