By

Ali Sabo, Dutse Office, CITAD

In its efforts to carry everyone along into the digital world and empower youth through the use of ICT, the Training Department of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has trained 12 (10 males 2 females) Peace Club Advisors in Dutse, Jigawa State, two teachers from each of the schools that CITAD has established the Peace Club. The training took place from Monday 6th to Friday 10th of March, 2017 at the Training Room of CITAD, Dutse Office. The peace clubs is an initiative of CITAD, supported by MacArthur Foundation to engage school communities in the campaign for peace, and specially to counter hate speech in the country.

The essence of the training was to equip the participants with the basic knowledge of computer and how to use it, given that the computer has become paramount to our lives and the fact that we have been left behind in this area, it has become of utmost important to make sure everyone is computer literate especially our Primary and Secondary school teachers so that they can train students are expected to write computer based examinations such as the Computer Based Test (CBT) of JAMB. Such skills will also be useful for the students to engage in the social media campaign against hate speech.

The facilitator of the training, Abdulaziz Yunusa Ya’u started with fundamental of computer/windows on the first day of the training, during which he taught the participants the basic and components of computer. In the subsequent days the facilitator continued with Microsoft Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and Internet respectively.

The participants asked critical questions concerning computer; how to operate, handle and get access to some of its facilities. The facilitator of the training responded to the questions raised accordingly.

The participating schools were:  Dutse Model International School, Government Day Secondary School, Shuwarin, Government Junior Secondary School, Shuwarin, Government Girls Day Senior Secondary School, Dutse and School for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Duste.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Malam Shehu Sani of Government Day Secondary School, Shuwarin thanked the Centre for organizing this educative and enlightening training which has given them the opportunity to participate in the cyber world and also promised to make effective use of what they have learnt at the training and pass it to their students.

The Buji Youth Development Association (BYDA) organized Accountability Forum in Buji Local Government. The activity took place at the Community Primary School on Wednesday April, 3rd 2008.

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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.