Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Yobe State in collaboration with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) have called on Yobe State Government to establish Government Girls Day Secondary Schools in the major cities of the state so as to encourage the schools enrolment of the girl child.

The call was made on Thursday at a town hall meeting held at NEYIF Damaturu with participation of CSOs and Media across the state.

The meeting noted with concern the deteriorating school enrolments of the girl child in some parts of the state.

“If you look at it critically, at the primary and junior secondary school levels, the enrolment of the girl child is higher than their male counterpart, but immediately you go to the senior class and the tertiary institutions, their number reduce drastically”.

“Girl Child school enrolment at the higher levels is poor in this region, compare to their male counter part.  The girls are either being giving out in marriages or engage into one local trade or the other by their parent” the statement read in part.

New Nigerian also gathered the challenges are not unconnected with the insurgency experienced in the Northeast, whereby parents are scared of taking their daughters to boarding schools.

Earlier in his welcome address, the CITAD Programme Officer, Isa Garba called on the participants to work towards lobbying government so as to encourage the girl child enrolment, stressing that the population is on the increase.

Yobe State government had allocated the sum of N400million for establishment of two Government Girls Day Secondary Schools in its 2018 budget fiscal year but is yet to see the light of the day.

The meeting also commended the state for providing learning infrastructure in many locations, calling on parents to change attitude by sending their wards especially the girl child to school so as to compliment the efforts made.

By Sagiru Ado Abubakar.

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has today hosted Prof. Umar A. Pate as Guest Speaker of the month of August, 2018 for its youths mentorship program titled ‘Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS)’. ILERIS is monthly interactive engagement where people with robust experience in life have been invited to interact with the staffs, interns, civil society advocates and associates of the organization so that they can be inspired. With this objective, last month the program featured Prof. Binta Tijjani Jibril, the Director International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIIBF), Bayero University, Kano. In his opening remarks, the Chief Host and Executive Director of the organization, Engr. Y.Z Ya’u said “For this particular event we normally allow the guest to speak as long as he likes, we are doing this to change the narrative, to change people thinking in order to understand that all successful people are ordinary people, they are ordinary people who have struggle to achieve what they wish to become.” “We will like the guest speaker to tell us how it is started, what the challenges are, how he responded to the challenges and what he wants to pass to the young people to impact their lives”. He then urged the participants to listen attentively and learn from the guest speaker. “Every time we meet here we need that people should acquire something new”, YZ emphasized.

In his part, the guest speaker, Prof. Umar A. Pate, began his interaction by giving an example with the life style of Prof. Jibril Aminu as his role model. He then asked Dr. Rukayya Yusuf Aliyu who came along with the Professor to the event to share his citation with the audience. In her part, Dr. Rukayya said that, Prof. Umar Pate is the immediate past and founding Dean of the faculty of communication, Bayero University, Kano. Before relocating to BUK as a Professor in the Department of Mass Communication, he served as a Professor in the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri where he rose through the ranks beginning as a Graduate Assistant in 1988 to become an Associate Professor in 2002 and full Professor in 2007. He headed the Mass Communication Department in that University for a total of seven years. Pate holds a PhD, Master of Philosophy and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mass Communication obtained in 1997, 1990 and 1987. He attended LEA Primary School, Nassarawo Jereng in Adamawa Division from 1971-1976, Government Collage Maiduguri from 1976-1981.  In the collage, he emerged as the student with the best GCE O’Level result in the Arts class in 1981. He proceeded to the collage of Preliminary Studies, Yola from 1982-1984 and passed the IJMB A’ level examinations to qualified for direct entry admission into the BA Mass Communication in University of Maiduguri. In 1987, he graduated as one of the top students in the class with a second class upper degree. He was competitively selected as the University Valedictorian of the year in 1987/88

Speaking about his background, Pate said that his father was an Area Court Judge, and an Islamic Scholar. They have two medical Professors in the house and he was lucky to become a Professor at the age of 36. Prof. also said that presently he holds the title of Kaigama of Adamawa emirates, the title which in the possession of their house since the period of Jihad. The title implies the Chief of Defence and one among the king makers.

At the end of the lecture, Prof insisted that for anyone to achieve his dreams must be hardworking, contented, tolerance, reciprocal and spend within his limit.

By Udora Orizu in Abuja.

Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in Nigeria,   comprising the Human Development Initiatives, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities ( JONAPWD), and Centre for Information and Technology Development (CITD), among others, has  called on the government to raise the percentage of UBE intervention fund being made available for projects aimed at supporting disabled children across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the CSOs at a summit jointly organised by the HDI, JONAPWD and CITAD in Abuja, the Executive Director, HDI, Olufunso Owasanoye noted that  the issue of inclusive education for children with disabilities has become  crucial considering the 2014 National Policy on Education (NPE) which demands that the education of children with special needs shall be free at all levels .

She said since the federal government is  saddled with this responsibility, they  must conduct regular censuses,  monitor them  and provide special education equipment and training for them.

She expressed concern that  currently only about two per cent of the UBE intervention fund is available to states for projects aimed at supporting children with disabilities.

“The evaluation of UNICEF’s child-friendly schools’ programme regarding this, shows that most schools lack appropriate resources, infrastructure and qualified teachers to meet the needs of these children,” she said, adding that the objective of the summit was to, among other things, “demand for increase in UBE funds dedicated to education of children with special needs from two per cent to three per cent.”

Owasanoye said the projects of HDI and CITAD in Nigeria jointly advocated for a review of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) dedicated to financing the UBE intervention and to the education of children with special needs from two per cent to four per cent.

“JONAPWD on the other hand seeks to improve the inclusion and access of children with disabilities to quality basic education in Nigeria through effective stakeholders’ advocacy engagement for policy influencing, capacity building and public awareness creation,” she added.

He told delegates that education remained the only panacea to ignorance, illiteracy subjugation and impoverishment in any society, adding that it had been the defining legacy in human development.

“In spite of that, without adequate sustenance, the ray of hope provided through the introduction of education to young minds may eventually dim out if not quenched. It is for this reason that the introduction of education to uneducated parents and guardians for their children and youths should be given utmost priority,” she said

By Ahmed Jada.

Journalists and the Civil Society Organizations have been cautioned against sensational posting on social media platforms.

The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of 2-days capacity building workshop on Thursday for Media, CSOs and in Gombe.

“The journalists and CSOs should avoid posting anything sensational on social media platforms, that would cause problems in the society.

“That will make them loose the integrity and respect earned from the society ,” the communique said

The communique was signed by the chairman Hassan Shallpella and the secretary Abdulkareem Haruna.

The Communique also quoted “that journalists and CSO actors should be cautious of what they post on their various social media platforms to avoid being perceived as biased or taking sides,”

It called on journalists to objectively and constructively report the issues that have direct bearing with the citizens and government.

According to the communique, there is need for a better collaboration between the media and the civil society organizations to achieve social accountability in education sector in the Northeast Nigeria.

It said the synergy between state and non-state actors in education is key to achieving social accountability.

“That collaboration among media, CSOs and Schools Based Management Committee (SBMC) will enhance social accountability and quality service delivery in the education sector,” the communique said

It also called for more periodic capacity building for the media and the CSOs to enhance better working relationship.

“That members of the various clusters should imbibe the culture of networking for effective collaboration in order to achieve the set target,” it said

The Communique said that the media plays a vital role through its various functions in improving accountability in the education sector.

It said the SBMC should be effectively utilized by both the CSOs and the Media in achieving social accountability in public schools.

It also called on journalists to create innovative ways in producing reports and programmes that will promote social accountability.

“To also collaborate with the SBMCs and CSOs in order to get credible and reliable information that will improve quality education in the Northeast,” it said.

It added that the Media and CSOs should create a platform for easy sharing of information and further collaboration.

Our correspondent report that the workshop was organised by Northeast Social Accountability in Education Cluster with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) as Anchor, with Support from USAID through SACE project. Participants were drawn from various media organisations and CSOs in the Northeast states.

By Ali Sabo.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation had on the 14^th and 17^th of August, 2018 conducted a sensitization on Hate Speech and Fake News to the students of College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Ringim and Jigawa State Polytechnic at the ICT/Computer Hall and Computer Science Library Hall of the institutions respectively.

As we are all aware that the issue of spreading Hate Speech and Fake News have become so rampant in our society most especially in social media platforms. It is in this view that CITAD as an organization that is implementing a project on peace and curbing Hate and Dangerous Speeches and Fake News both online and offline, found it very paramount to engage students of tertiary institutions and sensitize them about the negative impact of spreading such kind of information in the society due to the significant number of youth on social media and the role they can play in stopping this menace.

The sensitization which started last week had interacted with students of Bayero University, Kano, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Federal College of Education all in Kano state. And this week the team moves to Jigawa state. The essence of the sensitization is to equip the students with all the necessary technical knowhow and tools on how to address the menace of HATE Speech and Fake News which is spreading like a wildfire in our society and to also mould them to be the agents of peace in their institutions, communities and associations.

At the sensitization one Lead Paper was presented: Understanding Hate and Dangerous Speeches and Three Breakout Sessions: Using Technology to Combat Hate Speech i.e Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which were facilitated by Hamza Ibrahim, Coordinator Hate Speech Project and Shazali Sabo, Programmes Assistant, Peace.

After the presentations, the participants were given chance to ask questions and make comments. One of the participants Bashir Usman, a student with Department of Law, College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Ringim confessed that he was among the Hate Speech promoters especially on Facebook but after the sensitization he assured the organizers that he will never engage on it again. While Hussaini Lawal of the Department of Computer Science, Jigawa State Polytechnic mentioned that this is the first time he attended this kind of sensitization and said if other organizations will emulate CITAD things will be different in the country. It was also discovered that most of the participants lack the technical knowledge on how to report Hate Speech on either Facebook or Twitter. At the end they promised to use the knowledge they acquired at the sensitization properly and also extend it to their colleagues, friends and families.

In his vote of thanks, the chairman Civil Society Forum, Jigawa State, Comrade Musbahu Basirka commended CITAD for organizing this wonderful and enlightening program especially at this critical time referring to the forth coming general elections and he also appeals to the participants to stay away from any political violence and anything that will hamper the peace of the country during the election.

By Eileen Ihenmadu.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development(CITAD), on Tuesday held a business facilitation clinic themed “ Creating space for the development of young entrepreneurs”.
The clinic was in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria. The program was aimed to offer a face to face engagement with key government agencies, stakeholders and accomplished young entrepreneurs.
The Executive Director of Centre for Information Technology and Development, Mr. Y Z. Yau, in his remark said the business facilitation clinic seeks to empower young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address their economic and development challenges.
“The idea behind this business clinic is to continually support digital rural startups in Nigeria in the area of providing education, training and information that will enhance their business management skills.
“CITAD and Action Aid Nigeria considers young people in the rural communities as central to economic and social advancement through sustained inclusive growth. Part of investing in the future youth to give them the tools to drive inclusive economic growth, social justice and ending poverty in the long run”.
The Executive Director CITAD in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria decided that this year’s event should coincide with the International Youth Day 2018 theme “Safe Spaces for Youths” because the event will facilitate a dialogue on safe spaces between governments, UN agencies,academia, civil society, and most importantly youth groups. With the goal of offering practical solutions to the challenges of creating youth-friendly spaces.
Mr Y.Z. Yau, disclosed that CITAD with the support of Action Aid Nigeria established five modern ICT centres in fifteen communities under the four selected area councils. The programme was under the project on “Digitalisation for Equitable Development in establishment of ICT centres in FCT-Abuja”, which ensured that two hundred and ten youths received training in digital skills, digital entrepreneurship skills, business management skills and business support clinic which held yesterday.
The representative of the Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Hamid M. Nagogo, said the Minister is really impressed with the initiative which seeks to empower youths, he also lauded the project by saying youths have a role to play in the world today.
He advised youths not to see capital as the major problem but look around for what is in need thereby trying to create it. He also encouraged youths to think of ways to develop themselves.
The Executive Director of CITAD, said that by saying the world’s young people who make up the largest generation in history can lead to a global drive to break the patterns of the past and set the world
On course for a more sustainable future adding that young people are traditionally at the cutting edge and today have more information than any previous generation.

By Sarauniya G Usman.

No fewer than 210 Youths & Women in 15 Rural Communities has been trained by Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),Spread across four area councils in FCT.

The programme, was aimed to offer face -to-face engagement with key government agencies, stakeholders and accomplished young entrepreneurs on the key functions of relevant government agencies and modern business management strategies.

In his remarks,The Executive Director,CITAD, Yau, who was represented by Program Officer, Ahmad Muhammad,CITAD,said, the business facilitation clinic seeks to empower young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring,and access to financing to develop startup solutions that can address the economic and development challenges”

The director said, the idea behind the business is to continually support digital rural startup in Nigeria in the area of providing education, training and Information that would enhance business management skills.

“Assemble of this nature can create a platform where business regulatory bodies, business development service providers and businesses can interact and provide solutions to challenges inhibiting the startup and growth of startup”.

The Executive Director,CITAD, Yau, said on the side-lines of the closing ceremony that the training was geared toward empowering the participants in various ICT businesses.
“It was basically tailored toward producing new generations of entrepreneurs among the nation’s teeming youths and women population using ICT as a veritable yard-stick.

The program which is under the project on ” Digitisation for Equitable development in establishment of ICT centres in FCT- Abuja was organised by Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Action Aid Nigeria in implementing project on Digital Skills
which include: To combine wining the mind campaign with entrepreneurship development to transform idle women/youth into job creators, creating wealth for themselves, their children and the country using digital skills they acquired

The training programme which was tagged: BUSINESS FACILITATION CLINIC “CREATIING SPACE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ENTERPRENEURS”, attracted youth and women participants from 15 Rural Communities in FCT.

By Maryam Ado Haruna.

As part of CITAD strategy to empower women and close the huge gender gap in the digital sphere that exists especially in the northern Nigeria, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in partnership with United States Institute for Advanced Studies, John Hopkins University, and Everett, organized a 6-day digital training for young women in Kano state titled “2^nd Kano Digital Summer Institute 2018 (KDSI).”

The Digital Summer Institute was first established in the year 2017 with two workshops in Abuja and Kano respectively.

On the first day of the training during the opening ceremony, the coordinator of the institute, Dr. Aminu Aliyu Muhammad explained that just like the previous 2017 1^st Institute, the 2018 Digital Summer Institute also has two workshops in the FCT for young women in Abuja and Kano.

He added that women in the northern Nigeria are faced with numerous challenges. The poverty indices has also proved women to be the poorest and most dependent. This disadvantage has prevailed to the digital spheres. Thus, part of the main objectives of the training is to empower women with digital skills to enable them become self-reliant.

Hajiya Sa’a Ibrahim, Managing Director, Abubakar Rimi Television Kano, who chaired the ceremony, expressed that it is a beautiful chance for the selected beneficiaries to utilize in order to explore business opportunities available for them. She urged them to consider the sacrifice made by the three facilitators who travelled all the way from California, USA, to train them with the digital skills. And therefore, they need to give their best to the training.

The KDSI went on for six days from Monday 23^rd to 28^th Saturday July, 2018 with 21 participants, including one person with special needs. Part of the skills and tools that were taught during the institute include:

1. Monday 23^rd July: Google Apps and their various functions. These include:

• Google Scholar,
• Google Calendar
• Google Drive
• Google Photos
• Google docs
• Chrome

2. Tuesday 24^th July: Photography and its Uses

• Concepts of creativity
• Learning the technique
• Rule of thoughts
• Photo etiquette check list
• Post shoot process
• Photo distribution
• Print sharing

3. Wednesday 25^th July: Graphic Design and its Uses

• Culture of graphic design
• What to ask b4 graphic design
• Infographics
• Elements and principles of design
• Typography basics
• Canva App
• Creating flyer, IV, business cards etc using Canva

4. Thursday 26^th July: Filming and Uses

• Video Production
• Importance of film
• Storyboarding
• Uses of storyboards
• Directing and cinematography
• Sound and lighting

5. Friday 27^th July: Social Media Marketing

• Social media marketing
• Used d app logo pit plus
• Made logos
• Rules b4 posting
• Benefits of social media for biz
• How u use social media to make money
• Privacy
• Email marketing

6. Saturday 28^th July: Video Editing 

• Video editing
• Video importing
• Video exporting
• Editing
• Cropping and placement
• Transition
• Audio
• Filters
• Video editing apps
• FilmoraGo App
• Quick
• Adobe premiere clip

During the closing ceremony of the KDSI on Saturday 28^th July, 2018, prof. Paul Lubeck (Malam Ibrahim) from the USAIS John Hopkins University, who chaired the ceremony presented certificates to the 21 beneficiaries of the KDSI including the person with special needs.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Malam Yunusa Ya’u, explained that CITAD would feel honoured and repaid if the women utilize the skills they have acquired and venture into different businesses; online or offline they found suitable. CITAD also expects the women to become self –reliant in the nearest future and also provide job opportunities to others. He urged them to step-down the skills they have learnt to other women as CITAD would not have the resources to train all women in Kano state. He later commended a participant, Elisha Shallom who travelled all the way from Bauchi state to acquire the skills.

The team of the U.S co-facilitators comprising of Ruby, Tamara and Ayde, advised the young women to keep practicing the skills that they have learnt and make effort to explore countless opportunities available in the skills they have learnt. They explained that their motivation was the passion to make effort to close the existing gender gap in both physical and digital world.

A participant explained that the KDSI did not only provided her with digital skills, it has also improved her skills in public speaking. Another participant added that she had now gain confidence and courage in herself and feels capable of excelling in her endeavour. One of the participants who also expressed her gratitude for the training explained that she had cancelled a contract of Logo and flyers she had given earlier for her brand because she could now do it with the skills she had acquired from the KDSI. At the end of the ceremony, a participant who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all beneficiaries, appreciated CITAD and other  partners, Everett and USAIS John Hopkins University and the co-facilitators, for their invaluable efforts of providing them with the digital skills.

By Sageer Ado.

Building on its commitment to support education and encourage secondary schools students to excel, the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has introduced an annual literary creativity competition in Jama’are Local Government for students of secondary school in the local government. The competition entitled ‘Marai on the Marble’, aimed to bring together students from secondary schools in the local government to demonstrate their literary skill and knowledge. The maiden edition of the event took place on Saturday, 21^st July, 2018 at Wabi Academy, Jama’are local government, Bauchi state. In his opening speech, the Executive Director of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) who was represented by the Training Coordinator, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai said that this is an event of the Jama’are CITAD branch and probably if it is very successful CITAD will replicate the initiative to cover its other offices of operation. He said that the objective of the competition was to encourage revival of reading culture, sensitize and encourage students to take literary expression as important and celebrate creativity among the students. He finally encouraged the students to be attentive when answering the question and emphasized that the creativity competition consists of debate, poetry writing and reading, quiz and storytelling.

Malam Zakariyya Jibrin, the Education Secretary, Jama’are Local Government served as the chairman of the occasion. In his remarks, he commended the effort of the organizers who he described as progressive partners. He then turned to the students and said that quiz compitition is not do-or-die affairs. He added that organizing quiz helps to test the students’ knowledge and identify gaps in the knowledge. It also helps the students to practice their knowledge and retain it for long period of time and provides feedback to instructors and lets them know what is learned and what is not.

Six secondary schools took part in the quiz competition. The schools were Government Day Secondary School, Jama’are, Government Arabic Collage, Jama’are, Government Day Secondary School Hassan Muhammad, Wabi Science Academy, Junior Secondary School M.C Abubakar and JIBWIS Science Secondary School. The schools were asked to answer five questions in the first round. G.A.C Jama’are answered 4 questions and scored 8 points. G.D.S.S Hassan Muhammad answered only one question and scored 2 points. JIBWIS Science Secondary School answered 2 questions and scored 4 points. Wabi Science Academy, Junior Secondary School M.C Abubakar and G.D.S.S Jama’are answered 3 questions and scored 6 points each. When announcing the result the Quiz Panel that comprises of Yusuf Shuaibu of G.D.S.S Azare, Sadiq Shehu of Katagum Forum and Sani Garba of also Katagum Forum serving as the Chief Judge said that G.A.C Jama’are that answered 4 questions and scored 8 points automatically emerged victorious for the first place position. The panel then instructed the technical committee to allow the 3 schools that have a tally with 6 points each to go for the second round. The crowded hall was so excited to see the 3 schools battling to get second and third place positions. After four rounds, G.D.S.S Jama’are emerged victorious for second place position and Wabi Science Academy occupied third place position.

The poetry writing and reading competition featured five schools. Adam Ahmad represented G.A.C Jama’are, Muhammad Ali represented G.D.S.S Hassan Muhammad, Mariya Muhammad Jidda represented M.C Abubakar, Jama’are, Aishatu Abubakar represented JIBWIS Science Secondary School Jama’are and Muhammad Kabir Suleiman represented Wabi Science Academy, Jama’are. Earlier, Malam Isa Garba, Senior Program Officer of the Center for information Technology and Development who served as the Chief Judge in the poetry competition stated the guidelines of the poetry competition. He stated that the poet must be a composer of the poem and a poem must be in prose and possess poetic qualities. After assessing the poems, Junior Secondary School M.C Abubakar scored 68.8 points and emerged first place position. JIBWIS Science Secondary School scored 62.5 points and emerged second place position while Wabi Science Academy scored 59.5 and emerged third place position.

During the story telling competition, six schools participated with different narrative stories. Khadija Hussain of Government Day Secondary School Jama’are narrated a story titled ‘Proud’, Muhd Farouk of Government Day Technical Collage, Jama’are gave a story with title ‘Caring and Loving Father’ and Abdulkadir M. bello of Wabi Academy with a  story ‘Female are more Pity to their Child than Male’. Other narrations were ‘Cin Amana’ from Ibrahim Muhammad of Government Arabic Collage, Jama’are, ‘In Kin Ki Ji, Ba Kya Ki gani ba’ from Hafsat Hassan of Hassan Muhammad Collage and ‘Honesty is the Best Policy for Mankind’ a story from Abdurrahman Ahmad of Government Day Science, Jama’are. JIBWIS emerged first position with 75.5 marks, GDSS Jama’are won the second position with 66.5 marks and Wabi Academy scored 65.5 and won third place position.

In the debate competition, the schools were given 10 minutes to make presentation on the following topics:

GAC Jama’are won the first place position in the debate, GDSS Jama’are came second and JIBWIS Science won third place position.

The schools were given the following prizes at the end of competition

Alh. Salihu Ibrahim Halilu (Sarkin Dawakin Jama’are) representated the emir of Jama’are local government at the event. Other dignitaries at the event were Alh. Saleh Ahmed, Gado da Masun Jama’are, Alh. Hassan Baba, Dan rimin Jama’are, Alh. Umaru Usman, PTA Chairman Committee, Wabi Academy and Zakariyya Jibrin, Education Secretary, Jama’are local government.

Others were Alh. Haruna Sabo, representative of Hon Isah Hassan, Alh. Salihu Ibrahim, representative of Hon. Magaji Isah, Alh. Ibrahim Mai Dalla, representative of Jama’are emirate council and principals of secondary schools in Jama’are Local Government.

In his vote of thanks, the emir of Jama’are, Alh. Ahmad Muhammad Wabi, ably represented by Alh. Salihu Ibrahim Halilu, Sarkin Dawaki thanked CITAD and its Executive Director, Engr. YZ Ya’u for initiating the quiz competition. “I stand on behalf of the emir Alh. Ahmad Muhammad Wabi, to express our gratitude and appreciation to the organizers of this quiz competition especially Engr. Ya’u who was son of our soil, and the person who established a computer centre to educate our children”. “We always pray to Almighty Allah to reward him abundantly”, the emir said.

In his closing remarks, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai thanked the donors of the quiz competition especially Hon. Isah Muhammad, Member House of Representative, Jama’are Federal Constituency for donating 3 set of televisions, Hon. Magaji Isah, Member House of Assembly for donating 3 set of phones, Barr. Bala Yusuf for donating the sum of 30,000 Naira, Pharmacy Nasiru Ahmed Pfizer for donating 30,000 naira also, Engr. Baba Ladan and Alh. Abdullahi Abubakar Fatal for donating 5,000 naira each. He said that the money was used to purchase the 3 bicycles.

By Hamza Ibrahim.

In line with it’s quest for efficiency towards realizing the set objectives of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), the governing board under the leadership of Malam Yakubu Aliyu has met and deliberated on numerous issues. The meeting which took place in Abuja is part of the policy and principles of the organization which demands the governing board members to periodically meet and deliberate in order to re-strategize and offer concrete inputs on the overall activities of the ICT-focused nongovernmental organization.

The meeting which lasted for hours has among other things discussed the state of programmes and projects the organization run, new initiatives as well as the sustainability plans. With headquarters in Kano, CITAD has other five offices in Abuja, Dutse, Jigawa state, Bauch, Jama’are and Azare in Bauchi state. CITAD sees technology as a tool to promote sustainable development, good governance and peaceful coexistence. It uses ICT to empower youth and women through access to information, skills and online mentoring opportunities. Present at the meeting were: Malam Yakubu Aliyu, Dr. Y.Z. Ya’u, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai, Ms. Ene Obi, Prof. Amina Kaidal, Dr. Asabe Sadiya Mohammed, Malam Isyaku Garba and Engr. Kamal Umar who are on the board of the organization.

Poor awareness on the pastoral system fit for the multiplicity of the Nigerian society is said to be at the core of the lingering conflicts between farmers and herders in the country.

This is largely due to widespread compromise in the nation’s news media, said experts at a workshop on fake news and insecurity in Nigeria, held at Starview hotel, Abuja.

A former Research Scientist at the International Livestock Centre for Africa and one-time Chairman, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Junaidu Maina said different livestock models exist but remain unknown or widely misunderstood.

This, according to the Chief Executive Officer, JM Global Associates Ltd, Abuja has caused governments to make arbitrary choices, often confusing one model for the other, thus prolonging the crisis.

He particularly faulted the Nigerian government’s concept of ranching, saying Nigeria lacks the land and technological resources to drive it.

He highlighted other causes of conflict between farmers and herders in the country to include scarcity of land resulting from population growth, encroachment of existing grazing reserves and among others, climate change.

Dr. Maina however tasked journalists to always scrutinize government legislations against pastoralism to set the pace for positive change in the agricultural sector.
Journalists in Nigeria equally have the task of changing existing narratives on the farmer/herder conflict to focus on the real issues underlying the conflict for a more thorough solution, said Dr. Saleh Momaleh of the Kaduna Peace Commission.

Creating ‘appropriate’ awareness, building confidence and community relations as well as minimise fear, Dr. Momaleh said is one task journalists in Nigeria must pursue.

In doing this, the Publisher of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi said journalists must be accountable, independent, transparent, community-based reporters and minimize harm in their practice.

The workshop tagged, “Understanding and Responding to Fake News Exacerbating Fears and Insecurity in the Country,” organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) from 13th to 14th July, 2018 centered on the dangers of fake news and hate speech on national growth, security and development in Nigeria.

Poor information on the pastoral system fit for the multiplicity of the Nigerian society is said to be at the core of the lingering conflicts between farmers and herders in the country.

This is largely due to widespread compromise in the nation’s news media, said experts at a workshop on fake news and insecurity in Nigeria, held at Starview hotel, Abuja.

A former Research Scientist at the International Livestock Centre for Africa and one-time Chairman, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Junaidu Maina said different livestock models exist but remain unknown or widely misunderstood.

This, according to the Chief Executive Officer, JM Global Associates Ltd, Abuja has caused governments to make arbitrary choices, often confusing one model for the other, thus prolonging the crisis.

He particularly faulted the Nigerian government’s concept of ranching, saying Nigeria lacks the land and technological resources to drive it.

He highlighted other causes of conflict between farmers and herders in the country to include scarcity of land resulting from population growth, encroachment of existing grazing reserves and among others, climate change.

Dr. Maina however tasked journalists to always scrutinize government legislations against pastoralism to set the pace for positive change in the agricultural sector.

Journalists in Nigeria equally have the task of changing existing narratives on the farmer/herder conflict to focus on the real issues underlying the conflict for a more thorough solution, said Dr. Saleh Momaleh of the Kaduna Peace Commission.

Creating ‘appropriate’ awareness, building confidence and community relations as well as minimise fear, Dr. Momaleh said is one task journalists in Nigeria must pursue.

In doing this, the Publisher of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi said journalists must be accountable, independent, transparent, community-based reporters and minimize harm in their practice.

The workshop tagged, “Understanding and Responding to Fake News Exacerbating Fears and Insecurity in the Country,” organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) from 13th to 14th July, 2018 centered on the dangers of fake news and hate speech on national growth, security and development in Nigeria.

By Jerry Emmanson.

Towards identifying issues underlying the growing conflicts in Nigeria, particularly the farmer-herders conflict, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) over the weekend organised a 2days workshop in Abuja tagged: “Understanding and Responding to Fake News Exacerbating Fears and Insecurity in the Country,” to assess the dangers of fake news and hate speech on national growth, security and development in Nigeria.

Participants at the workshop were youths from across the country, media, academia and civil society amongst others, which featured paper presentations from highly revered professionals and authorities from different spheres of life. In a communiqué jointly signed by Hamza Ibrahim (CITAD), Ibrahim Sulaiman (ALCIDA), Uza Doshima, Food Technology and Research, Yadoma Bukar Mandara and Usman Masara Kim, said fake news does not exist in a vacuum, it rather thrives in a gullible environment where human populations are less enlightened to access quality, objective, balanced and fair information.

“People who propagate hate speech have platforms they tend to use to manipulate public opinion and emotions for the purpose of mischief and/or selfish economic or political gains. The workshop in part of its resolution said: “Lack of transparency and sincerity on the part of government, which reflects in the operations of public/state owned media organizations, has greatly reduced public confidence in official sources of information.

Therefore, citizens are compelled to explore alternative sources of information, thereby falling victims of fake news media and agents. On the area of farmers-herders conflicts it stated that: “Existing legislations affecting pastoralism especially anti-open grazing laws have not holistically addressed the issue of farmer-herder clashes as they seldom reflect the sociocultural and environmental diversities of Nigeria.” It advised the government to consider the multiplicity of the sociocultural, geographical and other related landscape of the country, and design agric-related programmes to favour such.

“Communities should be allowed to explore specific livestock production options suitable to their sociocultural and/or environmental peculiarities rather than ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches that have over the years proved a failure in addressing the lingering crisis between farmers and herders.” Also in a presentation by Dr. Junaidu A. Maina on “Understanding the Crisis of Pastoralism in Nigeria,” he listed the major drivers of conflict between farmers and herders to be population growth, Livestock feed resource base, Encroachment of grazing reserves and Stock routes, Cattle Rustling, Breakdown of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, weak criminal justice system allowed and one sided report by media etc. He maintained that adaptation of intensive/enclosed production system will create a structured modern cattle production system with a national spread.

“This will for sometime co-exist with pastoralism which will persist in some states. Just like the modern commercial poultry which co-exists with larger rural poultry,” he said. Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, online publisher of PremiumTimes in his address on “Fake news and the challenge of security in Nigeria,” said that there is a fundamental crisis in global journalism today and while a vigorous debate is currently apace we pretend that is not the case in Nigeria.

“Digital transition has complicated the whole crises and one of the challenge of news at the current moment is the fact that at no other time in history do we have such a deluge, such a tsunami of information to contend with. “Because of the speed and volumes through which information and news reaches us, the capacity to blur the boundaries of journalism and non-journalism has narrowed, and the capacity to disinform and misinform has also grown out of bounds.” He however, advised journalists to maintain balance and fairness in their reports as the twin concepts which are central to journalistic ethics.

Text of the Communiqu issued at the end of two-day Stakeholders

Workshop on Hate Speech and Media in Nigeria held at Grand Pela Hotel and Suites, Abuja, July 10-11, 2018.
Preamble

For two days, academics, journalists, broadcasters and civil society activists with diverse backgrounds met to discuss issues relating to hate speech and assorted media genres and professionals.

Four papers were presented in addition to two different panels as well as a robust general house discussion on issues that arose as the workshop progressed.

The workshop observed as follows:

1) Hate speech could emanate readily from the various divides in the society ranging from ethnic, religious, social to economic differences of individuals and groups. This could even deepen with subdivisions into smaller units implying that it is difficult to predict its end.

2) Hate speech can provoke negative reactions almost instantaneously as it fuels ethnic, religious and some other conflicts in the society and this could degenerate to violence.

3) Media related challenges that fuel conflict range from media’s disregard for diversity, undue commercialization, poor knowledge of relevant laws, history and culture as well as current affairs, ownership influence to provincialisation of education of relevant academics.

4) Paucity of logistics and undue internal pressure constitute another set of problems to good performance of the media.

5) Broadcast media in Nigeria, especially those owned by state governments, often run foul of cautionary measures especially during elections, thus presenting rather bad examples to their counterparts in the private sector.

6) Media genres of the print and broadcast are hardly different again with the inception of the internet as the conventional media ceaselessly seek to extend their operations and influence to the realms of social media.

7) The Cybercrime Advisory Council provided for by the Cybercrime Act of 2015 is rather exclusive particularly of the youths in spite of the reckoning enjoyed by the youths with the UN in relation to Internet issues as manifest in the annual rituals of the Internet Governance Forum, IGF.

The workshop subsequently recommended as follows:

1) Different ethnic groups should seek to tolerate their respective cultural differences to enable all to cohabit peacefully.

2) It is important that civil society groups begin to recognize the need to popularize the knowledge of the concept of hate speech for the benefit of the members of the general public.

3) Professionalism in the mainstream media is important hence the need for training and retraining of media personnel as, for instance, may be initiated by CITAD in conjunction with other stakeholders.

4) It is important to accord proper attention to the welfare of media personnel so that their work could be more factual and evidence based

5) The Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, and other similar bodies that used to have reasonable influence on media organizations need to liberalise to accommodate emerging players like members of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, and Online Publishers of Nigeria, OPAN.

6) Develop a voluntary code of conduct for bloggers and encourage widespread dissemination

7) Government should consider the repealing of the Cybercrime Act of 2015 to reform the Cybercrime Advisory Council to accommodate youths in line with the vision of the UN.

8) Journalism training institutions need to introduce courses on conflict sensitive reporting, and universities and other tertiary institutions offering journalism training should introduce the course right from 100 level.

9) The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should be made autonomous and independent agency

10) Media organizations and bodies should punish and sanction their staff and members who engage in promoting hate speech.

11) Public awareness need to be enhanced to educate people on getting and sharing information on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhastApp, Instagram, etc.

12) Civil society organizations should monitor hate speech and put pressure on media regulatory agencies to punish media houses that allow hate speech in their contents.

13) Journalists should prioritize write-ups that promote national unity, cohesion and tolerance and must not give room for hate speech

Signed:

i. Hamza Ibrahim-Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).

ii. Dr. Tunde Musbahu Akanni-Lagos State University (LASU)

iii. Chinedu Christopher Gbulie-Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)

iv. Onyekachi Eke-Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC)

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES FROM THE WORKSHOP.

By Balarabe Alkassim, Bauchi.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has lamented the low adult literacy rate in the north east region.

CITAD North East Social Accountability in Education Cluster team made the disclosure ‎when it paid an advocacy visit to Bauchi State House of Assembly committee on Education.

Speaking, the team leader, Isah Garba said the north east region has the least education statistics in the country with Yobe and Borno states having the lowest rates with 31.9 percent and 35.1 percent respectively.

“The corresponding figures for female adult literacy are 14.9 and 18.0 percent respectively for the two states. The performance of the states in both NECO and WAEC has been the lowest of the country.

“A survey showed that percentage of children between 6 and 16 who have never attended school has high prevalence in Borno (72 percent), Yobe (58 percent) and Bauchi (52 percent). Only 20 percent of all school age girls get to attend school,” he said.

In his response, the chairman Bauchi state House of Assembly committee on education Honourable Yusuf Inuwa Dadiye promised that the committee would look at the recommendations for necessary action.