A Kano Based Non-Governmental Organization, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called for National Gender Digital Inclusion to end and bridge gender digital divide in Nigeria. This was contained in a press release singed by the group program Assistant, Gender and Internet Advocacy, Maryam Ado Haruna and made available to news men in Kano on Monday shortly after their National conference in Abuja. According to Maryam, Gender digital exclusion has been a cross-cutting factor affecting development in Nigeria as women especially in the rural communities are digitally marginalized. She said, “there is a huge gap and inequality in access, distribution and use of information, communication and technologies between men and women as well as boys and girls in Nigeria” That Participation and representation of women in events around internet policies is equally low in the country as this could be clearly noted from ratio of the previous male to female in Nigeria Internet Governance Forum which was almost 90:10. Haruna noted that, access to the Internet is extremely important for women to be able to gain information which may not be readily available to them elsewhere but unfortunately, women and girls in Nigeria are left out. According to Maryam, to address the lingering problem, CITAD with support from Association for Progressive Communications (APC), organized the First Women Internet Governance Forum (Women-IGF) in Nigeria which brought together over 50 female journalists, female CSOs, women in the digital industries, academia, government agencies and private companies from various part of the country who sat together and identified women digital challenges and proffer solutions to some of the identified challenges. Furthermore, that the National Conference aimed to Enhance public understanding of the importance of internet to women, increase the number of women who access and use the internet effectively in Nigeria as well as, Contribute to the gender digital inclusion of women in the country. Research has indicated that, more men use the internet than women. Similarly, more men participate in forums, events and activities that shape internet policies than their women counterpart. CITAD identified some factors that hindered the participation and use of internet by women in the Country to include; Lack of Internet Access, Lack of policies supporting Internet and gender in the society, Gender Based Challenges online and Socio-cultural and religious factors. They called on the Nigeria Communication Commission NCC, to monitor all significant matters relating to the performance of all licensed telecoms service providers in Ensure technological empowerment to people with disability or special need in order to close technological barriers and digital gap, Support Initiative that will promote awareness and skills building for women and also Encourage service providers to Provide affordable internet for the society to make their recommendations and contribution towards global warming. And last but not the least, ensure that there are adequate and appropriate policies to deal with gender based violence online as well as harmful content.

By Tijjani Ibrahim.

The Women in Internet Governance Forum (Women-IGF) has proposed a national gender inclusion agenda aimed at ending gender digital divide in the country.

This was disclosed by the Programme Assistant, Gender and Internet Advocacy, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Maryam Ado Haruna, during a press briefing on Tuesday in Kano.

She added that the vision of the agenda was to provide universal access to a free, safe, affordable and secure internet to the women.

She added that the forum has identified actors that have major roles to play in achieving the aim of the agenda, and these actors include NCC, NITDA, NOA, CSOs, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), federal and states ministries of women affairs and education, media, religious and traditional institutions among others.

Malam Hamza Ibrahim, the Coordinator, Curbing hate and dangerous speech in Nigeria Project of the centre, raised the concern on Wednesday at a Press conference in Kano.

He said that a study conducted in August and September indicated that 80 per cent of the speeches were made by young males and cut across the six geo-political zones of the country.

“In September 2018, 174 were captured with 94 appearing from websites of online and conventional Newspapers, so we have noticed a decline in hate and dangerous speeches relating to gender.”

It also appealed to online media and websites to monitor conversations taking place on their platforms in order to reduce the menace.

CITAD further appealed to group administrators on social media, to strengthen their gate-keeping skills to curb the menace.

The project is being sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation to facilitate activities of the centre in fighting hate and dangerous speeches on the Internet.

By Ali Sabo.

As the level of education is deteriorating and going backward in Nigeria especially in the northern part of the country due to lack or inadequate investment in the sector, while experts and concerned citizens are every day looking for a way to bring back and salvage the already dying institution in the country. It is in this regards that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation has been organizing series of debates to secondary school students yearly across the country in order to revive the reading culture among our young ones. In July and September of this year the Centre (CITAD) had organized similar event in Jama’amare Local Government of Bauchi State and Kano state respectively. The debate which is tagged as Youth Speak for Peace Creativity Fiesta and Competition consists of four categories: Story Telling, Pick and Talk, Quiz and Poetry.

In Jigawa state five schools participated at the debate namely: Dutse Model International School, Government Senior Secondary School Shuwarin, Commercial Secondary School Dutse, Academy for the Gifted and Talented Bamaina and Government Girls Senior Secondary School Marabusawa.

The event which started at 11am had 140 participants, special quests among the participants were the Honorable Commissioner of Education, Jigawa state who was ably represented by the Deputy Director Special Duties, Malam Kamilu Ibrahim, Malam Isa Surajo, State Team Leader, Engage Citizens Pillar (ECP), FOMWAN representative, Director Dutse Model International School and Chairman Jigawa Civil Society Forum, comrade Musbahu Basirka.

In her opening remarks, the Honorable commissioner of education who was ably represented by Deputy Director Special Duties stated that she is very happy and commended CITAD for coming up with this laudable initiative, she went further to mentioned that event like this will ginger the students to pay more attention to learning and also boost their English Language. She also remarked that this an encouraging starts and urged CITAD to keep up the good work as she knew CITAD is a partner in progress not only in Jigawa but in the whole country. She promised to help in any way possible to make sure that the event is been conducted in the state yearly. While in his remarks, the Director Dutse Model International School appreciate CITAD for organizing this event and most importantly for the given his school the honor to host the event. He went further to state that students in this part of the country really need this kind of event because it is the only way that can stimulate and encourage them to do more in their academic activities. The State Team Leader, Engage Citizens Pillar, Malam Isa Surajo while giving his remarks said this activity reminded him of when he was in secondary school some 20 years back, he went further to urge the students to continue with debate even after they left here among their colleagues in their schools as it is the only way they can groom themselves to become good public speakers.

After the debate the following schools emerged as First, Second and third positions in the different categories of the debate conducted. Bamaina Academy for the Gifted emerged first position at the Pick and Talk with 87 point followed by Dutse Model International School in the second position with 83.8 points then Commercial Secondary school Takur Emerged as the third position with 66.9 points while for the Quiz also Bamaina Academy for the Gifted emerged first with 8 marks followed by Commercial Secondary School Takur with 7 marks and GDSS Shuwarin in the third position with 6 marks. In the Story Telling Dutse Model emerged first with 80.5% followed by Bamaina Academy for the Gifted as second with77.6 and Commercial Secondary School in the third position with70.6 points while in the poetry Reading Dutse Model took the first position with 74.6, GDSS Shuwarin took the second position with71.3 and GGSS Marabusawa emerged third with 71 point. Prizes such as Bicycles, Plasma Televisions, Handsets, School bags and Books were been given to the winners.

In his vote of thanks, the Executive Director of Centre for Information Technology and Development who was ably represented by the Centre’s Program officer Peace, Malam Hamza Ibrahim thanked all the participating schools and especially Dutse Model for agreeing to host the event. He went further to state that today’s event is not about winner or loser as there is no victor nor vanquish as the main idea of organizing the event is just to revive the reading culture and unveil the different talents of our young ones and put them on the track.

 

An NGO, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has expressed concern over the increasing rate of hate speeches on the social media platforms.

Malam Hamza Ibrahim, the Coordinator, Curbing hate and dangerous speech in Nigeria Project of the centre, raised the concern on Wednesday at a Press conference in Kano.

He said that a study conducted in August and September indicated that 80 per cent of the speeches were made by young males and cut across the six geo-political zones of the country.

According to him, “In August specifically, we documented 263 hate speeches and 132 of them were ethnic based, 94 were religious based, 18 were Biafra – agitated related, three were access to resources related and two were farmer /harder related.”

“In September 2018, 174 were captured with 94 appearing from websites of online and conventional Newspapers, so we have noticed a decline in hate and dangerous speeches relating to gender.”

The centre, however, recommended that all Political parties should caution their members against use of dangerous and hate speeches.

It also appealed to online media and websites to monitor conversations taking place on their platforms in order to reduce the menace.

CITAD further appealed to group administrators on social media, to strengthen their gate keeping skills to curb the menace.

The project is being sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation to facilitate activities of the centre in fighting hate and dangerous speeches on the Internet.