By Patience Michael, Bauchi

The Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Ya’u Zakari Ya’u, has said that women were marginalized with less access to education and use of Internet.

The director, who was speaking at a workshop in Bauchi tagged, “Research Findings on Women and Use of Internet in the North,’’ said aspects of marginalization including the very few in decision-making process like those in the state and national legislatures.

His words: “So if they have less access to education, they would continue to be excluded in economic life, political life and in every other spheres of life, and as the saying goes, educate a man you educate one person, and educate a women you educate the whole nation”.

Zakari stressed the need for taking all necessary measures to ensure that women have access to internet and the skills to use it.

He said however that there were many other categories of people that were left behind including people with disabilities who do not have access to our educational processes because we are not able to make the necessary investment for the provision of their required learning tools.

“Even older people are also excluded, but they are excluded because perhaps they have become static in their own learning process and is so difficult now to learn new skills, new knowledge,” he said.

According to Zakari, internet is being used for research, learning, access to knowledge and communication adding, “And now we have seen examinations are gradually migrating online, JAMB examination is now computer base and increasingly more and more examinations will migrate online.”

Accordingly, he said that a person who lacks the internet skills would be left out in the pursuit of education, stressing that internet is also a tool for personal empowerment.

“If education is a right and internet is the major tool, then access to internet should also be a right to everybody.

Zakari explained that a lot of people earn their living on internet either as squatted creators, data miners, and people who promote business or uses internet as a platform to conduct businesses.

According to him, no business one can today do without accessing the internet as even the crack sellers realize that with internet they create greater market.

“As a communication tool we know that it is a platform for participation. Democracy itself is about participation, ability to contribute in decision making process, about our lives, society and about how our society is govern or how we elect our representatives,” he said.

Zakari noted that for us to live meaningful, productive and politically engaged life, we need to have access to internet, hence internet gives universal access to men and women, young and old that no one should be left behind.

http://nigerianewsflight.com/article/women-are-marginalized-education-internet-use-%E2%80%93-ciad

Patience Ogbodo-Iwuagwu

Bauchi – Over 60 percent of educated women in the northern part of the country do not have access to the Internet, claims Ya’u Zakari Ya’u, the Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).

Zakari Ya’u stated this on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting on the report of research on Women and Use of Internet in Northern Nigeria, held at Professor Iya Abubakar Community Resource Centre (CRC), Bauchi.

He said the research recently carried out by the centre showed that the number of women does not access Internet thereby making them technologically and socially disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts.

Zakari Ya’u explained that the survey conducted in Bauchi and Kano states enumerated the factors hindering northern women from using the Internet to include inadequate infrastructure, computer illiteracy, bad perception about the Internet as well as religious and cultural concerns, among others.

He said some clerics and husbands discourage women in the region from browsing the Internet and joining the social networks chat rooms for fearing that their wives may lose privacy, get exposed to undue sexual harassment or visit unwholesome sites that could corrupt them.

Zakari Ya’u assured that CITAD would soon embark on awareness campaigns in the area on the significance of the Internet and its enormous benefits to bridge the gap.

Also speaking, Hon. Maryam Garba Bagel, the only female member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly who served as chairperson of the occasion said, “It is not a taboo for housewives to use Internet or social media because they could get useful information and knowledge that would add value to their lives,” adding that women might even learn how to cook certain foods on the Internet.

She promised to present proposal to the state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs to establish computer training centres in parts of the state to teach women the basic knowledge of computer operations to enable them access the Internet like their counterparts in advanced nations.

A recent study has shown that over 60 percent of educated women in the northern part of the country do not have access to the internet.

The study was conducted by the ‘Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) on the use of internet by women in the north.

CITAD Executive Director. Ya’u Zakari Ya’u, disclosed this over the weekend at a workshop tagged ‘Research Findings on Women and Use of Internet in the North’ held in Bauchi.‎

He said that the survey, which was conducted in Bauchi and Kano state has indicated that women who have no access to the Internet have been rendered technologically and socially disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts in the region.

According to him, the factors hindering northern women from using the Internet include: inadequate infrastructures, computer illiteracy, bad perception about the internet as well as religious and cultural factors among others.

Ya’u lamented that some clerics and husbands discourage women in the region from browsing through the Internet and social networks due to the fear that their wives may lose privacy, get exposed to sexual harassment or visit bad sites that could corrupt them.

He, however, promised that CITAD would soon embark on awareness campaigns in the area on the significance of the internet and its benefits so as to bridge the gap.

Speaking, a female member of the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Maryam Garba Bagel, asserted that it is not a taboo for housewives to use internet or social media because they could get useful information and knowledge that would add value to their lives.

Bagel, who served as chairperson of the occassion promised to present  a proposal to the state government through the ministry of women affairs to establish computer training centres in all parts of the state to teach women the basic knowledge of computer operations.

She said that Computer knowledge will enable women access the internet like their counterparts in advanced nations.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/over-60-of-women-in-the-north-lack-access-to-the-internet-study/163902.html

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has observed this year’s International Day of Peace with an interactive lecture it organized today at NISTF Hall Kano in order to discuss and emphasize the significance of peace for societal development, tolerance and understanding among people, as well as point out how various actors can make tangible inputs for sustenance of peace.Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The day was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly and in 2001, the General Assembly voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.

The event which had participants from Kano state Directorate of Youth Development, HISBAH Board, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, Kungiyar Gyra Kayanka, Kungiyar Daba Haram, Civil Societies Groups, Media and several other youth organizations deliberated on issues regarding peace and how people can maintain lasting peace by rendering their different individual contributions.

Three presentations were made on the following topics by different speakers: The Efforts of Kano State Government in Promoting Peace in the State, Importance of Peace in Community Development, How to Prevent Thug Activities in Kano State.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Senior Programmes Officer (Peace and Conflicts) at CITAD Malam Isah Garba traced the history of the International Day of Peace and why the day should be given the needed consideration especially at a time when Nigeria faces conflict challenge in the North East, “we should all work hard to build strong and permanent atmosphere for peace to reign, every individual is integral to peace building, therefore everyone should understand the importance of peace and work towards achieving it”. The world will not be a better place without peace, Isah Garba added.

In his presentation, representative of the Director General of Directorate of Youth Development, Economic Empowerment and NGOs Alhaji Habu Musa said Kano state has been empowering  youths with a view to reducing unemployment, part of which one hundred youths were sent to Kaduna to undergo training in automobile company on motor repair, panel beating and spraying, other 200 youths were trained in ICT, again the state has inaugurated national youth council in order to reduce drug abuse, theft and thuggery among the youths, the state has also collaborated with telecommunication companies to provide training to the growing number of youths in the state. According Habu Musa another effort to empower 5600 youths is underway, all in an effort engaging them and maintain peace.

The second presentation on the topic ‘The Importance of Peace in Community Development’ was made by Alhaji Adam Haruna Bayero of HISBAH Board, and it focused on five cardinal points which are soul, wealth, parenting and proper upbringing, sanity and respect, Bayero maintained that if these five points will be protected there will be lasting peace and mutual coexistence among people, and development will flourish. When there is peace there will be cooperation and sense of belonging among people while its absence may invite societal ills which hinder progress.

Aminu Buba Dibal of NSRP observed that a research carried out revealed that Nigeria is the only country in Africa that records high number of deaths as a result of conflicts even though the country is not in full fledge war like Somalia, and that informed the choice of Nigeria to implement the peace programme and Kano is one of the ten states selected. Peace is valuable but people do not recognize that until it vanishes. Everyone benefits from peace. The event ended with comments of the participants and closing remarks from the executive Director of CITAD who thanked the presenters and the participants for their vital inputs and being part of the 2016 global peace day celebration.

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the immediate past governor of Kano state and presently  the senator representing Kano central at the Senate, is by some measures the most outstanding governor in terms of recording tangible achievements that are of immense benefit to the people of Kano, the entire north and somewhat to the country at large. That is so, taking into cognizance the different sectors he heavily invested in: education, health, engineering, agriculture, science and technology, human development, societal reorientation, women and youth empowerment, trade and commerce etc. From whichever angle you take a look at his legacies you must surely be amazed and probably start thinking about what informed his foresight especially at a time when most political leaders have less concern for long term projects and investments.
No doubt, that in just four years Senator Kwankwaso has succeeded in swiftly transforming the ancient and commercial hub of West Africa into a modern day glittering and flashy city, giving it a new look that nobody anticipated will happen in such a near future. Kano has now become a tourists’ destination for northerners and other Nigerians who have never seen flashy flyovers and underpasses, pedestrian bridges that reduce accidents and ease traffic flow.

I can still remember when the Kofar Nasarawa flyover was launched it almost became a tourists center for attracting jubilating fellows who pose to take pictures of all kinds, courtesy of Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso has succeeded in decongesting the boring hold-ups of Kano by creating numerous alternatives such as flyovers, underpasses, and other roads. Having established the Northwest University, sponsored hundreds of Kano indigenes to pursue their Master’s and Doctorate degrees in science and technology, engineering, medicine, etc abroad, and rehabilitated thousands of youths and employed them in various government initiatives and programmes, Kwankwaso now stands unbeatable in Kano and northern polity, his thousands of landmark achievements will remain indelible in the eyes and minds of ‘Kanawa’, no matter what!
When search for his successor was ongoing, there have been skepticisms, doubts and uncertainties as to who the cap best fits, and eventually his then deputy Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, emerged amidst series of concerns about his capability with some questioning his boldness, foresight, and endurance but Kwankwaso altruistically put hope and confidence in the man that now wants to play the betrayal game. For whatever reason Ganduje chose to crackdown on his boss, the Hausas have an adage that says ‘Yaro bar murna karen ka ya kama zaki….’ roughly translated as “boy, stop celebrating your challenge that your dog has captured a lion”, so much still lies ahead.

The recent dramatic decision of the Kano State House of Assembly ordering that all Kwankwaso’s capital projects carrying inscription of ‘Kwankwasiyya’ be erased shows an obvious derailment from important legislative duties, to a rather partisan sycophancy aimed at pleasing the very authority, that ordinarily should be policed by them. The danger here is, pleasing as the action may sound to the government and its friends, but every sensible person knows that the state legislature is fueling and supporting the Kano state government to crackdown on an icon who laid the foundation and structures that the government now enjoys. While Senator Kwankwaso maintains his statesmanship and humility by saying nothing even as sometimes condition warrants that he does so, Governor Ganduje has on various occasions publicly accused the past administration of certain wrongdoings, a stance which many public commentators deem as a poor judgment or rather shooting himself in the foot.
Rename or erase the word ‘Kwankwasiyya’ on hundreds of public structures or not, in hundred years to come people will still remember and testify that Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a legend that must be cherished and emulated. Funny enough as the drama goes, Kwankwaso in his humanitarian and selfless service to the society assisted hundred men and women with all the necessary logistics to get married, but, when the wedding ceremony was scheduled, Kano state government stopped the ceremony from holding, I still wonder what the motive of this silly decision might be.
I find it outrageous that a government which claims to be serving people will stop a donation that will rid the society of its problems. Ordinarily it should warmly embrace and support all kinds of interventions from generous and well meaning individuals such as Kwankwaso. Perhaps Kano state government or the police wouldn’t have stopped Dangote, Isiyaka Rabiu or Shekarau if they attempted doing what Kwankwaso had wanted to do, then why Kwankwaso? A stream that crosses a path cannot be stopped (Ashanti Proverb), a word is enough for the wise.

Chinade is of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Kano, hamza4ib@gmail.com 08039467382.

http://www.blueprint.ng/2016/09/16/kwankwasos-legacies-are-indelible/

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the body empowered by law in Nigeria to license and oversee telecommunication companies operations may be in danger of losing the confidence of especially cell phone users and data subscribers in Nigeria for its “failure” to protect their rights from the hungry-ingrate telecommunication companies who heartlessly continue to exploit their helpless customers.

There have been thousands of complaints about unfair treatments from these telecommunication companies ranging from regular unsolicited calls placed by the telecoms to customers, forceful subscription of customers to certain unimportant and unwanted services etc, but NCC is yet to demonstrate its capability to tackle these unending disgusting experiences of customers.

When in September 2015 NCC put out a public notice in national dailies asking whether or not customers are being treated fairly, or have been experiencing hiccups in services provided by different network providers and then introduced the western style of toll free ‘622’ number for victims to find succor, most of us drew a sigh of relief, thinking that finally the redress mechanism has arrived. But, to date that mechanism has only been a toll free and not able to function as expected. Worried with the unsolicited messages and calls, I publicized the 622 on social media in order to help other people such as myself.

My first encounter with calling the 622 center was hopeful, as I was asked all the necessary information about myself and was told the conversation was being recorded, I was finally instructed to hung up and jot down the numbers that I receive the unsolicited messages and calls from and then call back. After jotting the numbers down I called back and reported, my curiosity couldn’t let me end the call without asking what to expect after giving the numbers, and the enquiry revealed that the numbers will be sent to the network providers and they will deactivate me. Fine was my response. Unfortunately no deactivation took place even after several months, so network providers kept flooding my phone with variety of useless messages.

Again, when NCC ordered that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) set up the shortcode of 2442 for subscribers to opt-in to the “Do Not Disturb” (DND) database restricting unsolicited marketing messages and by June 30th this year all MNOs must stop sending unsolicited messages and placing calls to customers or risk N5 million fine and N500,000 everyday, I thought the second mechanism will tame the menace but neither did it reduce the frequency nor did it stop the unsolicited messages and calls. Now, most touch-screen phones users receive pop ups on their screens with just two options ‘ok’ or ‘cancel’ of these deceptive messages, should you mistakenly press ‘ok’ then compulsory deductions follow with no option of opt-out. NCC must swiftly act and save consumers from this high-tech ‘robbery’.

Despite the unsatisfactory outcome so far from the mechanism of the Nigerian Communications Commission, I still want to urge that the commission either come up with other measures to deal with non-compliant Mobile Network Operators or allow the customers to seek their rights from these MNOs, eg for every unsolicited message or call a consumer receives a certain financial penalty (say N200 per message or call) can be claimed by the victim from their respective service provider, that will serve as a deterrent as well as compensation to the consumers who have suffered long enough.
Hamza Ibrahim Chinade is of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Kano, +2348039467382 hamza4ib@gmail.com

OPINION-June 30th Deadline, Telecoms & Unsolicited Messages

By Rita Michael, Bauchi

A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate diversion of relief materials meant for Infernally Displaced camps in the Northeast.
The CITAD Executive Director, Ya’u Zakari Ya’u, made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday.
He said that both the states in the Northeast and the Federal governments must ensure that relief materials especially food items are promptly delivered to the displaced persons.
Ya’u said, “We like to reiterate that corruption cannot be corruption by mere official declaration. It can only be fought when government embraces openness, transparency and demand accountability from its officials and agents.”
The CITAD director explained that it was only when government embraces openness, transparency and accountability that Nigerians could view the promise it made of ridding the country of endemic corruption.
He wondered why the Federal government lacks proper instrument or institution to deal with issues of IDPs which he attributed to failure of the government to domesticate the African Convention on the Protection of IDPs, otherwise known as the Kampala Declaration.
According to him, “Without such, government has been relying on adhoc structure and diversion of relief materials and corruption is the results. This therefore is the time that government must put in place a proper IDPs policy”.
He recalled that on several occasions both the states and federal governments have been alerted on the issue of relief material diversion, but they often either dismissed or make noises and let the matter to continue unabated.
According to Ya’u, “This is not the way a government elected on the basis of its promise to stem out corruption in the country should respond to the unscrupulous acts of corruption.
“The lack of action from the government to take concrete measures to stop this hemorrhage of resources meant for the IDPs is resulting in a situation in which the government by its own inaction is aiding the mass murder of people who have earlier on been traumatized by Boko Haram insurgents, and have seen their loved ones killed.”
Ya’u said that it would appear to the IDPs that surviving Boko Haram is the only stop gap for them to be killed by hunger engineered by relied officials, describing the action as a major crime against humanity.
He further explained that CITAD is horrified by the callous way IDPs are being treated and the culpable silence of governments at all levels, saying various ways in which food item meant for the displaced persons have been diverted by officials and taken to markets for sale or misappropriated by those officials for their personal use.
“There are also many stories of extortion in which officials demand for money from the IDPs to register to collect relief materials, as well as other abuses such as demanding for sexual gratification from the IDPs”, he said.
As a result of these negative tendencies, he said, many people especially children have died of hunger and malnutrition, as has been reported by the media.
He recalled that the August 25, 2016 demonstration by thousands of impoverished internally displaced persons on the streets of Maiduguri that they have not been fed for days is an attestation of the systematic starvation the IDPs have been subjected to by the people who have been saddled with the responsibility to care for them.
He expressed delight that people in the Northeast are happy that the military has been recording successes in liberating a number of areas hitherto controlled by the insurgents, but are worried that their brothers, sisters, uncles, grandparents and children are dying of starvation due to callousness of officials who government entrusted the welfare and well-being of the IDPs.

http://nigerianewsflight.com/article/investigate-diversion-idps%E2%80%99-relief-materials-ngo-advises-efcc

The Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, an NGO which has been monitoring efforts to rehabilitate and resettle IDPs affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria has said it was “horrified by the callous way the IDPs were treated” as well as “the culpable silence of governments” calling on the Nigerian government to investigate the issue.

“We at CITAD are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately launch a serious investigation into the diversion of relief materials meant for various IDP camps across the region,” said the statement. “Governments must take immediate steps to ensure that relief materials, especially food items are delivered promptly to these needy and unfortunate Nigerians whose only crime is been victim of Boko Haram insurgents.”

CITAD decried the fact that food items meant for the displaced were being diverted and sold in the market or misappropriated by aid officials for their private use, adding that there were many stories of extortion of IDPs including demands for sexual gratification from the IDPs by government officials.

“On several occasions, both state and federal governments have been alerted to this, but they have often either dismissed it or simply make some symbolic noises and let the matter to continue unabated. We feel that this is not the way a government elected on the basis of its promise to stem out corruption in our country should respond to these unscrupulous acts of corruption,” added the statement.

It added that Nigeria was yet to “wake up” to the fact that it had no proper instrument or institution to deal with IDPs including a national policy on IDPs adding that the country had failed to domesticate the African Convention on the Protection of IDPs.

“We like to reiterate a point we have make in several times that corruption cannot be corruption by mere official declaration, it can only be fought when government embrace openness, transparency and demand accountability from its officials and agents: that is the minimum we expect form a government that has made a promise to rid the country of corruption,” it concluded.

CITAD urges probe of relief distribution in northeastern Nigeria