Don urges young girls to explore careers in ICT

A don, Dr. Sanah Mu’az, of the Software Engineering Department at Bayero University, Kano, has urged young girls to explore careers in Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Mu’az made the appeal at the 3rd Bauchi Feminist School (BAFIS) workshop for 30 young girls organized by the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Monday in Bauchi.

She said that there was a need to encourage girls to develop their potential by tapping into the opportunities in ICT.

“I don’t want the young girls to stay at the back door, they should go forth and explore their potential in the world of information and communication technology.

“Science and technology sector is not meant for men alone. Women should endeavor to be active in the sector too, “she said.

She added that there were many benefits in ICT, which will focus on empowerment of citizens on good governance, sustainable and balanced development.

“The ICT training is an opportunity for girls and young women to see and experience technology in new light,” she said.

She said that the ICT sector is a growing sector for employment in both developed and developing countries.

“There are highly qualified women in technical fields around the world that have significant opportunities available to them,” Mu’az said.

Also speaking, Malam Kamuludeen Umar from the center said that the aim of the workshop was to create an environment that would empower and encourage girls and young women into embracing ICT.

He said that the workshop would also consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

He said the BAFIS is an avenue formed by CITAD to build the capacity of 30 young girls on ICTs in Bauchi.

Umar advised the girls not to relent in their efforts to understand and utilize ICTs in their businesses and other purposes for self-reliance.

Responding, Mrs Khadija Hammani, one of the participants decried the shortfall of women in technology. She added that with capacity building, more women would be encouraged to take up careers ICTs.

“Many girls never even consider a career in ICTs. At the same time, many companies are planning to increase the number of women in the sector”.

She pledged to utilize the knowledge acquired during the ICT capacity building to coordinate and safeguard her business.(NAN)

Combating fake news, hate speech must be deliberate- CITAD

 

A Civil Society Organisation, Center for  Information  Technology and Development (CITAD) said hate speech and fake news continue to threaten the peace, unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.

CITAD Executive Director,  Yunusa Ya’u made the remarks at a news conference on Thursday in Kano during a book lunch titled “context and content in hate speech discourse in Nigeria and the comprised state” saying a vast number of people believed the messages from social media which is a threat to national security.

 

Ya’u, noted that the purpose of the presentation of the Books was to validate the research and the major output of drafting a Journalists’ Guide Book on “Unraveling Fake News and Countering Hate Speech in Nigeria.

 

‘’The spread of hate speech and fake news pose a lot of threat to the quality of public discourse, political system, sound policy outcomes and national cohesion,’’ Yau added.

 

He added that some of the crises bedevilling the country can be traced to fake news and hate speech.

 

He called on the stakeholders to look into the matter as hate speech and fake news which are  spread through the media, saying that  public trust in the media is negatively affected, thus the high level of public distrust and scepticism of the media.”

According to him, “creating a ‘Fact-Check’ platform that is accessible to the public is necessary.

NEWSCorruption Fuelling Nigeria’s Insecurity -CITAD

 

The Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD, Mallam Yunusa Z Ya’u has said that the fight against insecurity in Nigeria would not succeed with fighting corruption holistically among various agencies of government

 

Mallam Ya’u stated this during two book presentations authored by the center titled “The Compromised State: How Corruption Sustains Insecurity in Nigeria” and Context and Content in Hate Speech Discourse in Nigeria”.

He said hate speech and corruption has immensely fuelled the security challenges facing the country presently and that only addressing them will bring peace and security to the nation.

He said as a result of corruption in the security sector, many heads of security agencies want to remain in power for the conflicts to continue.

The Director further recommended that the fight against corruption should not remain within the federal government agencies alone, and that the state government should also be part of the machinery to fight corruption.

While urging leaders, government officials and other relevant stakeholders to read and act on the recommendations made by the books, he also charged them to mobilize the fight against corruption among the citizens.

 

“Government should strive to fight against corruption among the citizens, not just talking about huge amounts of money all the time. They should change the language they are using when it comes to corruption. There is corruption in the family, among friends and other places.”

He advocates that Civil Society Organizations and the media should also begin to pay attention to local contents so that corruption can be addressed at inception level.

CITAD to FG: Deploy use of technology against insurgents, bandits

 

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has advice that the federal government should deploy technology and intelligence to track down bandits and insurgents disturbing the country.

The Center said it see no reason why that bandits and insurgents will use intelligence and technology to attack people and kidnap innocent citizens while the country’s security sector cannot use the same way and track them.

Speaking through its Executive Director, Y.Z Ya’u, during a Press Conference in Kano on Wednesday, the center said in today’s world the use of technology and intelligence is necessary by army and intelligence agencies not just bow and arrow approach.

It added that “embracing digital technology is about equipping and reequipping our army and intelligence agencies who have been underequipped now for quite some times.”

CITAD further recommended that drones should be use to locate and eliminate insurgents and bandits, monitoring their movements and activities, and tracking supplies and logistics, in addition to tracking money movement to see how they are funded.

It however urged that government should develop use of technology for counter insurgency plan and strategy, and also develop a full characterization of insurgents use of social media and track down their conversations.

Cin Hanci da Rashawa ne ke ƙara rura wutar rikici a Najeriya – CITAD

 

Daraktan Cibiyar Bunƙasa Fasahar Sadarwa da Cigaban Al’umma CITAD, Injinya Yunusa Ya’u ya bayyana cewa cin hanci da rashawa da kuma kalaman ɓatanci ne ƙara rura wutar rikici a Najeriya.

Injiniya Yunusa Ya’u ya bayyana hakan ne a yau Alhamis a lokacin da ya ke gabatar da wasu littafai da cibiyar ta wallafa. Littattafan da su ka haɗa da The Compromised State: How Corruption Sustains Insecurity in Nigeria” da kuma Context and Content in Hate Speech Discourse in Nigeria”

Littafi na farko ya mayar da hankali ne akan yadda cin hanci da rashawa ke ƙara rura wutar rikicin da ke faruwa a Najeriya, sai kuma na biyun wanda ya mayar da hakali akan illar da kalaman batanci kan haifar a cikin al’umma tare da kawo rashin zaman lafiya.

Daraktan ya ce kalaman ɓatanci da cin hanci da rashawa su ne ke ƙara rura wutar rikici a Najeriya, kuma abu ne mai wahala a samu nasara akan yaƙin da ake da ayyukan ta’addanci muddin ba a yaki wadannan abubuwa ba to abu ne mai wahala a samu zaman lafiya da cigaba.

Injinya Yunusa Ya’u ya ce a dalilin cin hanci da rashawa da ya mamaye ɓangaren tsaron kasar nan ya sanya masu riƙe da shugabancin ɓangaren ke fatan ganin an cigaba da samun rashin kwanciyar hankali domin kawai su dawwama akan mulkin gurin.

Hakazalika, daraktan ya ƙara da cewa bai kamata al’amarin yaƙi da cin hanci da rashawa ya zama aikin gwamnatin tarayya kaɗai ba, ya dace jihohi su kasance suna taka rawa wajen yaƙi da wannan mummunar ɗabi’ar.

A ƙarshe Injiniya Yunusa Ya’u ya yi kira ga kafafen yaɗa labarai da kungiyoyin sa kai da su mayar da hankali waje fito da abubuwan da za su wayar da kan jama’a akan irin haɗarin da tattare da cin da rashawa tun daga tushe tare da buƙatar gwamnati da ta yi amfani da abin da aka rubuta a cikin littattafan.

Centre urges military to adopt technology in tackling security challenge

The Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD), has advised the  to  technology in gathering  towards tackling banditry and   facing Nigeria.

Prof. Yunusa Ya’u, , CITAD, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

Ya’u said  investigations had revealed  criminals  using local technology and  to strike on innocent citizens.

“If bandits could use local objects as technology, there was also need for security agencies to use sophisticated technology and  to  them.

“They are waging a campaign of terror and violence using intelligence; this means  government  insurgency must also be based on intelligence,” he said.

Ya’u also stressed the need for the government to use data collected by various agencies towards fighting crimes in Nigeria.

“Embracing digital technology is about equipping and reequipping our  and intelligence agencies,” he said.(NAN)

Use digital technology to combat violence, CITAD urges FG

By Ismail Auwal

Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called on Federal Government to embrace the use of digital technology in the fight against violence.

The Director of the center, Mallam Yunusa Zakari Yau, in a statement, said that Insecurity has today become too generalized in Nigeria that nowhere is safe in the country.

“Kidnapping, banditry, secessionist violence has all become common place that peace is the only illusive constant.”
He said that, “in the past our fear was of armed robbers. Now armed robbery appears to be the lesser evils. The business of kidnapping people has become an easy way to make money for all classes of criminals, insurgents and they with a cause that support violence.”

The center argued that the government and its security and law enforcement agencies have not shown the leadership that will inspire the citizens that indeed, they can beat this and restore peace in the country. Instead, they seem to be in a debate among themselves as to who can offer the most ridiculous explanation of their failure.

“One thing that is obvious is the increasing use of digital technology by the different assortments of merchants of violence in the country. They wage a campaign of terror and violence using intelligence, this means that government’s’ counter insurgency must also turn to be based on intelligence.”
Making effective use of intelligence requiring an elaborate capacity to deploy and use digital technology. sadly, we have not seen this in the way that army and other agencies are prosecuting the campaign against insurgents.

Embracing digital technology is about equipping and reequipping our army and intelligence agencies who have been underequipped now for quite some times. Part of the reason is the systematic corruptions that is embedded in the different national institutions of governance and security in the country,” he said.

According to the center, a foundation step is needed to dismantle the war-economy around the counter-insurgency efforts. The war-economy has been articulated by people and organizations that benefit from the situation to continue to allow the violence to continue with no interest in winning the battel.

“All these involved in feeding fat on the misery of the citizens should be brought to book. Once that is done, a lot of resources would be recovered to fund the reequipping of the army and security agencies to strategically counter the insurgents and bandits.”

Part of that reequipped is to deploy digital technology for intelligence gathering, processing and transfer to enable the effort be driven by intelligence and be well ahead of the insurgents.

Uses of technology

1. Drones to locate and eliminate insurgents and bandits
2. Monitoring the movement and activities of bandits and insurgents
3. Tracking money movement to see establish how they are funded and how they use money to support their activities
4. Locating and monitoring of the sites, camps and concentrations of insurgents and bandits
5. Tracking supplies and logistics
6. What government should do:
7. Develop, through consultation its Use of Technology for Counter Insurgency Plan and Strategy
8. dentity and address connectivity blind spots in the country, especially within environments where bandits and insurgents are operating
9. Empower citizens to use and access to technology so as to the best use of it
10. Develop a full characterisation of insurgents use of social media and track down their conversations using the identified markers
11. Develop, using internationally accepted standards, protocols for monitoring suspected insurgents
12. In doing these, government should not:
13. Indiscriminately monitor citizens to trample and desecrate their right to digital privacy
14.It must never mount a mass surveillance of is citizens because it is not only counterproductive and wasteful but also a derogation of the right of citizens to privacy
15. It must avoid the temptation to turn power of technology into weapon for political witch-hunt.
16. It must also have clear data protection policy. Right now there is too much a digital citizens’ personal data in the hands of so many agencies of government without clear rules of data collection, data storage, management and use as well as sharing. We do not know which third parties have access to this data, how it is use and for what purpose. The global standard is that data subject must know who use, for what use such data is put to.

NIGERIA: CITAD ADVOCATES USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN FIGHTING INSURGENCY

Abba Dukawa :

The Executive Director Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Engineer Y.Z Yau  has frowned  at government’s failure through the security agencies to tackle insecurity in the country,

Instead, he said, they seem to be in a debate among themselves as to who can offer the explanation of their failure.

According to him “we are all aware that  insecurity across the country has made no where in Nigeria a safe place in the country as Kidnapping, banditry and  violence have all become common place that peace is the only illusive constant.

Engineer Y.Z Yau made the observation at a press conference held at CITAD Kano office on Wednesday.

He observed that for government to curtail the insecurity, there is need for security agencies to increase the use of digital technology in terms of intelligensia sharing among agencies to upfront merchants of violence in the country .

” Re-equipping our army and intelligence agencies who have been underequipped through this approach, will help reduce the nation security challenges.

” If these criminals can  wage a campaign of terror and violence using Technology and intelligence, this means that government’s’ counter insurgency must also turn to be based on intelligence, but we have not seen this in the way that army and other agencies are prosecuting the campaign against insurgents.

Engineer Y.Z Yau  added  What government should adopt Technology and intelligence,  need to develop, through consultation , Use of Technology for Counter Insurgency Plan and Strategy, Identity and address connectivity  black spots in the country, especially within environments where bandits and insurgents are operating

The statement further explains
developing a full characterisation of insurgents, use of social media and track down their conversations using the identified markers and also need for internationally accepted standards, protocols for monitoring suspected insurgents

In doing these, he said,  government should not indiscriminately monitor citizens to trample and desecrate their right to digital privacy.

CITAD Advocates Use of Technology in the fight against Insurgency

The Executive Director Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Engineer Y.Z Yau has said that Its seem like government and its security agencies failed to restore peace in the country, Instead, they seem to be in a debate among themselves as to who can offer the most ridiculous explanation of their failure.

According to him “we are all aware that insecurity across the country has made nowhere in Nigeria a safe place in the country as Kidnapping, banditry, secessionist violence have all become common place that peace is the only illusive constant.

Engineer Y.Z Yau made the observation in a press conference held at CITAD Kano office on Wednesday.

Explained that for the government to curtail the insecurity there is need for security agencies to increase the use of digital technology in term of intelligensia sharing among agencies to fight merchants of violence in the country adding that reequipping our army and intelligence agencies who have been underequipped will help in minimizing the nation’s security challenge for quite long.

Saying if these criminals can wage a campaign of terror and violence using Technology and intelligence, this means that government’s’ counter insurgency must also turn to be based on intelligence, but we have not seen this in the way that army and other agencies are prosecuting the campaign against insurgents.

Engineer Y.Z Yau added What government should do in adopting Technology and intelligence, need to develop, through consultation its Use of Technology for Counter Insurgency Plan and Strategy, Identity and address connectivity blind spots in the country, especially within environments where bandits and insurgents are operating

The statement further explained that developing a full characterisation of insurgents use of social media and track down their conversations using the identified markers and also need for internationally accepted standards, protocols for monitoring suspected insurgents .

Malam YZ Yau said in doing these, government should not indiscriminately monitor citizens to trample and desecrate their right to digital privacy.

Amfani da shafukan sadarwa na zamani domin wayar da kan jama’a akan Allurar Riga-kafin Korona

A cigaba da wayar da kan al’umma akan amfanin da allurar riga-kafin Korona ke da shi ga lafiyar al’umma, Cibiyar BunÆ™asa Fasahar Sadarwa Da Cigaban Al’umma CITAD, ta kuma shirya wata tattaunawa ta musamman da wani masani akan shafukan sadarwa na zamani, Aliyu Samba akan yadda za a yi amfani da shafukan wajen faÉ—akar da al’umma irin alfanun da ke tattare da riga-kafin.
A cikin tattaunawar an yi wa @Aliyu_samba tambaya akan cewa  “akwai milyoyin al’umma da su ke amfani da shafukan sadarwa na zamani, ko yin amfani da shafukan wajen wayar da kan al’umma akan amfanin allurar rigakafin korona zai taimaka? @CitadHausa @kamalkano @CitadRadio @sagiru_ado
Inda Aliyu @Aliyu_samba ya bayar da amsa kamar haka “Kwarai kuwa zai taimaka matuÆ™a da gaske. Domin a yanzu idan muka ce da yawan mutane sun karkata ga shafukan sadarwa wajen neman ilimi da kuma wayewa akan al’amuran yau da kullum, to tabbas bamu yi karya ba. Kusan ma wannan shine mataki mafi tasiri a matakan isar da sako ga mutane”
Haka kuma ya bayyana Æ™alubalen da za a iya fuskanta wajen karÉ“ar allurar riga-kafin Korona É—in daga al’umma ba.
“Kalubale bai wuce dayan biyu ba, ”Rejection” ma’ana Æ™in yarda. Da kuma ”Misconception” ma’ana rashin fahimta a takaice. Za a maka fassara a ce ai kudi ka karba, kuma za a ki karbar gaskiyar da kake fada”
Ya ce amma akwai hanyar da ake bi wajen magance wannan suna da yawa, amma daga ciki. Hanyoyin su ne kamar haka:
“Akwai kokarin gina yarda tsakanin ka da al’ummar da kake isar wa da sako. Sannan kuma bude musu al’amuran da suka shige musu duhu takan amsa tambayoyin da suke sa su a shakka da hujjojin da zasu gansar dasu”
“Hakan zai yi tasiri sosai idan ya zama saÆ™on yana fitowa ne daga tushen da ya gina yarda tsakanin sa da al’umma. Sannan a yayin isar da sakon akwai buÆ™atar abinda masana ke cewa (SBCC). Social Behavioral Change Communication. Wani salon isar da sako ne da yake tasiri”
Haka kuma @Aliyu_samba ya ce akwai shafukan da su ke ƙoƙarin bayar da bayan akan amfanin allurar riga-kafin a cikin manyan harsunan Najeriya guda uku.
“Akwai shafuka da suke wannan kokarin matuka da gaske, wasu na kungiyoyi ne masu zaman kansu, wanda a misali zamu iya cewa ”CITAD”, Sannan akwai shafukan da ke mallakin wasu mutane ne masu tasiri da ake kira ”Influencers”, wanda zan riga shafi na a ciki”
A Æ™arshe @Aliyu_Samba ya ce gwamnati ce ke da alhakin sauya tunanin al’umma akan yadda za su aminta da karÉ“ar allurar riga-kafin Korona.
“Wajen sauya tunanin mutane game da wani al’amari. Gwamnati ita ce za ta yi wannan dan samar da daidaito da aminci tsakanin ta da wadanda take mulka akan sha’ani irin wannan mai hatsari. Sai an haska hatsarin tarwai an ganshi ta sigogi da yawa sannan aminci zai samu’

Tattauawa Ta Musamman Da Ado Sanusi Sabon Gida Akan Wayar Da Kan Masu Bukata Ta Musamman Akan Allurar Rigakafin Korona

A ranar Alhamis 29 ga watan Aprilun shekarar 2021, cibiyar bunkasa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban a’lumma CITAD, ta gudanar da wata tattaunawa ta musamman akan yadda za a wayar da kan masu bukata ta musamman akan allurar rigakafin Korona.

 

A lokacin tattaunawar Malam Ado Sanusi Sabon Gida ya bayyana irin yadda cutar annobar Koronar ta shafi masu buƙata ta musamman a ɓangaren tattalin arziki da kuma walwala.

 

Idan ya bayyana cewa da yawan masu buƙata ta musamman sun rasa ayyukansu sakamakon sanya dokar kulle, wanda hakan ya mayar da su mabarata.

 

Haka kuma Ado Sanusi Sabon Gida ya zargi hukumar daÆ™ile yaÉ—uwar cututtuka ta Æ™asa NCDC akan yadda ta yi biris da masu buÆ™ata ta musamman a lokacin da ta ke aikin gangamin wayar da kan al’umma a game da cutar Korona.

 

Haka zalika, Ado Sanusi Sabon Gida ya ce tuntuni masu buƙata ta musamman na bin dokokin da Hukumomin lafiya su ka gindaya domin kariya daga cutar ta Korona. Ya lissafa cewa su kan yi amfani da Takunkumin rufe baki da hanci da kuma wanke hannu da ruwa mai sinadarin sanitaiza da bayar da kuma tazara.

 

Ya Æ™ara da cewa za su cigaba da wayar da kan masu buÆ™ata ta musamman akan amfanin karÉ“ar allurar riga-kafin cutar ta Korona, La’akari da irin alfanun da riga-kafin ke da shi da kuma hatsarin da cutar ke tattare da shi.

Tattaunawar Da Cibiyar Bunkasa Fasahar Sadarwa da Cigaban Al'umma (CITAD) Akan Cutar Korona Tare Da Ismail Bala Garba Malami a Jami'ar Bayero ta Kano Game da Littafin Da Suka Wallafa akan Cutar Wato Corona Blues A Ranar 8 Ga Watan Afrilu, 2021

 

A yau Alhamis Cibiyar Bunkasa Fasahar Sadarwa da Cigaban Al'umma CITAD, ta gudanar da wata
tattaunawa akan littafin da cibiyar tare da haÉ—in gwiwar gidauniyar MacArthur da kuma cibiyar Ilimi ta
IIE su ka bayar da tallafi, inda maÉ—aba'ar Whetstone su ka wallafa wannan littafin da ya ke wayar da kan
mutane akan annobar cutar Korona, tare da Isma'ila Bala Garba malami a jami'ar Bayero da ke Kano.

Malam Isma'ila Bala Garba ya bayyana dalilan da ya kai su ga wallafa wannan littafin da ya ke ƙunshe da
waƙoƙin da ke wayar da kan al'umma tare da faɗakar da su akan Cutar Korona.

Haka kuma Malam Isma'ila Bala ya bayyana nasarorin da aka samu wajen wayar da kan al'umma game
da yadda cutar ta Korona ta ke.
Ga yadda tattaunawar ta kasance kamar haka:

"A madadin Cibiyar Bunkasa Fasahar Sadarwa da Cigaban Al'umma CITAD, muna yiwa Malam
@IsmailaBala barka da zuwa wannan shafi da za a tattauna akan littafin Corona Blues da ke wayar da
kan al'umma akan cutar Korona"

"Salam. Sunana Ismail Bala. Ni da abokina Khalid Imam muka wallafa liffafin rubutattan wakoki akan
cutar Korona"

Ali Sabo ya yi tambaya ga Mal. @IsmailaBala kamar haka "shin menene manufar wallafa wannan littafi,
kuma mai ya ja hankalinku har kuka wallafa shi?

Ga amsar da ya bayar "Manufar buga wannan littafin shi ne samar da kafa da marubuta za su wayar da
kan mutane akan cutar Korona. Mun fahinci karancin sahihan bayanai akan cutar Korona. Bugu da kari
akwai labarun karya akan cutar. Shiyasa muka dauki gaburun samar da wakoki akan cutar"

Haka kuma an tambayi Malam Isma'ila Bala akan Ko akwai wani shiri da su Mal @IsmailaBala da sauran
wadanda su ka wallafa wakokin Corona Blues su ke yi na rera wakokin tare da sakasu a gidajen rediyo
domin amfanin wadanda ba su iya karatu da rubutu ba?
Sai Malam Isma'il Bala ya bayar da amsa kamar haka "Akwai wannan yunkurin. Ko jiya anyi wata
tattaunawa aka littafin da wata Jami'a a kasar Poland ta shirya. Nan gaba muna da shirin rera wasu daga
cikin wakokin a gidajen rediyo. In da dama ma zamu wallafasu a cikin CD"

An sake yiwa Malam Isma'il tambaya kamar haka "Kawo yanzu waÉ—annan irin nasararori aka samu wajen
wayar da kan al'umma akan cutar Korona game da wannan littafi na Corona Blues?

Malamin ya bayar da amsa kamar haka "An samu nasarori masu yawa. Da farko, mun kaddamar da
wannan littafin a kwanakin baya. Mutane da yawa sun sami halarta wannan taro. Masana daga
bangarori daban daban sunyi sharhi akan cutar Korona ta mahangar littafi"

Malamin ya ƙara da cewa "Sannna jiya an yi tattaunawa ta musamman akan littafi inda masana daga
karar Poland suka yi sharhi akan wakokin da aka wallafa a cikin littafin"
Haka kuma an sake yiwa Malam Isma'il Bala tambaya aka ko akwai wani shiri da su Mal @IsmailaBala su
ke yi game da wayar da kan jama'a akan allurar rigakafin cutar Korona?
Malamin ya bayar da amsa kamar haka "Akwai shirin wasu jerin tattaunawa akan littafin. Zamu rika
amfani da wannan dama ta jawo hankalin mutane akan alfanun allurar rigakafin cutar Korona"

Kamal Garba ya yi tambaya kamar haka "Ta wace hanya kuke ganin zaku cigaba da yada wadannan
wakoki da kuka yi akan wannan cuta, saboda mutane su fadaka?

"Ta hanyar tattaunawa akan littafin. Muna sa ran masana zasu ci gaba da yin sharhi akan littafin. Bugu
da kari zamu ci gaba da rarraba kwafi kwafi na littafin kyauta domin wayar da kan mutane akan cutar
Korona" In ji Malam Isma'il Bala

Hakazalika an sake tambayar Malam Isma'il akan ta wacce hanya jama'a za su iya kaiwa ga mallakar
wannan littafi na Corona Blues?

"Ana raba wannan littafi kyauta ne. Akwai kwafin littafin a wajen Malam Khalid. Haka na za a iya samun
kwafi a ofis din CITAD" In ji Isma'il Bala

Tattaunawar dai ta gudana a shafin shafin Twitter na Hausa mallakin cibiyar bunƙasa fasahar sadarwa da
cigaban al'umma wato CITAD

REPORT OF A ONE DAY CAPACITY BUILDING ON REPORT WRITING TO CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD) STAFF HELD ON THE 5TH OF APRIL, 2021 AT CITAD SOCIAL MEDIA LABORATORY

 

Report writing is one of the most important components of an organization which tells much and how strong and capable that organization is. Report is a pillar that holds organizations, and for this it must be cleared, elaborative and detailed in order to tell the story of events as they happened. Report can also be an account on what, how, when, where and on whom an activity is conducted for and they must come immediately after an activity is conducted or as when required. Projects managers/implementers are expected to give a detailed account on how they conducted the activity including: achievements, lessons learned and recommendations so as to justify the resources put in carrying out such an activity. 

Many organizations today are facing serious challenges in the area of reporting their activities or having an acceptable reports in the case of Non-Governmental Organizations, for this reason the Centre for Information Technology and Development organized a one day refresher training to its staff on the 5th of April, 2021 at CITAD Social Media Laboratory. The objectives of organizing the training was to: enhance the capacity of CITAD staff on report writing and expose the staff to different styles of report writing. The training were conducted by Malam Mustapha Ibrahim Chinedu, Director Innovation, Brahstar MediaCom and Malam Y.Z Ya’u, Executive Director, CITAD.

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Ya’u stated that the training is organized to keep updating the knowledge of the organization’s staff so as to be equipped with the today’s knowledge of report writing. He also stated that mastering report writing is the number one skill of any organization, emphasizing that the training is not only for the organization’s benefits but also for the staff’s benefits.  Explaining further, Malam Ya’u said an activity will not be considered being conducted until a report is being written. Finally he called on the staff present at the training to pay more attention and ensure they have learn what is going to be taught.

The first session of the training focused on understanding the purpose and types of reports/structure and components of formal reports. Malam Mustapha, who took this session started with definition of report writing where he stated that report is a “Detailed account of event either in written or verbal”. While speaking on the purpose of writing report, the tutor explained that, a report is written in order to: inform or provide information or interpret known facts; explain specific events; document events; obtain agreement to a course of action; form basis of discussion. Discussing further, Malam Chinede said there are different reports that suit different organizations, some of the reports according to him are: formal, informal which include narrative, descriptive, expository, pictorial, statistical, long/short. Also the participants were taught the best practices in report writing, report structure, methodology and how to support your reports with evidences. Finally, he took the participants through good and bad reports. Here, Malam Ibrahim discussed on how one can write good report and how to avoid writing a bad report. 

In the second session of the training, Malam Y.Z Ya’u discussed with participants the language of formal report writing, accuracy and factuality. In this aspect, Malam Ya’u started with key points that every report writer needs to know and adhere to. Malam Ya’u made it clear to the participants that a formal report is not a poetry contest so report writers should avoid figures of speech like metaphors and similes, also in formal report emotional embellishments and ambiguous words should be avoided, and opinions that are not supported by facts. In discussing about the language to be used in reports, Malam Ya’u said writers should always be formal; words such as can’t, don’t and the use of impersonal, passive voice and circular definition should all be avoided. Discussing further, Malam Ya’u said mastering Brevity, Coherence, Clarity and being Accurate is important in writing formal reports. Finally he discussed the induction and deduction parts of writing a formal reports.

Participants at the training were given the opportunity to make contributions and ask questions which made the training more participatory. 

    

REPORT OF A ONE-DAY FIELD VISIT TO KUNCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON WATER CHALLENGES SOME COMMUNITIES ARE FACING BY THE CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD) ON THE 28TH OF MARCH, 2021

 

INTRODUCTION: 

Water is one of the necessity for human lives and it challenges is making life difficult for many people and communities around the globe most especially in developing nations which Nigeria is included. For this reason, the United Nation set aside 23rd of March of every year to highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. It was on this note that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the 28th of March, 2021 constituted a media team and paid a field visit to some of the communities that are in dare need of water in Kunchi Local Government of Kano State. The objectives of the visit were to:

  1. Assess the level of the challenges the communities are facing in terms of accessing and using water
  2. Gather some evidences and data that will be used to advocate to concerned authorities, Philanthropies and Non-Governmental Organizations to come to the aid of the communities
  3. Bring the issue to the public notice so that necessary actions will be taken to address it.

The team started the visit with Gwalaide village of Gwarmai ward where more than 20 communities depended on a single well that was built for over 35 years by a philanthropist for their source of water. The communities according to the ward head of the Gwalaide village, Malam Haruna Mai Unguwa Dan Zubairu that are using the well include: Dagiri, Limamai, Kargo, Jodade, Gadango, Borin Zare, Madaka, Gwadama, Waire, Santa, Agalawa, Hayin Malamai, Kuku, Gidan Maigari, Gobirawa, Sabuwar Tasha, Tutawa, Jinjimawa, Baje Yola etc. According to the ward head of Gwalaide village, these communities are coming to the well every day for over 30 years to get the water they would need for their daily activities. Also in our interview with a 65-year-old resident of the area, Malam Yahuza Muhammadu Yahuza of Kuku community, he narrated to the team that his communities are in dare need of water. He stated that every day he has to trek for more than 30 minutes and wait on the queue for 8-10 hours before he could get the water his family will use for that particular day. He continued in a cracked voice, to mention that because of this problem, they have for long stopped their children from going to school in order for the children to fetch the water the family will use. 

Another resident of the area, Malam Abdullahi Mustapha revealed to the team that this water challenge in the area has deprived the people of the communities many things; their children are not being able to go to schools, frequent diseases outbreaks in the area because they are using same water their animals are using and as Muslims their women are no longer observing the purdah (women sitting indoors as prescribed by the holy Qur’an) because they have to come out too to help the family in getting the water and most of the times during Ramadan they use to force their children to break fasting in the day time due to the hardship they are facing in fetching the water. Malam Mustapha described the politicians in the area as of people with empty promises. 

The team also visited another community in the Local Government, named Kwardagwallen Shuwaki of Shuwaki ward, the community is not more than 22 kilometers from the Local Government Headquarter. This particular community has only one hand borehole which more than 10 communities relied on for their source of water. According to Malam Muhammad Umar, a resident of the community, thousands of people from the neighboring communities are every day trooping to get their daily water. He noted that the communities are in this difficult situation for a very longtime but no one cares to come to their aid. When he was asked on whether they have ever complained to the government, Muhammad Umar said he could not remember how many times they have complained to the authorities but what they received every time were empty promises. 

Observations: 

  1. The communities’ people are finding it difficult to access water 
  2. Their children are not being able to go to schools
  3. Frequent disease outbreaks in the areas 
  4. The communities’ people are using same water their animals are using 
  5. As Muslims their women are no longer sitting indoors as prescribed by the holy Qur’an because they have to come out too to help the family in getting the water
  6. During Ramadan they used to force their children to break fasting in the day time due to the hardship they are facing in fetching the water
  7. Teachers and healthcare personnel posted to these communities do not report to work on time because they also have to look for water for their use
  8. There are no motorable roads in a terrain that is characterized with too much sandy depressions 
  9. In spite of their water problem, they also suffer from gully erosion which affects their farming activities and in the raining season they suffer devastating floods 
  10. This water problem is not limited to a few communities in the Local Government but affects nearly as much as two-thirds of the communities of the local government area

Recommendations: 

  1. Governments both at local and state levels should provide wells and boreholes in the areas
  2. Philanthropies and Non-Governmental Organizations to also help in massive construction of boreholes and wells in the communities 
  3. Government should build schools in the area
  4. Government should construct road that connect these communities 
  5. Civil Society Organizations to sensitize the communities’ people on the importance of community contributions

Conclusion 

The situation in Kunchi Local Government area illustrate the sad reality that for many rural communities, they are yet to see the dividends of democracy. They have continued to endure years of rural neglect as if they are not citizens. Daily, their ears are assailed by reports of the huge sums of money government claims to be spending on development projects such as the recently announced 9 billion for the new flyover bridge by the Kano State Governor and yet no tier of government had cared to address this basic need of the people.  They have heard government declaring education as free but their children cannot attend school because of the children and their teachers have to spend a great part of their day looking for water. They have heard government is building rural primary healthcare centres and yet in these communities, the primary healthcare centres cannot function because they have no water. There are stories about government promoting rural employment through empowerment but here there are no roads so people are desperate to leave their community to escape the grinding poverty of this place where people do not have time to engage in other thing as they spend the greater part of their time looking for water. Various communities of Kunchi Local Government have heard on radio the debates annually about the state and national budgets but see nothing coming to their communities from the budget. They have, like all other communities, elected representatives from Councilors and Local Government Chairman to state and National Assembly members, yet they do not hear these elected representatives talking about their problems. Their closeness to the Local Government is only geographical because they are unable to access it and get it to address their problems. Indeed, Kunchi Local Government communities are outside governance in every positive sense and only come to contact with authorities as one of the member of the community observed, when a youth from the community commits a breach of the law. 

REPORT OF THE ADVOCACY VISITS TO NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS AND AREWA RADIO BY THE CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD) ON PARTNERSHIP OF ITS CIGIYA APPLICATION

 

INTRODUCTION

 

On its efforts to bring solutions to societal problems, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has developed a Mobile Application that will be used to locate lost and found items called CIGIYA Application. The CIGIYA mobile Application is available on google play store. The CIGIYA Application, which is the first of its kind will facilitate the searching of lost items by people and help transport associations, media houses and other relevant organizations to generate a database of lost items. This will enable individuals to use the application to search for possible found items and the location they were submitted, as most of the transport associations have huge number of unclaimed lost items as a result of uncertainty of where the items are submitted. However, the announcements made in the media houses do not reach some people who lost their items as the announcement may happened when they are not on the tune and it is normally within short days. With the new CIGIYA Application a permanent database of lost items will be available online and people can search it any time by item type, date range, car park or station. The data base will simply be generated by the representative of agreed parks, media houses or unions.

 

NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS (NURTW)

 

On the 29th of March, 2021, the Technical Department of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) led by Engineer Kamaluddeen Umar visited the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of Yankaba Motor Park, Kano State. The objectives of the visit was to introduce the newly developed CITAD Mobile Application, CIGIYA Application to the Union and seek for partnership. CIGIYA Application is a lost and found application that is designed to help public to search for their lost items that are found and reported to one of the Transport Union Offices, Radio Stations, Ward Heads, and Market Associations etc. This will help the public to find their lost items easily and reduce the number of unclaimed lost items at the above mentioned places.

 

After presenting the application and how it works by the lead of the team, Engineer Umar to the Union’s Chairman in person of Alhaji Garba and his members, the Union leaders showed great interest and commended CITAD for coming up with this initiative. The chairman continued to state that the application is very relevance looking at the huge number of unclaimed lost items in their offices. The chairman being convinced with how the application will solve their problems in connecting their passengers with their lost items invited members of their Union’s sister association, Taxi Association in the Motor Park to join the meeting. 

At the end of the meeting the chairman directed his members to bring some of the lost items for upload onto the application.

 

AREWA RADIO

Similarly, on the 30th of March, 2021, the team also led by Engr. Kamaluddeen Umar paid another visit to Arewa Radio Station to intimate them on the newly CITAD’s CIGIYA Application. The reason of the visit was to seek for collaboration and partnership with Radio Station. The Station Manager of the Radio, Malam Shehu Bala Kabara appreciated and commended CITAD for coming up with the initiative and finding the station worthy of partnership, he went further to state that the newly app is related to their work and will serve greatly in addressing daily issues that arise in lost and found items. 

Malam Shehu narrated an instances that happened which took almost a year before the owner got his belongings, but said with the help of this app people can easily locate their lost items within a short period of time. He also recommended that CITAD should reach out to some business centres/cafés to use the app so that people who do not have smart phones or can’t use the app can go and get help there. Finally, he assured the team his organization’s full utilization of the application.

At the end of the meeting, the Technical Officer of CITAD, Engineer Suhail Sani explained and demonstrated to the members of the station present at the meeting and showed them how they can upload lost items in their possession. Â