2023 WORLD POETRY DAY SPECIAL

On Saturday, 25 th March, 2023 Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in
collaboration with All Poets Network International has in celebration of this year’s World Poetry
Day organized a one-day Hausa Poetry Writing Workshop for 30 selected people with special
needs in Kano. The workshop took place at CITAD Annex, Women Development Centre, Court
Road, Kano with participants drawn from the association of people with vision impairment,
people with hearing impairment and speech difficulties and physically challenged people. Every
year UNESCO celebrates World Poetry Day. Adopted in 1999, the occasion honors poets and
pays tribute to expanding linguistic variety and sharing oral traditions through poetic forms.
Sagiru Ado Abubakar who coordinates the activities of people with special needs at CITAD. in
his welcome remarks, said that CITAD has been supporting associations of people living with
disabilities to project their voice in order to demand for accountability and inclusion as well as
help them to sustain that voice. In view of this, CITAD believed that there is need to engage and
support People with Disabilities (PWDs) to amplify their voice through poetic expression.
According to him, the aim of the workshop was to expose PWDs to the rudiments of writing
Hausa poetry in order to catalyze a voice for the demand of inclusion and accountability so that
they can send their messages to the appropriate quarters for consideration.
On his part, the Curator and Founder of All Poets Network International, Khalid Imam explained
that Poetry is believed to have originated thousands of years ago and has been kept alive
through oral and written forms. He said that the theme of this year’s World Poetry Day was
“Empowering People with Special Needs”. The objective was to increase the opportunities for
endangered languages to be heard, support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and

encourages PWDs to understand the importance of poetic devices. He added that with poetry
as a driving force of communication, the participants at the end of the day were expected to
utilize the knowledge they derived from the training towards pressing homes their demands
with poetry from the appropriate quarters until they are met.
Dr. Murtala Uba Muhammad gave a brief history of poetry. He said that unlike other literary
forms that we can date to precise texts and time periods, it’s a challenge to pinpoint the
earliest work of poetry. In one form or another, poetry has been around for thousands of years.
However, we might think of the epic poem as the first instance of poetry, appearing as early as
the 20th century B.C. Jumping hundreds of years ahead, we might turn, then, to the sonnet
form and its early appearance in the 13th century. Before moving into more modern poetic
forms, it’s important to consider Restoration poetry of the 17th century and the satirical verses
of John Dryden and Alexander Pope. He then explored three poetry learning techniques as
follows reading aloud, paraphrasing, and drawing the theme.
At the end of the day, to show that the workshop yielded positive results, some of the
participants composed songs on different topics. Nasir Garko, a participant from the association
of people with vision impairment (Nigerian Association of the Blind) sang the following song:

The poem we can make it.
Dedicated to persons with disability in Nigeria.
In the morning I begin with brush, after hustling to the home I rush, surprised I’m oh! gosh!, let
not bit around the bush, disability isn’t nightmare, if we are given much care, by uplifting our
welfare, treat disabled and nondisabled with fair.
Special need has capacious memory memorizing pages with no sorcery, easily messages bump
our sensory, to have no doubt google special need’s history.
Have you ever seen the deaf carpenter? the cripple who does welder? the blind who teaches in
blind or nonblind center? special needs are unique in spite of one’s gender, excelling in
academia and businesses we Render.
Now society embrace us as your colleagues, don’t harass or stigmatize us for our physique.
Nasir Garko the poet
Malam Ibrahim Umar Abdulkarim contributed as follows
A POEM ABOUT HABLE ONE
What a friend I have in you my Hable,
That will always make me able,
To write on a desk or on a table,
And fly so high to touch the gable,
Wishing that my name was Abel.

Smartly dressed in my singlet,
I can use you to control my smartphone and tablet,
Thus making me compose a couplet,
By ensuring that my knowledge in Braille ooze like a droplet,
Keenly listening to your tone dulcet.
You have obliterated the drudgery in me,
Of a monotonous grope for one letter after another amiss from me,
From the soft touch keypad,
In a smartphone and a tablet part,
But with your Perkins-style keypad,
I can now type heart and heart.
With you my little Hable,
I know I will one day write my fable,
Uttering no word nor babble,
Not even wanting to go to the Tower of Babel,
So that my work with Hable will remain unerrable.

2023 world poetry workshop is part of CITAD engagement under the ‘SUPPORTING AND AMPLIFYING
THE VOICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY’ project to support
associations of people living with disabilities to project their voice and demand for accountability and
inclusion as well as help them to sustain that voice.

IMN Pledges to Partner CITAD on Ending Gender-based Violence

In an effort to eradicate gender based violence in the society, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), has expressed readiness to partner with Centre  for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in tackling the scourge of gender-based violence, especially violence against women and girls in Kano state.
The head of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Kano, Malam Sunusi Abdulkadir, stated this today saturday, when the CITAD GBV project team on an advocacy visit to his home.
Sunusi Abdulkadir stated that combating Gender-based Violence  should be from every angle; individuals should try their very best in protecting themselves, the perpetrators should stop the violence, organizations such as CITAD aiding in creating awareness, and the government whose duty is protecting the people it is governing should make sure it is protecting its subject.
Abdulkadir further said that some of the perpetrators hide under the umbrella of religion and commit violence which is not among the teachings of the religion, and there are films and music that are promoting violence that need to be censored before public consumption.
Malam Sanusi also explained that in Islamic Religion women are  prestigious and have every right to be educated like their male counterparts.
He concluded that the rules and regulations that provides  an environment that is safe, non-discriminatory, non-exploitative and free from harassment and sexual assault is what we should all strive for.
Malam Sunusi Abdulkadir said that if woman is educated the whole nation will benefit from her because she will nurture the upcoming generation, likewise if she is not educated and violated the society will suffer from it.
According to the project team, the visit was to officially introduce the project to the forum to seek commitment and support in preventing gender based violence in the state.

NOA, Arewa Radio Collaborate With CITAD To End Gender-based Violence In Kano

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Arewa Radio and Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), are intensifying efforts towards eradicating gender-based violence in Kano State. Especially as data shows that number of victims from this menace had increased exponentially.
This was disclosed by Kano State National Orientation Agency (NOA), director while receiving the delegation of Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD at his office today for advocacy visit.
The Director General of NOA, Kano Office, Malam Haruna Lawal, said that the National Orientation Agency is tasked with communicating government policies, staying abreast of public opinion, and promoting patriotism, national unity, and development of Nigerian society.
Haruna Lawal added that violence against women can be compared to a scourge that is consuming societies across the world, adding that it mostly has its roots in age-long cultural and religious practices which have no scientific basis.
The Director General stressed that NOA have ten (10) War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade Volunteers at each and every ward of the state, and they will use the WAI Brigade Volunteers to mobilize and campaign against gender based violence in Kano State.
He also charged all Kano residents to champion the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in their communities as the key to the speedy elimination of the vice in the state.
He further said that the Agency has deepened efforts by engaging critical stakeholders to bring an end to sexual and gender-based violence in the state. “I commend the CITAD for choosing the agency as a worthy partner in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence,”
On her part, the technical gender officer of the center, Zainab Aminu revealed that CITAD is worried at which the rate of cases concerning sexual violence that is why the center started campaigning against this menace with support from Ford Foundation. Adding that CITAD decided to partner the NOA having realized its presence and spread will be essential in reaching out to Kano state residents.
She stressed that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) will be partnering with stakeholders such as National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Police, Hisba board, State ministry of education, Traditional rulers and other CSOs and NGOs to bring the needed change regarding Gender base violence in Kano State.
In another development the management of Arewa Radio has said that they will use their medium to raise public awareness and mobilize young women and men in Kano State to end violence against women and girls.
The station manager of Arewa Radio Malam Shehu Bala Kabara made this remark while receiving the delegation of CITAD at his office today.
Shehu Bala Kabara, who is represented by administrative staff of the radio station, Widad Isma’il, added that the management will consider free airtime to CITAD, for campaigning against gender base violence in Kano State.
She said that violence against girls or women, such as rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence are a disservice to the very nature of mankind because every human is born by a woman. When women are hurt, human existence is threatened.
Gender based violence is a common social problem in Nigeria especially in the Northern parts of country. There has been an increase in the cases of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and rape of minors. And acts of violence against girls or women are often intended to intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, threaten or hurt women and girl

NHRC Kano Zonal office partners CITAD to end gender-based violence

The National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Kano Zonal office has reiterated its commitment to collaborate with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), to fight sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the state.

State Coordinator of the Commission, Shehu Abdullahi stated this while receiving the delegation of CITAD in his office for an advocacy visit.

Abdullahi, while expressing deep concern and worries over the rise in the case of violence against women and girl-child in the state, said the act was often time carried out by elderly persons.

Earlier, the state coordinator noted that the NHRC cannot single-handedly and successfully stop the scourge of violence against women and girl-child without the support and collaboration of non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations.

On her part, the Gender technical officer of the center, Zainab Aminu, said CITAD recently conducted a survey in 22 local government areas of Kano State on violence against women and children and the results showed that the practice is on the rise. She maintained that, this negative outcome calls for deep involvement of stakeholders and relevant authorities across the state to curtail its spread.

She also added that for such a crusade against GBV on women and girl-child to be successful, all hands must be on deck to tackle it.

Zainab Aminu, expressed that there is 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. She urged parents, religious institutions, community members and the media to encourage victims to speak out on cases of abuse or violence.

Madam Zainab appealed to the NHRC to provide data of violence against young girls and women to the center, because data is key in addressing gender-based violence cases and it will help to get a rundown of cases across the state.

All the tiers of government were urged to put up stringent measures to serve as deterrent against the perpetrators of the heinous act for a better society

International Women’s Day Celebration

As part of the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, CITAD organized a public hearing on the State of maternal Health in Jigawa State on 11th March 2009 at the State Library, Dutse. The event was chaired by Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, the State Permanent Secretary for Rural Infrastructure Development while the Royal Father of the Day was the Emir of Dutse who was represented by Sarkin Gabas and Hakimin Shuwarin, Alhaji Mustafa Abubakar. Guest Speaker at the occasion was Dr. Tajudeen AbdulRaheem, the Deputy Director, UN Millennium Campaign, Nairobi, Kenya. Presentations were made by state agencies, civil society organizations and development partners. Over 100 people attended the event. The pictures below capture some of the moments of the occasionpicturepicture-001picture-002picture-003picture-004

GIIP Intern Completes His Tour

On Monday, 15th September 2008, Scott Reed, an intern from the Global Information Internship Program (GIIP), University of California, Santa Cruz, USA, who had been serving with CITAD completed his period and left for the USA. During his stay with CITAD Mr. Reed conducted IT training rounds for staff of CITAD, Mambayya House and the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPc). He also helped to set up new websites for CITAD (www.citad.org and www.trainin.citad.org) as well as trained the staff of CITAD to maintain the sites. In appreciation of his stay with CITAD Mr. Reed donated his laptop to the staff of the organization. Making the presentation of the laptop, Mr. Reed said that he will continue to remember and cherish his stay with CITAD and pleaded to continue to assist the organization. While receiving the donation on behalf of CITAD, the Director of the organization said that they were happy to host Mr. Reed who would now become the Ambassador of the organization in the USA. Mr. Scott Reed came to Nigeria on 22nd July and stayed for a period of almost three month. His posting to CITAD was part of a partnership between CITAD and GIIP aimed at promoting technology skill exchange and development in the area of ICT.

CITAD receives computer donation from CAI

By abdu75ng@yahoo.com

Computer Aid International (CAI) has donated a Compaq Laptop to Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on 6th May 2008. The donation was made during the CAI official visit to CITAD. Ms Gladys Muhinyo, the Africa Programme Manager for CAI and Ms. Ann Musyoki, the West African Programme Officer for CAI, represented CAI and hav–e a discussion session with the Executive Director, CITAD, in his office.

Issues discussed were the employability programme now in progress and the delay encountered for the Computers CITAD has ordered. Y.Z. Ya’u expressed his dissatisfaction over the difficulties and delays always entered during the clearing processes especially at the port, before the containers of the Computers finally reach its destination.

But in this direction, Miss Ann assured CITAD to expect effective delivery from now on, explaining that some of the reason behind the difficulties and delays experienced were as the result of some unauthorized persons claiming to be clearing agents and extort money from individual clients. Ann Musyoki provided CITAD with phone number and e-mail address for an authorized and Confide clearing agent who would ensure CITAD Computers have safely and timely reach its destination.

CAI expressed its satisfaction over the well organized Computer Training CITAD conducts, especially the on going Youth Employability Programme. Gladys and Ann went round CITAD’s various units, computer training class and recommended the organization for its job well done.

Miss Oge Okeye of NED visits CITAD

Miss Oge Okeye, the National Endowment for Democracy, (NED)’s Assistance Program Officer for Africa, paid an official visit to Centre for Information Technology and Development, (CITAD), on 3rd- April-2008. Miss. Oge had a meeting with the Executive Director, CITAD, Y.Z. Ya’u as and other officers of the centre.

Issues discussed at the meeting involved; CITAD activities in promoting political awareness especially in Jigawa State, women participation in politics, CITAD’s contribution to the development political participation, it’s execution of NED program, accountability among others.

With regard to promoting political participation, the Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u unveiled that CITAD has formed a political sensitization team, which actively participated in creating political awareness through holding comprehensive discussions and lectures with the mass populace of Jigawa State. “Through activities like these,” according to Y.Z. Ya’u, “there has been a large turn out of voters in Jigawa State especially in contrast to with previous elections.” Further, the Director informed Miss Oge that due to the positive impact of CITAD’s team in eradicating political apathy in Jigawa State, the government in the plan to replicate the same so as to reinforce CITAD’s effort and create a democratically advantaged populace in Jigawa State.

On the gender issue and women political participation, Mrs. Fatima informed the NED’s Assistant Program Officer for Africa that in Jigawa State there is still the problem of inadequate political participation of women in politics. She added that CITAD has been trying very hard to ensure that women come out and cast their votes. Says Mrs. Fatima:

“We have been going to every nock and corner in Jigawa State, reaching out to women, educating and sensitizing them on the dividends of democracy and the important role they can play especially with their large population. Culture in this part of Nigeria does not promote women mixing freely with men, but with more sensitizations, people are now understanding the responsibilities tied around their neck, and so in the recent time there is improvement in the number of women who come out to cast their vote. The effort of CBO’s like CITAD contributed a lot.”

Miss Oge Okeye, went around the various CITAD’s units and saw their activities with satisfaction.