By

Kabiru Dakata

Introduction

Dr. M. S. Sagagi presenting a paper

The Kano State House of Assembly recently took highly commendable decision by seeking for citizens input on the 2014 budget proposal in the State. In response to the need for participatory budgeting, the State House of Assembly has called for submission of memorandum from concerned Civil Society Organizations and citizens in the state.

Conscious of the need for consensus-building amongst civil society groups in Kano State on the 2014 budget proposal and, of course, which will form civil society inputs to the budget formulation process, theCentre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),  in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD),organized a CSOs forum on the 22^nd January 2014.

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By Sufyan Lawal Kabo

On 21/12/2013, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in its effort to sensitize rural communities on how to use ICTs for community development, collaborated  with Babura Facebook Users Forum and organised a one day workshop on the use of ICT for community development at GGSS Babura. At least 103 comprising of youths, and elderly people attended the workshop. Also in attendance were the Hakimi (District head) of Babura, Alhaji Hadi Mustapha (Sarkin Bai of Ringim) ably represented by Alhaji Nura Mustapha. Others were Engr Abdurrazak Nakore, the Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Rural Electrification Board, Mal Kamilu Adamu, a retired Zonal Director of Jigawa State Ministry of Education and other respected dignitaries.

Certificate of Appreciation

Alhaji Nura Mustapha representing District head of Babura presenting certificate to CITAD

Photograph of Guests, Members and Perticipants

Cross Section of the Participants

The objetive of the workshop was to sensitize participants on the use of  ICTs for community development.The opening prayer was offered by Alhaji Bature Alhassan Babura, a community elder who prayed for a successful completion of the workshop.

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By

Sufyan Lawal Kabo and Shehu Usman Salihu

On 9/12/13, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from SAVI organized a 2-day Social Media training for advocacy training for CSOs at the State Library Dutse, Jigawa State. 28 members (17 Male, 11Female) from various Civil Society Organizations attended the workshop, these organizations were: PMP, BASNEC Bauchi State, PTE, GSI, HERFON, MNCH, MNEH, and CLO.

The specific objectives of the workshop was:

• To improve the capacity of the participants on how to use social media for advocacy, information sharing, and mobilize a group of concerned people around an issue or cause. 

• To improve knowledge of the participants on social media as communication tools, to enhance their capacity on the use of social media for advocacy to promote the social media for advocacy and promote the capacity of the CSOs to use social media for organizational management.  

Sufyan of CITAD making a presentation	Mrs Jummai of SAVI	Mal Isyaku Garba CITAD
Cross Section of the Participants

After the Opening prayer was observed by a volunteer among the participants,SAVI’s Programme Officer, Mrs. Jummaiset the context for the training byoutlining the background of the workshop.

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The ICT Awareness and Sensitization team from CITAD on the 11^th of August, 2009 proceeded to Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School (GGASSS), Albasu in Kano State.

by

Isyaku Garba, Programmes Coordinator

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) as part of its Unlimited Potential Programme flagged off the ICT Youth Training in Gasau, Zamfara State on Saturday 4^th July 2009.

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Mallam Yakasai addessing students of GGASS Birniwa

Once again the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has conducted a one-day Career Talk at Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School, Birniwa, Birniwa Local Government of Jigawa State.

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The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Tuesday, April 2, 2009 flagged off its Information Technology Training for youth in Kano under the Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP) scheme. At a ceremony held at the auditorium of the School of Technology, Kano State Polytechnic, CITAD disclosed that with support from Microsoft Corporation it intends to train 400 youth across the North West zone of the country this year. The ceremony was chaired by the Director-General of the Kano State Directorate of Social Reorientation, Dr. Bala Mohammed who was represented by Alhaji Sani Mohammed Usman, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Adaidaita Sahu while the Guest Speaker was Dr. Bashir S. Galadanci, the State Commissioner for Science and Technology.

In his welcome remarks, the Director of CITAD explained that the participants for the programme were drawn from different local governments of the state. He said that aim of the programme was to imparts IT skills on the participants that would make them either employable or to be self-employed. He disclosed tat last year under the Employability Programme jointly supported by Microsoft Corporation and the USA Government 200 youth were trained and that many of them were now working as interns and volunteers with different organizations in the state.

In her remarks, the Corporation Citizenship Programme of Microsoft, Mrs., Nana Adjoor Mintah said that the Unlimited Potentials is the company’s flagship corporate social responsibility engagement aimed at driving technical into the communities. She said this was the third year of the UP in Nigeria and provides training in all the six zones of the country. She later presented set of the Local Language interface software packages to the Hon. Commissioner of Science and Technology.

In his lecture, Dr. Galadanci expressed appreciation with both CITAD and Microsoft for the initiative which he said has significance to the Kano State’s ICT Park project. He explained the essence of the project which he wais aimed at using ICTs as an economic sector to provide jobs and create wealth in the state. He revealed that already the project has reached an advanced stage and that the park would soon be commissioned. May companies, with employment spaces running to hundreds have already shown their commitment to move into the park was soon as it as complete he added. He explained that with this development there would great demand for IT skill people and this was he was urging the beneficiaries to make good use of this opportunity as they would be needed in the ICT Park.

In his own goodwill massage the President of the Kano State Chapter of the Association of Local Government Chairmen and Chairman of Tarauni Local Government said that he was happy that the participants were drawn from different local governments and that they were ready to support the initiative. He revealed that all the local governments have been directed to set up computer centres in their local governments and hoped that many of the participants would be available to work at these centres.

Other guests at the occasion were the Director General of Directorate for Youth Development, the Chairman of Bagwai Local Government and the Chairman of the Kano State Council of Youths as well as representatives of development partners in the state.

This year’s annual Information and Communication Technology (ICT) quiz competition organized by Center for Information Technology and Development for secondary school Students closed on Saturday 29^th November, 2008 at Kano state School of Technology.

Organized by the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) the competition was attended by twenty nine secondary schools, from Kano, Katsina, Bauchi and Jigawa States.

Each school was represented by two students. Winning school for this quiz was Government Girls Science and Technical College Kano, while Government Technical College Wudil and Hauwa Memorial College Funtua came second and third respectively. Announcing the winner the managing Director Midwat computer Institute Kano Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Nashe also said this year overall best student was Maude Yusuf from Government Technical College, Wudil while Nusaiba Ibrahim Rabi’u from Government Science and Technical College, Kano emerged as the best female student. Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Nashe announced the prizes for the outstanding participating schools and students.

The winning school, Government Girls Science and Technical College Kano won a brand new Laptop computer donated by Microsoft Nigeria, the second best school Government Technical College, Wudil won a brand new desktop computer while Hauwa Memorial College, Funtua, Katsina which came third won a new LaserJet Printer. Other prizes included Television Set for the best female student; refurbished PC was given to the best male Student, wall clocks were given to the winning schools’ teachers. Computer text books were given to all staff and students who participated in the competition.

Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Nashe, the Proprietor of Mediwat School of Computer Sciences announced donation of computer to one of the participating schools from Kano State, GSS Sharada. He said the donation was to signal his enrollment to the Old Student Personal Computer (OSPC) scheme of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), which was launched two days earlier in Kano.

In his speech the representative of the Kano State Commissioner for Education who is also the Director for Education Support Services, Alhaji Rabi’u Yusuf Alhaji congratulated the winner and commended CITAD for the wonderful initiative which he urged other IT organizations to emulate. He said the Ministry was fully prepared to support this programme.

Alhaji Rabi’u Yusuf Alhaji then asked the organizers to seek for government support of for this very useful initiative. Also speaking at the occasion, the representative of the Education Committee Chairman of House of Representative Hon. Farouk Muhammad Lawan, Alhaji Sani Mukaddas pledged to support such educative efforts focused towards upcoming generation.

During the two day quiz competition, the Kano State Special Advisor to the governor on education and information Technology, Dr. Bashir Galadachi, who declared it open, delivered the keynote address during which he urged the students to take the use of IT very seriously and therefore make effort to learn. The Special Advisor was accompanied by Hajia Maryam Sulaiman Ahmad and Alhaji Ahmad Maizube, both staff from his office. Also represented at the occasion was NIIT Kano Center by Mr. Martin and Miss. Peace Ajawuile.

In his closing remark the Executive Director of CITAD, Y. Z. Ya’u expressed appreciation at the support and the assistance given towards successfully conduct of the quiz competition. He thanked the students, their teachers and the principals of the participating schools for honoring the invitation to be part of the quiz competition.

Y. Z. Ya’u appreciated the support and the general good will of the public and private sectors as moral boosting to the CITAD. He pointed out that the donation made by the largest IT company in the world, Microsoft to the competition had shown how far the initiative has gone in IT world. He also thanked the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Education and Information Technology for their support to the quiz programme.

The Executive Director then commended the Kano State Government dynamism in educational pursuit, assuring that CITAD will continue to be committed to producing self-reliant and patriotic up-coming generation of the youth. Other organizations that assisted according to the Executive Director were the Intersystem Computer Services Limited, Kano, the Mediwat School of Computer Science, Kano, Freedom Radio, Kano, Jigawa State Hotel, Dutse, Horizon Telecommunications Limited, Kano, Directorate for Social Re-orientation, Kano State, APCON and the School of Technology, Kano State Polytechnic. He also acknowledged the contributions of many individuals, too numerous to mention in making the event a success.

Mallam Aminu Beli

Chairman ICT Quiz Committee

The 2^nd Jigawa State IT Quiz for Secondary School Students held on 25^th November 2008 at the Conference Hall, Jigawa State Library, Dutse. This year, only seven (7) schools attended the quiz which is less than the number of the schools that participated last year. The schools that have participated in the quiz were Government College Birnin kudu, Government Girls Science Secondary School Jahun, Federal Government College Kiyawa, Computer Girls College Roni, Dutse Model International School and Government Science Technical College Hadejia. In the attendance were the Sole Administrator of the New World Radio Jigawa, Alhaji Umar Kyari Jitau Madamuwa, the Special Advisor to the Jigawa State Governor on Information Technology who chaired the occasion, Head of IT College of Business and Management Studies Jigawa (CBMS) Najeeb Abdulhamid Gambo as the Guest Speaker

After the opening prayer, a welcome remark was made by the representative of the Executive Director of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Isyaku Garba (Project Coordinator). In his remark, he said the objective of the quiz was to raise awareness among Secondary School students and to encourage the study of computer education in secondary schools. He also mentioned that the program would assist the government to understand the level of ICTs education in Secondary Schools in the state. After the remark, a paper was presented by the Head of IT Najeeb Gambo. The paper addressed the relevance of ICT in achieving students’ academic excellence.

Out of the fifteen schools that were invited seven attended the quiz competition. The schools included Government Day Secondary School, Bulangu, Government College, Binin Kudu, Dutse Model International Secondary School, Dutse and Government Girls Secondary School Jahun. Others were Government Computer Girls’ Secondary School, Roni, Federal Government College, Kiyawa and Government Technical College, Hadejia

At the end of the quiz competition three schools emerged winners. Girls Secondary School, Roni which came First to take a home a computer set. Federal Government College Kiyawa which came Second winning a printer while Government College Binin Kudu placed third with a prize of a scanner. The overall best student award of a television set went to Abdurrahman Mustapha of FGC, Kiyawa and the best female participant of a stereo set was won by Khadija Abdulkadir of Government Girls Computer Secondary School, Roni. The prizes were distributed to the winners by the Special Adviser to the Jigawa State Governor no Information Technology, Alhaji Bala Ibrhahim and Hajiya Zaiba Uba Ringim of Radio Deuche Valle

The 6^th Annual inter-secondary schools computer quiz organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) will hold on Friday, 28^th and Saturday, 29^th, November, 2008 at the Auditorium of School of Technology, Kano State Polytechnic, Kano. The objectives of the Quiz are to sensitize the school communities to the need for computers, encourage students to take computer studies seriously and aid advocacy on the need for school proprietors and governments to provide computers to schools.

About 50 schools from different parts of the nine states will be competing for the various prizes to be won at the competition. These include a new laptop for first place position, a new compute set for second place position and a refurnished computer for third place winners. Other prizes are a television set for the overall best student, a radio set for the best female participant and a scanner for the teacher of the best schools. Additionally, all participants will get a participation prize of two computer books each other are also other supporting prizes such flash memories, scholarships for training for both teachers and students of the participating schools

Last year 30 secondary schools from Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Katsina States took part in the competition which held in from 7-8, December 2008 at the Murtala Mohammed Library Complex, Kano.The top three winners last year were by Hauwa Memorial, Funtua, Katsina State, Government Girls Computer Secondary School, Roni, Jigawa State and Government Arabic Secondary School, Jama’are, Bauchi State, first, second and third respectively.

The two day event will start with an opening session to be chaired by Dr. Bala Mohammed, the Director of Kano State Social Re-orientation Agency which the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on IT will be Guest of Honor. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Bashir Galadanci, the Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Education and Information Technology. Other Guest include the National President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), the Citizenship Manager of Microsoft Nigeria, Hajia Jummai Umar-Ajibola, the State Commissioner for Education, the Zonal Controller, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Alhaji Adamu Amshi who will chair the second session , the Vice Chancellor of the Kano University of Science and Technology, Prof. Ibraheem Shehu Diso who will chair the final session and the Chairman House Committee of Education, House of Representatives, Hon. Faruk Lawan.

As part of its capacity building in ICT, CITAD has commenced a training programme for teachers of Government Secondary School, Gwale, in Gwale Local Government of Kano State. The training which began on 28^th October 2008 is at as a result of a request to CITAD by the Principal of the school who said the school needed assistance to get more teachers in IT for it to utilise its ETF-donated Diginet centre. The school is one of the five secondary schools that have received a set of 20 computers each from the ETF supported Schoolnet Nigeria. CITAD is manager of the schoolnet facilities in Kano State. The training which will last for four weeks would cover basic office skills as well as techniques of IT training. Ten teachers are taking part in this first round. All the schools under the Schoolnet Project are expected to begin implementing the newly approved national computer studies curriculum for secondary schools.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its July Version of its Monthly Lecture Series on the 30^th July, 2008 at American Corner, Murtala Mohammed Library, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano.

The Speaker was Dr. Yusuf M. Adamu of the Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano who made his presentations on “ICTs in Healthcare”. He thrilled the listening audience with indebt analysis of the subject matter. Among some of the points mentioned by him were: how ICTs have helped in Learning and Research, how Diagnostic Software help Doctors in consultations, how JIS help Geographers to know endemic areas and how it helps to manage the diseases dictated in such arrears. He also talked about how ICTs help in Medical Record Keeping. The challenge faced by ICTs usage according to him is lack of will power by our policy makers to put enabling environment for the usage of ICTs. He also noted that misplaced priorities are part of the problems that we have among the Policy Makers.

The session was chaired by Dr. B. A. Grema, Chairman Nigerian Medical Association, Kano State Branch, who made his keynote address on the Importance of ICTs in Effective Healthcare Delivery. He also highlighted some challenges facing ICTs usage in the Health Sector. He gave an instance where heavy HiTec instruments are lying unused due to lack of power supply that would power them.

The Lecture was attended by over 40 participants drawn from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Government Health Sectors, Academia, Labour, Media and Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

On Thursday, August 14, 2008 CITAD held its regular Career Talk Program on ICTs for students and staff of Aminu Yusuf Government Day Arabic Senior Secondary School, Hadeja. The aim of the program was to sensitize the participants about computer system and its components as well as its usages for human development in this modern world of Information Technology.

 

The program was attended by over 60 students and teachers. In his welcome remarks, the principal of the school Muhammad Furya Abubakar thanked CITAD for selecting his school to be among the beneficiaries of its famous Career Talk, which according to him came at the right time when the school is in dare need of the program. In his own part, the representative of Hadeja Zonal Education Office, Musa Ibrahim called on CITAD to partner with Jigawa State Ministry of Education so as to organize a bigger event that would create wider awareness on ICTs among schools in the State.

 

The program was facilitated by a CITAD Team consisting of Mallam Ahmed Abdullahi Yakasai, Mr. Scott Reed of the GIIP, University of California, USA., Haruna Adamu Hadejia, Abdullahi Isma’il and Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo.

By Abdullahi Ismai’l Abdu75ya@hoo.com

The Centre for Information Technology and Development, (CITAD), has conducted its monthly discussion forum on Information Communication Technology for Civil Society Organization in Kano. The forum titled; the role of Information Communication Technology in Achieving Universal Primary Education that is based on the Millennium Development goals Modalities took place at the American corner, Murtala Muhammad Library complex, Kano, on Wednesday, April 09, 2008.

A paper presented by Prof. U.G.Danbatta, the Director of Centre for Information Technology, (CIT) Bayero University Kano, at the occasion described how Information Communication Technology has became an important and essential part of very nation’s social infrastructure. According to the Professor, ‘there are four major channels in which Information Communication Technology can contribute to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. He added that, ‘increase in efficiency of social services delivery and rise in economic productivity, creation of new jobs and entrepreneur opportunities are the fore most contribution the Information Communication Technology can provide for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.’ U.G. Danbata further said that, ‘in a third world countries like Nigeria, Information Communication Technology can be used to Empower Women and communities that are isolated   by virtue of their geographical remoteness or other factors. And at the same time, Information Communication Technology can be used to facilitate monitoring of public expenditure and support political empowerment.’

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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.