Report of the Northeast Region public Sensitization on Hate and Dangerous Speech

On Tuesday 11th October, 2016, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) organized a one day Public Sensitization Lecture on Hate and Dangerous Speech  in NANNM Secretariat Damaturu, Yobe State,Nigeria.  

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The event started with registration of participants at 9:00am and participants self-introduction which was the next item on the agenda. . Thereafter, Isah Garba being the Project Coordinator and Senior Programmes Officer gave a welcome remarks on behalf of MacArthur Foundation and Center for Information Technology  andDevelopment (CITAD) who are the conveners of the event. Welcoming all participants to the event,  he  briefed them  on what  CITAD does  as an organization in general and specifically in this project which include monitoring of hate and dangerous speech online and a lot of peace promotion activities and campaigns. He further appealed to the participants to make the occasion participatory by  making their contributions and not only  listening to the speakers.

The first paper presented was  on Understanding Hate/Dangerous Speech which was facilitated by  Isah Garba who started  with a question to the participants: Can someone tell us what hate speech is? Yusuf Tijjani Ali gave syntax meaning of both words HATE & SPEECH and also gave example of Fulani word ‘KADO’ which refers to non-fulani tribe as well Kanuri ‘Kirdi’ to him it was insult word to downgrade the value of other tribes.

The facilitator showed the pictograph of what happed in Rwanda and narrated the story in brief to make audience understand the concept and danger of hate speech better and take lesson instead . There is no single definition of hate speech accepted globally by all scholars but any speech that fall under one of these based-lines:

 

  • Speech that denigrates people on the basis of their membership in a group, such as an ethnic or religious group.
  • Speech can harm directly or indirectly, or both.
  • Speech has a reasonable chance of catalyzing or amplifying violence by one group against another, given the circumstances in which it was made or disseminated, it is Dangerous Speech
  • A Speech in this context includes any form of expression, including images such as drawings or photographs, films, etc
  • Note dangerous speech is a part of hate which is capable of  mobilizing people to action
  • So an ordinary trader could say spiteful or inflammatory things to his customer or neighbor but because neither have the capacity to mobilize others into action it does not qualify for dangerous speech
  • We shall see that it is this capacity to catalyze people into action that is critical to the specific speech act we refer to as dangerous.

 

He called the attention of all participants to note or consider our historical tradition of jokes that have been in use as a means of resolving conflicts in our societies such as that which exist between Fulani and Kanuri ,   Kanawa and Zazzagawa, or among occupations like butchers and cattle rearers etc.  

He then explained how lack of means of verification and manipulation of source of information can make simple hate speech to escalate violence   citing example of what used to  happen before the  coming of  GSM or Internet Network where people use rumor to take action against other tribes or religion due to the  communication gap or lack of means of verification, but thank to ICTs development for closing that  space where anyone can verify any news by using ICTs such as GSM, Media Stations or Social Media before taking action even though it is also  seen as a medium for disseminating hate and dangerous speech

After  tea break, Strategies for countering hate speech session was facilitated by Ibrahim Nuhu who started by going back to the definition of hate speech  to refresh their mind the more and draw their attention to the fact that   before  you counter any speech you must understand hate and dangerous speech. : Countering is the general strategy to eliminate or reduce the potentials of a dangerous speech to catalyze into violence through counter speech, this may be to: neutralize the message of the dangerous speech item, Get the speaker to retract and possibly apologize and ensure people do not act on the basis of the message of the speech. Counter speech is any speech/act that seeks to neutralize or convert hate speech.

Countering is different from peace campaign, they but share the same goal and purpose. Countering is the general strategy to eliminate or reduce the potentials of a dangerous speech to catalyze into violence through counter speech.

GENERAL DISCUSSION,  COMMENTS QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS SESSION:

During this session, the forum  became very interactive with questions and comments received from participants some of which are noted below:

√ We want to know the procedure of technology-based reporting by using facebook? Monday Dala asked. Ibrahim Nuhu responded by showing the procedure.

√ What about if people perceived your message in wrong way? Asked by Ahmad BRC. Isah Garba responded by calling audience to be straightforward and cautioned against use of ambiguous words. And in the event you did that and got misquoted you need to immediately retract and explain in the most simple and easy manner for your audience to understand.

√ constitutionally there was freedom of information and expression, can CITAD protect me if someone retaliate or attack  me? Ahmad Usman Abdullahi asked.  You have to report him to social media he used or CITAD, if in the market report him to sarkin kasuwa, his union, traditional rulers or police. Isah Garba responded.  

Recommendations:

  • I have spent many years attending seminars and workshops but never  came across with most important one as this because it deals with peace building, saving lives and properties, my concerned here was the implementation of this project because it may solve the problems of Nigeria today. When it comes to religion or ethnicity area of the people use traditional rulers or religion leaders to sensitize their followers because it very sensitive_By Uche
  • The representative of Director School services called all participants to make sure they convey   the knowledge they acquire to their respective communities and entire seventeen (17) local government areas of the state. Youths at the  event really indicated interest in supporting the course of peace and staying away from hate and dangerous this workshop is a success_Dauda Hassan Katuzu
  • What I have to say was thank you because most of the things I don’t know them and the little I know I don’t even put consideration on them even when I was browsing but now it come to my notice that there are some things you have to notice/considere  every time one goes  on internet. So thank you for this opportunity-Joy Buba student from Federal Poly Damaturo.    

 

Lastly, Isah Garba  discussed with the Secondary School teachers  representing the invited secondary schools on the  establishment of  Peace Clubs in some selected secondary schools as  approved by ministry of education and that is why the teachers of those schools were here with us present. The ideology behind was to change the mindset of youth at adolescent stage to come up with peace ideas  by promoting peace within themselves in schools and to their respective communities at large. He also called the name of all schools suggested and the teachers  selected the patron of that Peace Club who will guide the students and lead them toward achieving desired goals.

When students graduate from secondary schools and gt get admission into tertiary institutions they  will join Student4Peace which  is  an  advance level of secondary school peace club normally found at the tertiary level. The major activities  are to help in peace campaign in their respective schools, communities, state and country at large by using social media, advocacy visit etc. the student 4 peace members have the opportunity to get connection with mentors who will guide him to achieve his target desire within the country and outside.      

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The total Participants were forty seven (47) in number; forty seven percent (47%) of which   were female while fifty three percent (53%) were male.

 

Report on courtesy call to Chief Imam Yobe State University, Damaturo

On the 11th October, 2016.  The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Monitoring and Countering of Hate and Dangerous Speech team, paid an advocacy visit to the Chief Imam of  Yobe State University, Damaturo Central Mosque, Yahuza Hamza Abubakar Ph.D.

The objective of the visit was to engage religious and traditional leaders in promoting peace and campaign against hate and dangerous speech on social media platforms.

The team was led by Isa Garba, Senior Programmes Officer who is also the Project Coordinator, Hate and Dangerous Speech.  After general introduction and prayers, Isa thanked the chief Imam for accepting to receive CITAD. Then he briefed the Chief Imam about CITAD project of Monitoring and Countering of Hate and Dangerous speech online. He further traced history of dangerous speech insurgency of Rwanda which led to the death of hundred thousands of people within short period of time as a result of single hate speech.

In the previous project of peace campaign CITAD has successfully generated comments and contributions of religious scholars like him which CITAD published, that is the reason we want to reflect that in our campaign against hate speech. This is more serious than our previous monthly reports, we noticed that 90% of the hate speeches reported were religious/ethnic issues and that is why we focused paying courtesy visits to the religious leaders, as well as knowledgeable prominent influential people like you. We ‘believed that where we are today is a place to get more lessons to learn’ said Isah Garba.

In his response, the Imam expressed his happiness for the visit and for getting people that have concern to address such a vital but neglected issue especially at this moment. “We have lost the most important element of life which was modesty and morals that is why everyone is expressing his view about any religion irrespective of level of his knowledge.  The most shameful thing is to see was to see religious people fighting against each other”.

The Holy Quran warned against insulting idols of infidels so that they cannot in return insult Allah ignorantly. Then why should we insult others because we differ in our perception or understanding. The life of the Prophet is full of such good examples of how relate with the non-Muslims in all areas of life, respecting them and try to get them understand the truth, the Imam said. He called on Ulamas to register with social media because they have important role to play there especially in the areas of sensitizing and enlightening their followers about ambiguous issues but unfortunately maany of Ulamas refused to join the social media due to fear of intimidation, attack on their personality.

Being already on social media, the Imam pledge to join CITAD in the campaign against hate speech.    

At the end of the visit, the team presented some CITAD’s publications to the Chief Imam and had a group picture. The team included Isah Garba, Ibrahim Nuhu, Abubakar Yusuf Auyo,  Shazali Sunusi Sulaiman and Balarabe Yakubu.

CITAD, Takes Education To Rural Communities In Northern Nigeria

A Nigerian NGO, Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, has taken a formal education to Shara, a rural community in Sumaila local government area of Kano state, northwest Nigeria, donating books and school uniform to pupils learning under a tree.

Prior to CITAD intervention, no child in Shara community has had formal education. Now, children in the community are being taught basic literacy skills by volunteer teachers.

“We are grateful to CITAD helping us get a school and for giving us uniforms, exercise books and learning materials,” Usman Sama’ila, a beneficiary, said.

The community inhabitants were opposed to western education, CITAD, and Sitti Forum, a community-based organization, consultation with the community led to advocacy that made the community accept formal education. Mr. Saidu Saleh Sitti, the chairman of Sitti Forum said.

CITAD works to improve education in the northeast Nigeria. In Kano, the NGO has done enormous work in Dawakin Tofa, Garun Mallam and Sumaila local government areas.

In communities where CITAD works, it introduces a community-driven initiative that enhances education. It says that the reason for the community driven initiative is that the government alone cannot handle education and community contribution is central to education sustainability in the community.

Part of the CITAD core focus is to improve school enrollment and retention. Mr. Sabo Aliyu, the Sumaila local government education secretary confirms, the local government authority will be complementing CITAD by building classrooms for the pupils and accommodation for the volunteer teachers.

Mr. Bakari Hussaini, the Special Adviser to Mr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the Kano state Governor on education, confirmed the state government will implement free and compulsory education policy at all level to ensure inclusive education in the state. This is primarily to sustain the work CITAD does in education.

CITAD, Takes Education To Rural Communities In Northern Nigeria

CITAD Hosts Kano State Commissioner of Agriculture as October ILERIS Guest.

The monthly leadership inspiring and mentorship initiative of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), better termed as ILERIS (Inspiring Leadership Reflection Series) has featured Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture Kano state as the personality for the month of October. Every month CITAD invites a personality who has skills, experiences and achievements that can be emulated by its staff and other youths with a view to shaping their lives and their commitments so that they excel in their numerous endavours. Participants normally listen to the guests make their presentations about their lives experiences, successes, challenges, opportunities and later on interact and deliberate in order to explore for themselves certain strengths, advantages as well take caution against failures and obstacles.

Giving an opening remark, the Executive Director of Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Dr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u said “the center has over the years been focusing on youths development programs and we thought that one of the ways you can develop young people is to get people who have rich experience to share with young people their successes, problems, principles, the ways in which they tackle problems when they arise, lessons they would have learned as they grow up and so forth, so that young people in particular can be inspired to want to go and even surpass people that they listen to, that is the reason we get someone with credible history and experience to come and talk about himself after which the participants ask questions’’.

In his presentation, Dr Gawuna observed that it is a great honour for him to be invited to directly interact with young people and hopes his biography will inspire the participants. The 49 year old commissioner is a biochemist by profession who has eventually ventured into agricultural activities and politics, being a staunch sports lover he is presently the National President of Youths Sports Federation which was established back in 1965. He said “as a child I hated school but my parents insisted in ensuring that I go to school, today I realized the idea behind that, I can still remember two things my father taught me, one is to be as truthful as possible in whatever I do, and the second is to be as helpful as possible’’. He said the patent medicine store that his father established inspired his brother to become a graduate of pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria while he graduated from Usman Danfodio University Sokoto as a Biochemist, which simply became a large family business.

After working with Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Kano state Hospitals Management Board as Lab technologist at Nasarawa Hospital, Gawuna’s interest in business led him and a friend into establishing a logistics company that deals with cargo and technical assistance on aircraft called Millennium Aviation. He later succumbed to pressure and finally became a politician which made him Nasarawa Local Government chairman for eight years and commissioner of agriculture in the previous administration, the position present administration also appointed him since its inception.

Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has energized the participants with several inspirational experiences and entertained many questions, he said “faith, believe and the strength of your will always get you to where you want to be, in as much as you try to be as honest as possible”.

The inspiring leadership reflection series ended with a presentation of publications of CITAD to the guest by human resources officer of the organization Malam Ado Shehu Yakasai, and a vote of thanks by training coordinator Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai who advised the participants to practicalise the lessons they learned from the interactive session. Participants at the event included staff of CITAD, regional manager of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and other staff, Manager Environmental Registration Council of Nigeria, Northwest University, Federal University Dutse, United Action for Democracy, Northwest University Students for Peace, Kurmawa Youth Development Association, Harlem Engineering, Mufarka, Tudun Yola Youth for Peace, KAYCAD and many other young people.

CITAD Captured 653 Hate Speeches In Sept – Official

By Bashir Mohammed
Kano

Senior Programme Officer, Centre for Information Technology and Technology and Development (CITAD), Malam Isah Garba, has said that the centre had captured 653 hate speeches in the month of September, majority of which were made by youths via the social media.
Speaking at its monthly press briefing in Kano yesterday, Garba said allowing hate speech to continue online, the greater the danger its poses to the unity and existence of the nation especially when the contents of online hate speeches begun to manifest in physical and societal relations.
He said the continued exchange of hate speech on the social media by people who should be educated was a major source of concern, adding that the greater percentage of hate speeches was done by young people who should be the future mirror of the society.

Garba said hate speeches found fertile ground when social conditions were bad and competition for resources was extreme, stressing that the economic crisis in the country had led to increased impoverishment of the people and the collapse of local businesses.
He pointed out that monitoring without countering was counterproductive and that CITAD had alongside the monitors constantly took actions to counter hate speeches.
He affirmed that the effort was made by using strategies which included inoculation of individuals, public sensitisation, deployment of moral sanction and advocacy to enlist influential voices.
Garba called on religious and ethnic leaders to refrain from using inciting language and caution their followers against using hate speech to voice their grievances and to publicly condemn hate speech where it was made and take the task of enlightening the public against hate and dangerous speeches.

 

http://www.blueprint.ng/2016/10/05/citad-captured-653-hate-speeches-in-sept-official/

Promoting the use of free software in Nigerian communities builds wealth

By Olga Tsafack-Koloko and Mallory Knodel for APCNews

06 October 2016

Every year since 2004, on the third Saturday in September, hundreds of events are organised in dozens of cities around the world to increase “awareness of Free Software and its virtues” and to encourage use of free/libre and open source software (FLOSS) in a global event called Software Freedom Day (SFD). Free, in this context, refers to free use and not “free of charge” (libre, not gratis, in Spanish, for example).

Since its establishment in 1990, The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has been committed to using and raising awareness aboutFLOSS, most notably as one of seven themes in the APC Internet Rights Charter developed in 2001. We believe that “Working with FLOSS is empowering, it builds skills, is more sustainable and it encourages local innovation.” Out of our network of 50 organisations and 24 individuals, it is safe to say that all APC members use FLOSS and several members focus on FLOSS development and adoption.

One of those members is the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Lagos, Nigeria. CITAD “sees technology as tool to promote sustainable development, good government and peaceful coexistence. It uses ICT to empower youth and women through access to information, skills and online mentoring opportunities.” And they celebrated Software Freedom Day 2016 with a half-day agenda for 58 attendees. They shared event outcomes with the hashtag #CITADsoftwarefreedomday.

Nigeria is dominated by proprietary software and universities do not provide opportunities for students to learn about FLOSS. However, according to Yanusa Ya’u, co-founder and executive director of CITAD, “of course there are many who use and even market free and open source software.” The Open Source Foundation for Nigeria (OSFON) supports local FLOSS activists and developers. OSFON is a member of the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa, a group founded in 1995 to “promote the use of free and open source software in Africa by bringing multi-stakeholder partners together for the development of African societies using open source software.”

CITAD’s theme for SFD 2016 was “Securing Your Freedom with FLOSS”. Like many SFD events, CITAD focused on practical, hands-on activities. Participants learned how to install Ubuntu, an operating system software that can substitute proprietary software like Windows or MacOS. They also devoted time to a “clinic” where FLOSS users could get help with questions, issues or problems from an expert in their community. Some presentations were geared to newcomers to FLOSS, such as “Understanding the Concept of FLOSS” and “An exploration into Open Source”.

Abdulaziz Yunusa is a final year student of computer science at Federal University Dutse and an intern at CITAD. When asked about FLOSSimproving the lives of Nigerians, he said, “Free software can be customised and can allow young people to develop local solutions for local problems, thus adding value to the software, creating products that are needed, saving cost for the country and the buyers and in the process creating jobs and wealth for the country. In this it will help to address the problem of unemployment and improve national wealth.”

For SFD 2016 there were 127 registered events on the official website, yet it is possible that there were many events like CITAD’s that were not featured on the map. According to another FLOSS expert in the APC community, Arun Madhavan from the India-based organisation the Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment, “The world is richer with free software today than it was two decades back.” It is thanks to efforts like these that free software communities continue to grow.

 

https://www.apc.org/en/news/promoting-use-free-software-nigerian-communities-b

CITAD Expresses Horror Over Corruption in IDPs Management, Calls on EFCC to Intervene

By Yaro Daniel Onyiloyi,

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), the key Nigerian NGO which has been monitoring and tracking the efforts to rehabilitate and resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria has expressed horror against alleged corruption in the management of IDPs and what it called the culpable silence of governments at all levels on that. It alleged callousness in the treatment of IDPs, adding in a statement by its Executive Director, Mallam Yunusa Zakari Y’au in Bauchi that its partners in Maiduguri and in other locations had observed various ways in which food items meant for IDPs had been diverted by officials and taken to either markets for sale or misappropriated by these officials for their personal and private use. Coming on the heels of demonstrations on the streets last Thursday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by IDPs, the statement also made reference to stories of extortion in which officials demanded for money from IDPs to register to collect relief materials as well as sexual gratification from IDPs.

“We in the north east are happy that the military has been recording successes in liberating a number of areas formerly controlled by the insurgents but we are now extremely worried and alarmed that our brothers sisters, uncles, grandparents and children are dying of starvation due do callousness of these government officials who government entrusted the welfare and wellbeing of IDPs to”, the statement added.

CITAD argued that this is not the first time that these Nigerians had to complain about the systematic starvation that they have been subjected to by people whose responsibility it is to care for them and that many people, especially children, are already dead from hunger and malnutrition, development which it said had been reported in the media. CITAD further claimed that 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. The lack of action from government to take concrete measures to stop this haemorrhage of resources meant for IDPs, it said, is resulting in a situation in which government is, by its own inaction, aiding the mass murder of people who have earlier on been traumatized by the Boko Haram insurgents. As such, surviving Boko Haram tend to become only a stop gap for them to be killed by hunger engineered by relied officials, the statement point out.

Situating diversion of relief materials and corruption in lack of proper instrument, institution or national policy to deal with IDPs as a result of Nigeria not having domesticated the African Convention on the Protection of IDPs, otherwise known as the Kampala Declaration, the NGO insists that the country has been relying on adhoc structures. It, therefore, sees this as the time for an immediate enactment of such instrument by the government.

It called 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 while also demanding both state and federal governments to take immediate steps to ensure that relief materials, especially food items, are delivered promptly to those unfortunate to have been victims of Boko Haram insurgency. It said anti-corruption war must transcend mere official declaration to the realm of openness, transparency, asking governments to demand accountability from its officials and agents. This, it pointed out, is the minimum expectation form a government that has made a promise to rid the country of corruption.

Women are marginalized on education, internet use – CITAD

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

Over 60% Of Northern Nigeria Women Lack Internet Access – CITAD

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.

Over 60% of women in the North lack access to the Internet-Study

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

CITAD marks International Day of Peace

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.

Kwankwaso’s Legacies Are Indelible

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/

OPINION-June 30th Deadline, Telecoms & Unsolicited Messages

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

Investigate diversion of IDPs’ relief materials, NGO advises EFCC

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

CITAD Urges Probe Of Relief Distribution In Northeastern Nigeria

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