By Hamza Ibrahim.

As local governments election draw nearer in Kano state, the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has brokered a public discussion between electorates in different Kano communities and their aspiring political figures. The discussion which took place across ActionAid International Nigeria supported project, “Strengthening Citizens Engagement in Electoral Process (SCEEP)” communities brought aspiring chairmen and councilors into face to face deliberation with electorates. February 10th 2018 is set for the local governments election in Kano state, and the electorates need to be reminded on voting in people who will deliver and alleviate their sufferings, hence the need for bringing voters and contestants together. SCEEP project has previously developed “Community Development Charters” for 18 communities across the state, and the charters have carefully highlighted demands, problems, challenges etc of the respective communities, and for the first time, some participants and the aspirants admitted they are talking to themselves not on personal matters but community issues ahead of election, “this is going to be a yardstick upon which we will decide whether or not to vote someone”, emphasized a participant.

Earlier speaking, representative of the Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai summed up the objective of the interactive session to be “a forum where voters see and hear from people who seek their votes in the coming election, so that they decide voting for them and holding them accountable afterwards”. Coordinator of SCEEP project, Malam Isyaku Garba gave an overview of the project and CITAD activities in general urging the participants to prioritize contents of the “Community Development Charters” in their demands from the elective posts contestants.
Three chairmanship aspirants from All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) and numerous councillorship aspirants attended and interacted with the participating male and female voters from Rano local government area of Kano state. Religious and traditional leaders, youths and women groups, students, traders etc were also present. The aspirants spoke and responded to questions and comments after which they were all given copies of the “Community Development Charters” developed by SCEEP project of CITAD, all of them commended the charters describing it as an ease to the tasks ahead of them.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called on the Federal Government to introduce internet safety and security in the nation’s computer studies curriculum.

Hajiya Maryam Ado-Haruna, the CITAD Programme Assistant, Gender and Internet Advocacy, made the call on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Kano on the outcome of its research on Gender-Based Violence Online.

She also called for the introduction of privacy and personal data protection law in the country.

The official further canvassed for effective implementation of the “Do Not Disturb” policy of the Nigerian Communication Commission which requires service providers to stop sending unsolicited messages by third parties.

On the research, she said: “Gender Based Violence Online (GBVO) is an act of cyber crime carried out against a woman because she is a woman; the crime is primarily carried out to injure her feelings, damage her reputation or tarnish her image.”

According to her, from the data generated, it is clear that gender-based violence online is one of the cross-cutting issues affecting women’s full use of the internet.

“The results of the studies have shown that women in northern Nigeria are being subjected to various forms of online violence such as harassment, intimidation and threat which tends to discourage them from using internet.

“In our campaign over the radio and other medium of mass communication, we advised women about decency and moral conduct online in order not to directly invite GBVO to themselves.”

Ado-Haruna urged women to understand and mitigate the risks they might face in the course of accessing the internet.

She said women must know and understand the privacy and personal applications to secure their online addresses and protect themselves from online harassment.