We will continue to contribute our quarter towards ending GBV in Kano State

In continuation of its public awareness campaign on violence against children and women, CITAD today, September 22, 2021, paid an advocacy visit to the Emir of Rano. Alh. Kabiru Muhd Inuwa.

The purpose of the visit was to strengthen cooperation and relationship between the Centre and traditional leaders in the fight against this evil practice in our communities.

Speaking on behalf of CITAD, Mallam Haruna Adamu Hadejia who is the Centre’s Programmes Coordinator highlighted the roles of the Traditional leaders in the fight against this menace in the society, he further reiterated CITAD’s commitment to the fight against this evil practice in in the state.

In his speech His Royal Highness, the Emir of Rano Alh. Kabiru Muhd ​​Inuwa expressed his gratitude and support for the visit and CITAD’s efforts toward ending GBV in the society.

He added that “if a society is going to make a difference, it is incumbent on the parents to support it.”

During the visit, the Centre presented some of its publications to the Emirate.

Internet connectivity is becoming part and parcel of humans’ lives all over the globe, but the story in the undeveloped countries most especially those living in the African continent is different and not encouraging. Millions of people in Africa are finding it difficult to access this network and even in places where these networks exist most of the time it’s inefficient and costly. The emergence of covid19 pandemics has exposed how fragile humans are and their dependence on the services the internet provides to their daily lives. Reports have indicated that only less than 50% of the Nigerian population are connected or have access to the internet. Of this 50% many do not have the resources to own smartphones or computers that will give the opportunity to access these services due to the high level of poverty ravaging the majority of the country’s population. To ensure more people are being connected and have access to internet services in Nigeria, government through its communications agencies such as Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agencies (NITDA) have bring about many programs such as Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and provide free computers and internet services to some communities and academic institutions in the country.

Non-profit organizations such as Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) whose their main focus is using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to empower citizens have initiated many programs that will liberate Nigerian people from this digital “darkness” and make the country one of the developed nations in terms of internet connectivity and other areas of human development as internet gives people ample opportunities in their academic pursuit, businesses and in the health care sector, among others.

To ensure no one is left behind in the process, CITAD in 2016 launched the Digital Livelihood program which centered on the training women on digital technology and digital entrepreneurship in northern Nigeria with focus on Abuja rural communities, Kano and Bauchi States, it later on included Jigawa State. The program has achieved tremendous success as lives of hundreds of young girls and women have been changed and transformed, many of the trained girls have now become digital entrepreneurs; graphic designing, web designers, online marketers etc. In an interview in one of the Nigerian Newspapers, one of the beneficiaries, Sadiya Danyaro stated that the training “has drastically changed her life and made her to become an employer rather than a job seeker. She also described the training as the turning point of discovering her passion and dream”.

Before the commencement of community network project by CITAD which is being supported by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through Association for Progressive Communication in Nigeria, CITAD has in the past set up seven (7) computer centers in two states in Nigeria to ease internet access to these underserved and neglected communities in terms of internet connectivity. The communities are Tungan Ashere, Dakwa Community, Pasepa, Gaube and Leleyi Gwari all in rural Abuja communities, Jama’are and Itas-Gadau in Bauchi State.

At the peak of Covid19 pandemic which highlighted the need and necessity of connecting everyone with affordable and efficient internet connection, the community network project was launched by APC with support of FCDO in three continents; Africa, Asia and Latin America and championed by CITAD in Nigeria. Community networks are telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by local groups to meet their own communication needs and also a communications infrastructure, designed and erected to be managed for use by local communities. This communication needs can be voice, data, etc. and can be a point of convergence for communities to come together to address their common community problems.

This initiative is aimed at enhancing the capacity of communities to design, deploy and manage community networks to meet their communication needs while at the same time engaging regulators and other relevant policy makers to enact policies and provide support that could enhance the flourishing of community networks in the country. Due to resource constraint CITAD piloted some sites in seven communities across three states namely Jama’are and Itas in Bauchi State, Kafanchan in Kaduna State and four sites in rural community of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (Tungen Ashere, Dakwa Community, Pasepa and Leleyi Gwari). Some of the activities carried out by CITAD under this project are: training of the community campions in these communities on the need for setting up community network centers in these areas and on advocacy in order to engage their representatives more effectively, forming community network advisory committee which consists of individuals from Civil society Organizations, ICT sector, Government and members of the communities, high level engagements with government (NCC and NITDA), engagement with House of Representatives and championing discussions on designing policies on community network in Nigeria.

So far with persistent engagements and advocacies visits by CITAD progress on setting up community networks in Nigeria has been made. The Nigerian government through the House Committee on ICT has drafted a bill which contains provisions on community networks, Itas and Jama’are local governments, both in Bauchi States have donated a piece of land each to CITAD to build community network centers in their communities. NCC has following meetings with CITAD given indication that it will develop a policy to guide the development of community networks in the country.

Ali Sabo is the Campaigns and Communications Officer of CITAD and can be reached via his email address: aliyuncee@gmail.com or his twitter handle: @a_sabo12

Centre for Information Technology CITAD has received a land donation from the Chairman of Itas/Gadau Local Government of Bauchi state, Honorable Abdullahi Muhammad Maigari (Yayan Gida) for building to accommodate structures needed for a proposed community network facility in the community.

This is part of a project the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK through the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) which aims at enhancing the capacity of communities to design, deploy and manage community networks to meet their communication needs while at the same time engaging regulators and other relevant policy makers to enact policies and provide support that could enhance the flourishing of community networks in the country.

According to the Executive Director of the Centre, Y. Z. Yaú, no doubt, he COVID 19 pandemic and the resultant lock down brought to a sharp relieve the importance of the internet as learning, business and other social interactions shifted online.

That such shift was not possible for many people who have remained excluded from the digital opportunities. In Nigeria such exclusion is large as less than 50% of the population is actually connected.

These communication needs can be voice, data, etc. and can be point of convergence for community to come together to address their common community problems.

The project, he said, has pilot sites in seven communities across three states namely Jamaare and Itas in Bauchi State, Kafanchan in Kaduna State and four sites in rural community of Federal Capacity Territory, Abuja (Tungen Ashere, Dakwa Community, Pasepa and Leleyi Gwari.)

Furthermore, CITAD calls on the the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to fast track its process of policy development for community networks in the country, while it also calls on the Galaxy Backbone which has declared its support and commitment to promoting community networks to demonstrate this support by reaching out to communities that are already working to roll out such in their communities.

Also that the USPF and NITAD to extend their digital inclusion programmes to community networks initiatives so that these efforts could become more sustainable.

It also charge other Political leaders in Itas-Gadau Local Government and in other communities, especially the Members, State House of Assembly and House Representative members to as a matter of their constituents’ interest support efforts to build the community networks in their communities to address the digital marginalization of their people,

Philanthropies and business individuals in the local governments are also encourage to assist in the building of the community network centers while local government chairmen in the country, especially where the intervention is taking place have been asked to emulate the good gesture of Itas-Gadau local government chairman.

And finally, that NCC lead in speeding up the flourishing of community networks in the country by providing free spectrums to rural communities where community networks are being provided.

CITAD SENSITIZES TUNGAN ASHERE COMMUNITY IN FCT ON NETWORK CONNECTION BASED ON LOCAL ENTITY AND THE MARCH OF BARRICADING GAP OF NETWORK CONNECTION TODAY 20th AUGUST, 2021.

On its continued efforts to link communities with networks and have access to affordable networks, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) had today 20th August 2021 sensitized the Tungan Ashere community on community network connection based.

The sensitization campaign is part of a larger activity of the Centre on Supporting Community-led Approaches to Addressing the Digital Divide Nigeria which is being coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) through their Digital Access Programme (DAP).

As network problem is becoming rampant in Nigeria, in accessing services such as voice call, text message, and Internet access as a result of the lack of community networks in Nigeria.

The community networks project sensitization program has already been implemented in other communities in the country; Jama’are and Itas in Bauchi, Dakwa in Abuja all are among the communities that are benefiting from the program.

This sensitization program was held at Tugan Ashere Community FCT.

The program started with a definition of community network and its benefits to the communities; these are some of the major contents that were discussed during the by CITAD technical officer Engineer Suhail Sani
among other topics that were discussed include service render by community network, regulatory conditions of the project, and sustainability issues for the community networks.

Also, part of the discussions was the linkages of the communities to open access to networks.

Religious leaders, youth representatives, and traditional rulers were among the participants that attended the sensitization. In the end, participants asked questions and offered contributions.

In it bid to bridge gap of internet accessibility and connectivity, an organization known as Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, has stressed the need for setting up of community networks in unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria in order to promote digital inclusion in the country.

The Coordinator, School of Community Network, Haruna Adamu Hadejia Stated this while briefing Journalist ,during Experience Sharing Meeting with Community Networks Micro Organizations in the state on the project supported by Association for Progressive Communications, APC through United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO.

He said the community network centers was piloted in the seven communities, which includes two centers in Jama’are and Itas-Gadau in rural part of Bauchi State, one centre in Kafanchan, Kaduna State and four others in Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

“This is part of a global project to catalyze the flourishing of community networks as a means of connecting the unconnected”

“The objectives of the project are segmented at three levels as follows: To provide Business management and technical capacity development programmes to communities and their organizations for local people to start and maintain efficient networks”

“Similarly, it is to address both accessibility and affordability gaps since most underserved communities are poor and unprofitable to the market, we need to develop low cost access models that are viable, sustainable and affordable to the poor.

Haruna Adamu maintained that the meeting will improve awareness of local, marginalised communities with regard to both potential dividends and harms generated by digital technologies through greater access to information on opportunities and risks hinders the adoption of inclusive digital access for development in many underserved communities and provision of digital literacy skills and knowledge to manage the above challenges.

“The project focuses on selected locally managed community networks in three regions, Africa, Asia and Latin America, to strengthen their impact, reach and sustainability.

“This group of community networks will form the core of a peer community that can connect and broaden support for community-based connectivity initiatives, nationally, regionally and internationally.

“The project will achieve its objectives through peer learning and exchange, awareness raising, technical assistance, capacity building for the development of scalable, innovative and sustainable networks, policy and regulatory advocacy and community mobilisation.

“However, CITAD with support from APC in 2020 implement a project on supporting Community Led-Approach to Addressing the Digital Divide in Nigeria by establishing community networks centers across the country which aim is to work with the existing centers and also build their capacity to support policy implications.

“The micro organizations can be divided into three. One category composed of those that are already experimenting with community networks. These are the Fantsuam Foundation, based in Kafanchan, a rural area of Kaduna State and the ISOC Community network which is located in Zaria, an academic and urban centre of Kaduna state. The second category are where is no network but there is a community digital centres. These are: Zoboda Women Traders Co-operative Society the third category are those in which there is internet which is relatively poor. In all but six communities, affordability is low as these are rural poor communities,” Hadejia stated.

Recall that a report by the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF in 2019 identified 114 connectivity gaps in the country as either underserved and unserved hence the need for the community networks

Rakiya A. Muhammad

For some hard-to-reach communities which lagged in ICTs, bridging the digital literacy divide means they can access critical information and digital media necessary to shape their day-to-day lives.

Internet access positively affects agricultural outcomes for women in some rural areas in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It is boosting computer-based examinations for the students. The youths access information to help improve their knowledge, attend online events, apply for internship programmes, and identify/create products and services.

Tunga Asheri is one of these rural areas leveraging on a digital literacy initiative to change their narratives. It now has a primary school for the first time in its decades-long existence.

“We posted a picture of where we were using for classes on Facebook, and it attracted the attention of UBEC, which built a school in the community,” Madaki Kashimu, the ICT facilitator in the area.

Kasimu is among the first batch of ICT trainees in Tunga Asheri, one of 15 benefitting communities of the ActionAid ICT for Development initiative, aiming to break the digital barriers between rural and urban dwellers.

Agricultural activities were her top priority; thus, she was reluctant to give some of her time to a programme that she felt was not worthwhile. Though Hassana gave it a lukewarm reception, many other Leleyi Gwari inhabitants say they were excited about the scheme.

URBAN-RURAL GAP

The urban-rural gap remains an issue of concern in Nigeria, with several rural communities disadvantaged in the era of digital transformation and creating a considerable hindrance to their success and future.

“Large swathes of the rural landscape are still not covered by mobile broadband networks, and fewer households in these areas have access to the Internet. Also worrying, the rollout of communications infrastructure is slowing. Since growth in communications infrastructure deployment was already showing signs of slowing in 2019.”

“In Africa, only 28 per cent of households in urban areas had access to the Internet at home, but that was still 4.5 times as high as the percentage in rural areas, which stood at 6.3 per cent.” The Nigeria Digital Economic Report of the World Bank Group provides an insight into the situation in the country:

In Africa, only 28 percent of households in urban areas had access to the internet at home but that was still 4:5 times as high as the percentage in rural areas, which stood at 6.3 percent- ITU

BRIDGING DIGITAL BARRIER IN FCT RURAL COMMUNITIES

ActionAid’s ICT for Development initiative aims to bridge the digital barrier between those living in hard-to-reach communities, worked with 15 communities across five area councils Kuje, AMAC, Bwari, Kwali and Abuja FCT.

Hajara Adamu, the ActionAid Nigeria Advisor, Partnership and Local Rights programme, explains what informed the scheme. “We noticed that over some time now in most of our communities, access to ICT is a challenge, that prompted ActionAid to start the pilot ICT for Development,” she reveals.

“We introduced the programme after interacting with the community and coming up with a need assessment of what they want as a community and aligning it with the SDGs that said we should leave no one behind in terms of development.”

Each area council has a centre in a community where other benefitting communities within that area council go for training. In Kwali local government, Leleyi-Gwari is the centre that serves Lele-Basa, Piye, Kilakwa localities.

“We did the need assessment in early 2017 and equipping the ICT centres in the 4th quarter of 2017. The training started properly in 2018,” Hajara discloses.

Part of the aim was to make the ICT as simplified as possible for the low literacy level.

22-year-old Aisha Mohammed Sarki, a Leleyi-Gwari Local Education Authority (LEA) Community primary school teacher, is a beneficiary. After the training, she introduced computer science in the school to impart the knowledge to the community’s younger generation.

“We are thankful for ActionAid/CITAD gesture. The ICT has helped us a lot, especially me. I didn’t have the knowledge, but I am now teaching the pupils computer science with the skills,” an elated Aisha declares.

“Before now, I did not know it is possible to plant rice in any area apart from Fadama (a land capable of being irrigated); I didn’t know there were rice varieties you could plant anywhere. I discovered that through the computer,” Hassana states.

Shuaibu

Another beneficiary of the ICT initiative, 23-year-old Kauna Lasisi, a groundnut farmer, says she mostly does research online with the new skill. “Before the computer training, I did not know that if I need something, I could google and place an order,” she says.

“I was looking for a variety of groundnut. We searched the variety online and got it. I sowed it. Right now, it is still growing.” Yusuf Shuaibu, Manager/Facilitator of the ICT centre, who was among the first batch of ICT trainees in Leleyi-Gwari, describes the programme as excellent.

“It has touched a lot of lives in the community, especially mine. I didn’t know how to use a computer. It was CITAD who taught me how to use a computer. I can do very well now. I can do a lot,” reveals Shuaibu , 2017 graduate of Niger State College of Education, who grabbed the ICT opportunity as it came.

“In the second batch, some of them wrote WAEC. I took them through the process of computer use, something that internet cafes were charging exorbitantly. The cafes charged about N15,000.” He expresses joy “the ICT beneficiaries are engaging in marketing.

Some created google accounts for JAMB and personal use; some have Facebook pages. They share their community problems for anyone who cares to help and even for government.”

“Also, they use it to report cases as the communities are remote and lack access to the police station; some developed businesses because it was not just about digital or computer training alone, but capacity building on entrepreneurship development.”

He adds that online business transactions now occur among neighbouring communities that were part of the ICT training. However, the facilitator laments that during the rainy season, they record low ICT use.

“Wet season impact on it because farming is the major source of income for the communities. A father would not allow his son, after returning from school, to come to the centre; he instructs him to go to the farm,” he reveals.

On how they are sustaining the centre, he explains: “ActionAid /CITAD advised we develop a business that can generate some money to keep the place running. But here, we do not have one of the most important things-a photocopying machine and printer is not working.”

“What I do is to fuel generator with my money, not that the community is paying me, it was ActionAid that was paying me before along the line after a year plus, they said the community would take over but who is here in the community to pay me? Nobody, I make the sacrifice since they are my people.”

He lauds ActionAid/CITAD for the efforts in their community. “Even for the third batch, they provided transport fare for those people coming from other communities. They also made fuel provision and data for the ICT training,” Shuaibu discloses.

The traditional head of the community, Sarki Yusuf Giya, remarks: “The computer has helped us a lot; many children know how to operate the computer now.” He observes that, with the ICT, the community recorded a lower failure rate at WAEC and JAMB examination.

“Hitherto, they didn’t know ICT, so they fail because they would know the answer but do not know how to operate it, but with the coming of ICT centre, none of them is facing that.”

Sarki also recalls: “Before now, when they go out to the internet café, they spend more than N2,000 for transportation, browsing, and researching, but now with N200 data they can browse.”

Teacher, Aisha

CONNECTIVITY, ELECTRICITY CHALLENGES

“We noticed that almost all the communities do not have strong networks. So, it has been in our plan to pay advocacy to the service providers- the ones that are available in those communities.”

She also comments on the electricity problem and sustainability challenges, especially in area councils with no electricity supply. “Most of these communities do not have access to power supply, which means we have to run on a generator.

Our initial plan was to install the solar system. Between the time of budget and purchase, there was a substantial difference, so the allotted amount could not cover for the installation of the solar system,” the Advisor reveals.

“We believe if there has been a solar system and people can go there without needing to buy fuel at all times, that would have improved in terms of participation and other outcomes that we would have been having in the project.”

She, however, points out that the communities should be able to use the ICT programme for their growth. “This is something that they normally go out to spend transportation to go to the nearest town to print, photocopy, register, etc. It is in their communities now, they should properly use it, and they should be able to sustain it.”

According to her, from their assessment, the outcomes are not the same across the five centres. “Some centres are excelling more than others, and currently, ActionAid is looking for other collaborators because the project is just like a pilot, as a model to the government on how little it would take to bring development to the hard-to-reach communities.”

She expresses happiness they have been able to make some impact in the communities. “We are happy when projects start if we can make an impact in the life of one, that person can bring a ripple effect.

In one community, Tunga Asheri, there had never been a primary school for all its existence, but the ICT programme drew the attention of UBEC. Now the community has a school,” the Advisor asserts.

“This is what we have been urging through advocacy, and it didn’t work. So, I would say we thank God for where we are, but with time, we would have more success.

ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT, GOOD GOVERNANCE

According to the Sponsorship Officer CITAD, Mubarak Ekute, the centre sees technology as a tool to promote sustainable development, good governance and peaceful coexistence.

He adds CITAD uses ICT to empower youth and women through access to information, skills and online mentoring opportunities. The primary aim of the Local Rights Programme (LRP) of CITAD with funding from ActionAid, Ekute explains, is to improve the socio-economic status of poor women, men and children in the rural communities.

He adds the programme focused on basic education, ICT For development, women’s rights, health, governance, and human security emergencies. Ekute harps on the need for government to complement the work they are doing in rural communities.

“Realising the full benefits of the digital economy requires Nigeria to focus on accelerating improvements in five fundamental pillars of the digital economy; digital infrastructure, platforms, financial services, entrepreneurship and skills,” says Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria.

“To ensure that the country is digitally enabled by 2030, investing in infrastructure to bridge the digital divide and creating an enabling regulatory environment for the digital economy to thrive is of paramount important.”

BY:
MUDASSIR ALIYU YUNUSA
NTA ZARIA.

What I would never forget about CITAD, THE CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT, was in 2002, I received sponsorship letter to study Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) at Hands-On Institute of Information Technology Beirut Road Kano, a Computer Institute affiliated to University of Lagos Computer Centre.

The letter was the Second among numerous kindness and unique generosity accorded to me by CITAD. The first one was the gold medal I received after I represented my Secondary School (the Prestigious Rumfa College Kano) during Computer and ICT quiz Competition organize by CITAD in 2000, we came First position and won set of color TV and some prizes.

It was really inspirational to me, by developing more interest to acquire IT literacy right from secondary school. We have received so many motivation and courage from our Principal Late Dr. Adamu Turaki alongside our Computer and IT Tutor Mallam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai who was also a resource person with CITAD.

CITAD is a reputable non-governmental and non-profit organization that is committed to the use of information and communication technologies for development and promotion of good governance.

It was established with the aim of providing Computer Literacy as well as to promote sustainable development in ICT among the society.

I was opportuned to be registered as CITAD member, firstly as a beneficiary and later absorbed as an Assistant Trainer/Instructor, and Facilitor in some programmes offered in the Centre.

The Certificate, Diploma and other special IT literacy courses and programmes have been paramount in making Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Gombe great in ICT especially among Secondary School Students. It has become a tradition by CITAD to organised annual Inter Secondary School Computer and ICT quiz Competition and also sponsored the winner to National ICT competition, in this regard my school Rumfa College represented Kano state in 2003 National ICT Qiuz held in Ibadan Oyo state courtesy of CITAD.

Among the functions of CITAD toward ICT Training, awareness and capacity building, I participated in few ICT awareness, sensitization campaigns and advocacies, e.g the Civic education/ road show at Gala Village of Sumaila Local Government, Capacity building and Career Talk in Zaura Babba Ungogo Local Government all in Kano State, Training and Capacity Building on Computer Appreciation to Kano State Civil Servants (Senior Staff, Directors and Perm Sects) held at Kano State Computer Centre Audu Bako Secretariat, Computer Training of Staff of Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, Computer Training on Youths Empowerment Scheme by Kano State Government in collaboration with Office of the Special Adviser to Executive Governor on Youth Development in 2004, Transition Monitoring Group (Election Observers). Kano ICT Summit where CITAD in collaboration with Office of the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor on Education and Information Technology (SAEIT) have proposed to Kano State Government an ICT Park with the aim of making Kano an ICT leading State in the country.

To be honest, as a product and friend of CITAD, I most commend the Centre’s long time resilient and strength in exploring the IT world and make it easy, accessible and available not only to people in urban area but people in remote villages have benefited immensely from the large scale of CITAD programmes.

Let me acknowledge and appreciate the excellent performance and commitment of the CITAD founder Mallam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u (Ph.D) whose innovations and intellectual capability has became noticeable towards imparting Computer literacy specifically on Youths.

He groomed number of youths in IT, many of them have excelled in Global ICT. One good thing about Dr Y.Z Ya’u is that, he is very generous to his staff by giving out slots on ad-hoc basis to them. With this kindness I have the priviledge to offered an ad-hoc job slots to my friends and relatives, Baffa Kabir Gwadabe and Kamal Nuhu Abdullahi can testify to this. His clear mind and service to humanity accorded him a simple recognition, he was nominated and served as a member National Conference (CONFAB) during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. For these Mallam Y.Z deserve to be awarded with National Honour award for his contributions to the development of ICT in Nigeria.

During my stay at CITAD, I worked with team of capable hands, whose names and contributions will never be forgotten and would be written with Golden Ink as CITAD pace setters e.g Mallam Ahmad Yakasai (My Mentor), Mallam Garba Masama, Mallam Isyaku, Ado Yakasai, Sagir Ado Abubakar (Karamin Sakatare), Mustaphan Zainab, Muktar CITAD, Kamalu, Abubakar Muktar Yakasai, Muhammad Ibrahim Aminu, Jamilu Bala Jibril, Zahir Suleiman, Abubakar Fagam, Nura Masama, Fatima CITAD etc. Some are still working with CITAD. The most interesting thing about CITAD is that the Centre is always working diligently with professionals, intellectuals and experts from different walks of life called ‘FRIENDS OF CITAD’.

Now the Centre has grown up with customized services including online Radio transmission which make them exceptional and among the leading NGO not only in Kano but in Nigeria as a whole. CITAD sees technology as a tool to promote human and material empowerment, good governance, peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. It uses ICT to empower youth and women through access to information, skills & capacity building and online mentoring opportunities.

Its areas of work include applications of technology in governance and elections; socio economic and political awareness and campaign, youth development, empowerment and entrepreneurship; peace-building efforts, including hate speech monitoring, transparency and anti-corruption; ICT business development and promotion among others.

Long live CITAD, long live Staff of CITAD and long live Friends of CITAD.
mudassiray@gmail.com

A Æ™oÆ™arin ta na yaÆ™i da mummunar É—abi’ar nan ta cin zarafin mata da kananan yara, cibiyar bunÆ™asa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma (CITAD), ta Æ™addamar da wata manhaja da za a dinga amfani da ita wajen saka ido tare da kai rahoton cin zarafin mata a kowanne lokaci.

Cibiyar ta CITAD ta ƙaddamar da wannan manjahar ne a yau Alhamis a ofishinta da ke Kano, da nufin samun cikakken bayani tare da adadin waɗanda ake ciwa zarafin a cikin makarantun da ke jihar Kano.

Haka kuma cikakken bayanin da manjahar za ta tattara zai baiwa mahukunta da Æ´an jarida da kungiyoyin fararen hula da kuma Æ™ungiyoyin mata wajen Æ™ara fahimtar yadda ake samun Æ™aruwar wannan mummunar É—abi’ar tare kuma da Æ™ara taimakawa wajen wayar da kan al’umma da Æ™ara samar da dokokin da za su baiwa mata kariya.

Jami’i a É“angaren fasaha na Cibiyar ta CITAD, Suhail Sani Abdullahi ya bayyana cewa samar da wannan sabuwar manhajar zai taimaka wajen karÉ“ar rahoto daga wakilan sa kai da aka naÉ—a a makarantu tare da adana bayanai yadda ya kamata.

Suhail Sani ya Æ™ara da cewa cibiyar ta CITAD ta himmatu wajen aiki tare domin ganin mata da Æ™ananan yara sun samu aminci daga wannan mummunar É—abi’a.

Haka kuma Suhail ɗin ya ƙara da cewa manjahar ba za ta taɓa ambata sunan wanda ya kai rahoton ko aka ci zarafinsa ba, kuma manjahar za a sameta a manhajar Google Play a cikin ƴan kwanaki masu zuwa.

A nasa bangaren babban daraktan cibiyar ta CITAD, Injiniya Yunusa Ya’u bayyana damuwarsa ya yi akan yadda ake Æ™ara samun Æ™aruwar wannan mummunar É—abi’ar a tsakankanin mata da Æ™ananan yara a jihar Kano.

Injiniya Yunusa Ya’u ya ce akwai buÆ™atar a haÉ—u guri guda domin yaÆ™i da wannan mummunar É—abi’ar.

“Cin zarafin mata babbar matsala ce a cikin al’umma, kuma ana yin wannan dabi’a ne ta fuskoki daban – daban kama daga kan fyade a makarantu da auren wuri da cin zarafin mata domin a ba su maki ko aikin yi da sauran dangogin wannan miyagun É—abi’u”

Ya Æ™ara da cewa “Ana samun irin wannan cin zarafin a zahiri da kuma shafukan sadarwa na zamani wanda cin zarafin kan cutar tare da jefa rayuwar mata cikin mummunan hali”
Injiniya Yunusa Ya’u ya ce bayanan da wannan manhaja za ta tattara za a yi amfani da shi wajen Æ™ara wayar da kan al’umma da kuma shigo da masu ruwa da tsaki wajen yaÆ™i da cin zarafin matan.

Haka kuma za a yi amfani da bayanan wajen koyar da mata dabarun kare kai tare da kaucewa fadawa komar masu aikata wannan mummunar É—abi’ar da kuma gurfanar da duk wanda aka samu da aikata wannan dabi’a a gaban hukuma domin ya fuskanci shari’a.

A nata É“angaren Zainab Aminu wacce ita ce jami’ar da ta ke kula da shirin na yaÆ™i da cin zarafin mata da cibiyar ta CITAD ke gabatarwa wanda ya ke samun tallafi daga gidauniyar Ford, godewa É—aliban da su ka halarci taron Æ™addamar da manhajar ta yi tare da bayyana cewa hakan zai ba su damar fahimtar illar da ke tattare da cin zarafin mata da kuma kai rahoto cikin sauÆ™i.

Zainab Aminu ta ce hakki ne da ya rataya a wuyan kowa wajen kai rahoto tare da yaÆ™i da wannan mummunar É—abi’ar da ta zame wa al’umma annoba.

Ana samun ƙaruwar cin zarafin mata da ƙananan yara a jihar Kano, domin ko a cikin watan Janairun shekarar nan sai da hukumar Hisba ta jihar ta bayyana cewa ana samun ƙaruwar cin zarafin matan daga mazaje.

Taron dai ya samu halarcin dalibai daga jami’o’i da sauran manyan makarantu da ke faÉ—in jihar Kano.

As parts the effort to fight gender base violence among girls and women in Kano State, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in conjunction with the Ford Foundation has lunched a unique Web Page and Android Application to monitor and report cases of gender-based violence.

The Web Page and Android Application aim to create a comprehensive database on gender-based violence hotspots across Kano state, particularly in public schools, so that Kano women/girls can plan safer education for themselves and their loved ones.

The data will also give government authorities, civil society movements, media houses and women organisation a deeper understanding of gender-based violence across Kano, identifying unmet needs, raising public awareness and helping to shape policy on safety in public spaces.

The technical officer of the Centre Suhail Sani Abdullahi, stressed that the new web page and Android Application will receive and stored data from different monitors who is our volunteers ambassadors at Kano state higher institutions.

Suhail Sani stressed that the centre are committed to working together for a safer society for women and girls.

He therefore, said that the new application will not expose name or address of the victim and the person who reported the case. And the application will be available in next few days on internet platform.

On his part, the executive director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD, Engr. Yunusa Ya’u expressed his worry over the rising cases of gender base violence in Kano State among girls/women and also his concerns on the need to have synergy among all key actors in fighting it.

“Gender based violence is a major problem in our society, and it takes many forms such as sexual harassment in our campuses, rape, spousal abuse, sexual gratification for job or marks, etc. It can be physically or online and traumatized its victims”

He added that the centre will use the data generated from new application in advocacy, public enlightenment, equipping women and girls with relevant information and knowledge to protect themselves against gender based violence, and finally to work with some partners to push for the prosecution of perpetrators of gender based violence.

While giving out the overview of the programme, the gender officer of the project, Zainab Aminu applauded the participants for attending the workshop which according to her will enrich their knowledge on the concept of GBV and how to report the incidence easily.

She added that, “it is compulsory on everyone to report and act on any case of gender based violence to end this menace in our society”.

Journalists and students from universities and other state higher institutions attended the launching of the application.

Incidents of gender-based violence have continued to top the chart of discourse among stakeholders, despite efforts by the government to check the threat. Also experts and advocates against Gender-Based Violence say the consequences of lack of justice for survivors of GBV have been fatal in many instances.

A Æ™oÆ™arin ta na ganin an samarwa da al’ummar da su ke zaune a yankunan karkara, cibiyar bunÆ™asa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma CITAD, ta gudanar da wani taro na wuni É—aya wanda ya gudana a cibiyar fasahar sadarwa ta Æ™auyen Pasepa a yankin Æ™aramar hukumar Bwari da ke Abuja, ya mayar da hankali ne akan wayar da kan jama’ar Æ™auyen kan amfanin samar da fasahar sadarwa.

Tun da farko cibiyar ta CITAD ce ta ke gudanar da wani aiki mai taken community network project wanda ya ke ƙarƙashin kulawar Association for Progressive Communications (APC) da kuma United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), ta cikin shirin su na Digital Access Programme (DAP).

A lokacin gudanar da taron jami’a mai kula da shafukan sadarwar zamani ta cibiyar CITAD É—in, Harira Abdurrahman Wakili, ta gabatar da jawabi akan muhimmanci tare da alfanun da ke tattare da samar da fasahar sadarwa ga mazauna yankunan karkara.

Harira Wakili ta ce a halin da ake ciki a yanzu harkokin kasuwanci da ilimi da sauran abubuwan da su ka shafi rayuwar al’umma sun koma dandalin intane, wanda kuma akwai buÆ™atar a samarwa da mazaunan yankunan na karkara fasahar zamanin domin su ma a dama da su.

Suhail Sani Abdullahi wanda shi ma jami’i ne a sashen fasaha na cibiyar ta CITAD, cewa ya yi samarwa da al’ummar da su ke zaune a Æ™auyuka fasahar sadarwa zai taimaka Æ™warai da gaske musamman a É“angaren ilimi da kuma tsaro.

Ya ce idan ana batun fasahar sadarwa bai kamata a ce an ware wani bangaren al’umma ba domin hakki ne da ya rataya a wuyan gwamnati ta samar da fasahar sadarwar a dukkanin Æ™auyuka, musamman idan aka yi la’akari da cewa al’ummar da ke zaune a irin waÉ—annan yankunan su ke da mafi yawan kaso na al’ummar Najeriya.

Taron dai ya samu halarcin jama’ar wannan Æ™auye da kuma shugabbanin addini da na al’umma da kuma shugabannin kungiyoyin mata.

A ƙarshe cibiyar ta CITAD ta yi kira ga gwamnati da sauran ƙungiyoyin fararen hula da su zage himma wajen ganin an haɗa hannu guri guda ganin gwamnati ta samar da wata doka da za ta tilastawa kamfanonin sadarwa masu zaman kan su kafa turakunansu a yankunan karkara.

THE Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) and other stakeholders have resolved to form a coalition aimed at popularising community networks as a tool to address digital divide by promoting and popularising digital inclusion in the country, a communiqué at the end of a consultative meeting of civil society organisations on community network hosted by CITAD, has revealed.

The communiqué, signed by Y. Z. Ya’u, CITAD’s Executive Director, at the end of the one-day consultative meeting held virtually via Zoom on Tuesday July 27, 2021, and attended by over 40 CSOs from different parts of the country, noted that CITAD convened the meeting as part of its project on supporting community-led approaches to addressing the digital divide in Nigeria.

The meeting, the communiqué also stated, resolved that stakeholders should commence the sensitisation of their community members about the importance and benefit of community network; conduct sustained advocacy for the national telecommunications regulator to come up with a national policy framework for community networks in the country and support the collective effort to address the multifarious dimensions of the digital divide in the country.

According to the communiqué, the meeting was part of a larger project on community networks coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme (DAP).

Community networks, the communiqué explained, comprise telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by local groups to meet their own communication needs as well as communications infrastructure designed and erected to be managed for use by local communities.

These communication needs can be voice, data, etc. and can be point of convergence for community to come together to address their common community problems, the communiqué further stated.

The resolutions were drawn from deliberations and observations of participating stakeholders who explored the possibility of a joint advocacy for the government to develop a policy framework for the community networks after noting that at the present, the country does not have a policy for community networks, a situation that has hampered evolution and growth.

For instance, participants at the meeting observed that there is no policy or regulation to recognise community networks as distinct operators with appropriate conditions for their operations and that at the moment there are over 100 “unserved or underserved communities who are digitally excluded in the country.”

Participants also observed that although there are over 298,823,195 (two hundred and ninety-eight million, eight hundred and twenty-three thousand, one hundred and ninety-five) connected lines out of which 297,536,702 ((two hundred and ninety-seven million, five hundred and thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and two) were said to be active in the country, only about 40% of these are connected to the internet, meaning that internet penetration in the country covers only about 40% of the population.

Participants also noted that most of the blind areas are in either hard-to-reach rural communities or poor communities due largely to the challenge of affordability, a situation which compelled operators not to provide connectivity to them as it would be unprofitable.

While the meeting noted that the NCC is favourably disposed to midwifing the policy framework for community networks, it however observed that there are still many challenges that have to be addressed for community networks to sustainably flourish.

Stressing that community networks will bring opportunities for direct access to education and health care for rural residents, participants considering the existing gaps, therefore resolved to pursue the popularisation of community networks which they believed will serve as catalyst to addressing digital divide, among other challenges.

THE Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has been awarded a multi-million dollar grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to promote vaccine acceptance and access for marginalised groups in northern part of Nigeria.

The grant is part of roughly $80 million (N32,876,134,816.46) in awards announced by MacArthur on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in support of its Equitable Recovery initiative focused on advancing racial and ethnic justice. The initiative is funded by MacArthur’s social bonds, issued in response to the crises of the pandemic and racial inequity.

“As we emerge from this moment of crisis, we have an opportunity to improve the critical systems that people and places need to thrive. Our systems and structures must be rebuilt,” said MacArthur President, John Palfrey, while announcing the grant. “We are committed to ensuring that our response to the pandemic is focused on supporting the reimagining of systems that create a more just, equitable, and resilient world,” Palfrey added.

The announcement revealed that 45 per cent of the new funding supports work outside of the U.S., including 12 per cent in India, and 14 per cent in Nigeria, where MacArthur has offices.

The grant is to support improving access to resources for immediate health challenges while advancing new policies, models, and structures to support a more equitable and resilient public health sector in the future.

Other of focus the grant is meant to support racial justice field support, with a focus on combatting anti-Blackness, building Black power by supporting Black-led and Black-focused philanthropic organisations; uplifting indigenous communities to enable autonomous pursuit of a recovery guided by their priorities, cultures, and practices; restoring communities and reducing incarceration and housing instability by generating an array of housing solutions that can help to permanently end the use of jails and prisons as housing of last resort.

A ƙoƙarinta na ganin al’umma sun karɓi riga-kafin allurar riga-kafin cutar Korana a yankin arewacin Najeriya, gidauniyar MacArthur da ke ƙasar Amurka ta baiwa cibiya bunƙasa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma CITAD, tallafin kuɗi domin cigaba da wayar da kan al’umma wajen karɓar riga-kafin cutar a yankin Arewacin Najeriya.

Gidauniyar ta MacArthur ta sanar da bayar da tallafin kuɗi kimanin Dalar Amurka miliyan 80 a matsayin taimokonta akan yaƙi da annobar korona da ta addabi duniya.

Shugaban gidauniyar ta MacArthur John Palfrey ya bayyana cewa la’akari da halin da aka fito da kuma yadda annobar ta Korona ta yi tasiri ga abubuwan da su ke alaƙa da rayuwar al’umma kuma suna buƙatar farfaɗowa ya sanya ta bayar da tallafin domin tsarin gidauniyar ta su ne haka.

John Palfrey ya ce gidauniyar ta himmatu wajen ganin bayan wannan annoba ta hanyar bayar da tallafi domin farfaɗo da inda cutar ta yiwa illah, da kuma cigaba da wayar da kan al’umma wajen ganin sun karɓi riga-kafin cutar ta Korona.

Cibiyar CITAD dai na ɗaya daga ƙungiyoyin da su ka samu tallafin akan yaƙi da cutar ta Korona tare da wayar da kan al’umma akan irin alfanun da ke tattare da riga-kafin cutar.

Idan za a iya tunawa dai tuni kwamitin fadar shugaban ƙasa kan yaki da annobar Korona a ƙasar nan ya ware jihohi shida da babban birnin tarayya Abuja a matsayin yankuna mafiya hadari da ake fargabar barkewar cutar zagaye na uku.

Jihohin sun hada da Lagos da Oyo da Rivers da Kaduna da Kano da Plateau da kuma Abuja fadar gwamnatin kasar nan.

Cibiya bunƙasa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma CITAD, ta samu tallafin kuɗi daga gidauniyar MacArthur domin wayar da kan al’umma wajen karɓar allurar riga-kafin cutar Korana a faɗin Arewacin Najeriya.

Gidauniyar ta MacArthur ta sanar da bayar da tallafin kuɗi kimanin Dalar Amurka miliyan 80 a matsayin taimokonta a wajen yaƙi da annobar korona da ta addabi duniya.

By Abdallah el-Kurebe

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has awarded an “Equitable Recovery” grant, to the Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, to support vaccine acceptance and access for marginalized groups in northern regions in Nigeria.

The spokesperson of CITAD, Ali Sabo said “the grant is part of roughly $80 million in awards that MacArthur announced on Wednesday in support of the foundation’s Equitable Recovery initiative, centered on advancing racial and ethnic justice. The initiative is funded by MacArthur’s social bonds, issued in response to the crises of the pandemic and racial inequity.”

MacArthur President, John Palfrey said, “As we emerge from this moment of crisis, we have an opportunity to improve the critical systems that people and places need to thrive. Our systems and structures must be rebuilt.

“We are committed to ensuring that our response to the pandemic is focused on supporting the reimagining of systems that create a more just, equitable, and resilient world.”

ASHENEWS reports that CITAD is one of the organizations receiving grants to advance Public Health Equity and COVID-19 Mitigation as well as recovery focus area of the Foundation’s initiative.

Ali, in a statement said the “Public Health Equity and COVID-19 Mitigation and Recovery supports improving access to resources for immediate health challenges while advancing new policies, models, and structures to support a more equitable and resilient public health sector in the future, MacArthur is supporting work in that focus, as well as three other areas:

• Racial Justice Field Support, with a focus on combatting anti-Blackness, supports building Black power by supporting Black-led and -focused philanthropic organizations. MacArthur also will take a leadership role in positioning reparations and racial healing as issues that philanthropy helps to meaningfully address.
• Self-determination of Indigenous Peoples supports uplifting Indigenous communities to enable autonomous pursuit of a recovery guided by their priorities, cultures, and practices.
• An Equitable Housing Demonstration Project supports restoring communities and reducing incarceration and housing instability by generating an array of housing solutions that can help to permanently end the use of jails and prisons as housing of last resort.

“MacArthur identified the areas through a participatory process with a diverse group of external advisors, who informed its strategic approach.

“The participatory process aimed to center the voices of communities that are affected by the Foundation’s decisions and have a stake in the grant making outcomes.

“Almost two-thirds of the awards represent new grantee relationships, and most of the organizations are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led or -serving. The grants also reflect MacArthur’s global reach: 45 percent of the new funding supports work outside of the U.S., including 12 percent in India, and 14 percent in Nigeria, where MacArthur has offices.

Equitable Recovery Initiative

In the fall of 2020, MacArthur established a $125 million Equitable Recovery Initiative. The Foundation deployed $40 million of bond proceeds through 24 grants. Initial grants focused on strengthening voter mobilization and election protection, addressing anti-Black racism, and supporting Native Americans impacted by COVID-19. Grants also supported Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts organizations in Chicago, technology and justice, and a fund for social entrepreneurs advancing racial equity.”