The Centre for Information Technology and Development in conjunction with several partners is holding the Kano Social Influencers Summit (KanSIS). The objectives of the submit which brings government agencies, development partners, civil society, social media activists, journalists, social influencers, academics, community leaders , students, etc are:

1. To serve as a symposium of ideas, innovations, development solutions..
2. To serve as a forum where modern advocacy tools and strategies will be showcased for CSOs

• To instill zeal and interest of productive use of social media

1. To serve as a rendezvous of partners in different areas for networking and collaboration

The Summit will hold on 30th – 31st, July Kano.

Participation is free, however it requires registration. Interested persons can register here (link)

Organizations and individuals who are interested in organizing a panel can submit a panel proposal submission. Registration is on until 30^th June, 2018.

Register here: https://www.citad.org/2019/05/23/kansis/

The themes of the Summit is Creativity and Innovation in Social Media for Transformation

The sub-themes under which panel proposals may be submitted include:

1. Social media as tool for promoting social accountability
2. Online SME Tools for Job Creation
3. Drama, Poetry and Music in the Social Media: What do they say?
4. Online Advocacy Tools
5. Addressing Gender Based Violence Online (GBVO)
6. Safety and Security Online
7. Social Media in Academic Environment
8. Understanding the Power of the New Broadcast Media
9. The New Visuals: Video Clips on Social Media
10. Democratic Struggles and the Social Media
11. Is the Social Killing Jobs or Creating Jobs?
12. Detoxicating from Social Media Addiction
13. Winning the Battle Against Harmful Content
14. Digital Rights and Social Media Terrain in Nigeria
15. Online Newspapers and Investigative Journalism
16. The Digital Rights Bill
17. The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms
18. The Feminist Internet Principles
19. The Internet we want and the Role of the Regulator
20. FOI and Proactive Online Information Provision

Register here: https://www.citad.org/2019/05/23/kansis/

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By Sagiru Ado Abubakar.

The Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has on Saturday 18^th May, 2019 hosted Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u, Department of Islamic Law, Bayero University, Kano as Guest Speaker of the month. Professor Muhammad Tabi’u, SAN is a Professor of Law at Bayero University, Kano, and has extensive expertise and experience in the fields of law and development. He has also provides high level consultancy services to DFID and EU for the management of its justice reform programme in Nigeria (from Access to Justice [A2J] to Security Justice & Growth [SJG], Justice for All [J4A]) and Managing Conflict in Northeastern Nigeria (MCN). In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Engr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u welcomed and thanked the Guest Speaker for honoring the invitation in the holy month of Ramadan saying that we are banned in the holy month for drinking and taking food items but not ban from taking knowledge. He then said that ILERIS is youth development program initiated over the last 3 years and serve as an avenue to provide youth with skills, ideas and inspiration. It requires bringing people who are successful in life to interact with staff, interns and associates of the organization with intention to learn from their own life style.

In his presentation, Prof Tabi’u said that he was born in Gumel over 60 years ago and recalled that they started their primary education under shade tree almost a year, then later classroom was constructed with cornstalks. For Prof. Tabi’u, going to primary school was not negotiable as first male child in the family and his father was then responsible for taking children to school. This led to his father to set an example from his own child at early years.  He was one of the smallest children in the school but inspired a lot of people in term of performance. He was a monitor since in primary school and appointed secretary of the Young Farmers Club, the position he held due to his ability to write and read English Text Books. He was appointed Science Prefect in secondary school, the position invented purposely for him and served among senior colleagues. Prof. Tabi’u said that he doesn’t like to be a leader, but pushed and forced to be appointed.

Prof. Tabi’u encouraged the participants to be truthful. He empathized that in every leadership positions he held he tries to inspire trust. According to him, you must adopt and inspire people to know that every position of leadership you hold is for the people not thinking that the credit is for you alone. He added that leadership is one word with different understanding. From political background it seems a chance for accumulating more wealth and by any means.

Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u highlighted some of the challenges he faced when he was Antony General and when he held the position of Executive Secretary, National Human Right Commission under a military leader.  With mindset people like him they took the law that setup the commission and drew the attention of the government concerning human right violation in the country. With this effort, during the administration of General Abdussalam Abubakar they were able to liberate in a period of month over 10,000 people in detention across the country especially political prisoners.

Lastly, Prof. Tabi’u charged the participants on teamwork, admitting that all his achievements in life came under teamwork. In his closing remarks, the Executive Director thanked the guest speaker and said that he has two things to take back home from the presentation. One, you never get tire with engagements. Without engagement you will not make progress. Secondly, result doesn’t actually come in a day, it takes some many years.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we would like to welcome you to this press conference and to address you on an important issue that has to do with public expenditure management.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) received with shock the decision of the Bauchi State House of Assembly to repeal a law that provides for the investigation of public officers who might have misappropriated state funds entrusted in their hands. The House in its meeting on Wednesday 15th May, 2017 passed three bills, among which is “Bill for a Law to Repeal Bauchi State Public Property and Funds Recovery Tribunal Law 2017” repealing an earlier law that provides the investigation and prosecution of those suspected to have looted public funds in the state.

In an unprecedented fashion, the three bills were introduced that day and were subjected to first, second and third readings the same day after which they were passed. Of concern to us is the bill that cancels another Law enacted by the State House of Assembly in 2017 which made provision for State Public Property and Recovery Tribunal of 2017.

By this new bill passed by the state house of assembly, if allowed to be assented in the state, it will cancel the initial Law that provides ground for the investigation and prosecution of anybody that is found wanting in misappropriating the state funds. We suspect that their rationale for such unpatriotic bill is a ploy for people who might have looted the state funds in the outgoing government to cover up and protect themselves from investigation with the hope of getting away unpunished.

It is for this reason that we strongly condemn this bill and call on the State Governor Barr. M.A Abubakar not to assent to it for the following reasons:

1. That a sensitive issue that affects the lives and the economy of the people in the state should not be passed without been subjected to public hearing.
2. As a person with high position in the Law Profession, the governor knows the implications of such counter bills to repeal an existing law made to safeguard the property of the state.
3. That this bill is to the detriment of good citizens of the state therefore, repugnant to natural justice.

While we at Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) say no to the bill, we also call on all reasonable and responsible stakeholders in the state to equally do the same by openly condemning the bill.

 

Signed:

Mohammed Chiroma Hassan

Programmes Officer, CITAD Bauchi

08036451430

Chiroma@citad.org

Issued on Friday 17th May, 2019

Office Address: NUJ Secretariat Complexs, Opposite Reinsurance House, Ahmadu

Bello Way, New GRABauchi, Bauchi state.

www.citad.org  info@citad.org

 

Ladies and  gentlemen of the  press,  we would like to welcome you to  this press conference  and to address  you on an important issue that  has to do with public expenditure management.

 

The Centre for  Information Technology and  Development (CITAD)  received with shock the  decision of the  Bauchi State House of Assembly to  repeal a law that provides  for the  investigation  of public officers who might  have misappropriated state  funds entrusted  in their hands. The House in its meeting on Wednesday 15th May, 2017 passed three bills, among which is “Bill for a Law to Repeal Bauchi State Public Property  and Funds  Recovery Tribunal  Law  2017” repealing  an earlier  law that  provides the investigation and prosecution of those suspected  to have looted public funds in the state.

 

In an unprecedented fashion, the  three  bills were  introduced that  day and  were subjected  to first, second and third readings the  same day after  which they were passed. Of concern to us is the bill that  cancels another  Law enacted  by the State House of Assembly in 2017 which made  provision for State Public Property  and Recovery Tribunal of 2017.

 

By this new bill passed by the state house of assembly, if allowed to be assented  in the state, it will cancel the initial Law that provides ground for the investigation and prosecution of anybody that  is found wanting in misappropriating the state  funds. We suspect  that  their  rationale  for such unpatriotic  bill is a ploy for people  who might have looted the  state  funds in the  outgoing government  to  cover up and protect themselves from investigation with the hope of getting away unpunished.

It is for this reason that we strongly condemn this bill and call on the State Governor

Barr. M.A Abubakar not to assent to it for the following reasons:

1. That a sensitive issue that  affects the  lives and the  economy of the people in the  state  should not be passed  without been  subjected  to public hearing.
2. As  a person  with high position in the  Law Profession, the  governor knows the implications of such counter bills to repeal an existing law made to safeguard the property of the state.
3. That this bill is to the detriment of good citizens of the state therefore, repugnant to natural justice.

While we at Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) say no to the bill, we also call on all reasonable and responsible stakeholders in the state  to equally do the same by openly condemning the bill.

Signed:

 

Mohammed Chiroma Hassan

Programmes Officer, CITAD Bauchi

08036451430

Chiroma@citad.org

The World International Telecommunication and Information Society Day was initially  called  The  World  Telecommunication  Day’  to  commemorate  the founding  of  the  International  Telecommunication  Union  (ITU)  which  was started in 1865.

 

The main objective of the day is to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the internet and new technologies. It also aims to help reduce the digital divide.

 

In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society asked the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17h May, as world information society day for showing  importance to the information  and  communication technology and the issues related to the information society raised by World Summit on information Society. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May. The first World Information Society Day took place on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

 

While we join the entire world and the information  society in particular to celebrate the day, we at CITAD wish to draw the attention of all stakeholders in the country to use the day to reflect on the huge challenges of digital divide and ICT marginalization in our country.

 

While the world is moving to bridge the standardization gap with programmes aim   to   facilitate   the   efficient   participation   of   developing   countries   in Information Technology Union’s standards-making process, to disseminate information about existing standards, we in Nigeria are far left behind in terms of accessibility, availability and penetration levels of the internet and its usage. This is even worse when it comes to access and use of the internet by women and girls who face many obstacles related to culture, level education and gender norms etc.

Therefore, if the country will continue to move in this direction, without developing quick and effective, pragmatic approach towards solving the problems around access to information and the internet through creation of a robust mechanism of bridging the digital divide, the country will remain under developed and  thus, our economic and other social problems will further increase.

 

Our Call

In this context we will like call on government at all levels to ensure that:

1. 1. There is internet policy on ground that is aimed at solving the digital problems the country in facing today
2. 2. An enabling environment is provided for actors willing to contribute in the sector to help mitigate the problems.
3. 3. Ensure that citizens have fair access to data free of monopoly of the internet service providers
4. 4. All government agencies must not only be ICT friendly but stick to use of ICTs in their day to day operations and that should be made

compulsory on all staff to have the basic knowledge and skill of ICT.

5. 5. Prepare to address the issue of gender base violence online which is a major factor that promotes digital marginalization of women.

IT Private Sector

ICT companies working in the country should:

1. 1. Include targeting corporate social responsibility projects towards educating and training the citizens in the area of ICT
2. 2. Support CSOs that are working in the areas of ICTs to promote campaigns and awareness creation among the citizens in need to migrate from the analogue behaviour to digital.
3. 3. Reduce high cost of data and facilities especially in the rural area

CSOs

The civil society organizations in the country should:

1. 1. Intensify campaign on the need for the citizens to adopt and push t access and use internet in their endeavours
2. 2. Include in ICTs driven activities in their works

Conclusion

Access to information is a right and while digital technologies offers prospects to make this a reality, there are still obstacles being erected by governments and business organizations to limit. The governments and other stakeholders should work together to leverage these opportunities in our move to push the country forward through making our youth attained their potentials using the instrument of digital technologies

 

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

08064867312 isah@citad.org

The World International Telecommunication and Information Society Day was initially called The World Telecommunication Day’ to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which was started in 1865.

The main objective of the day is to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the internet and new technologies. It also aims to help reduce the digital divide.

In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society asked the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17h May, as world information society day for showing importance to the information and communication technology and the issues related to the information society raised by World Summit on information Society. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May. The first World Information Society Day took place on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

While we join the entire world and the information society in particular to celebrate the day, we at CITAD wish to draw the attention of all stakeholders in the country to use the day to reflect on the huge challenges of digital divide and ICT marginalization in our country.

While the world is moving to bridge the standardization gap with programmes aim to facilitate the efficient participation of developing countries in Information Technology Union’s standards-making process, to disseminate information about existing standards, we in Nigeria are far left behind in terms of accessibility, availability and penetration levels of the internet and its usage. This is even worse when it comes to access and use of the internet by women and girls who face many obstacles related to culture, level education and gender norms etc.

Therefore, if the country will continue to move in this direction, without developing quick and effective, pragmatic approach towards solving the problems around access to information and the internet through creation of a robust mechanism of bridging the digital divide, the country will remain under developed and  thus, our economic and other social problems will further increase.

Our Call

In this context we will like call on government at all levels to ensure that:

1. There is internet policy on ground that is aimed at solving the digital problems the country in facing today
2. An enabling environment is provided for actors willing to contribute in the sector to help mitigate the problems.
3. Ensure that citizens have fair access to data free of monopoly of the internet service providers
4. All government agencies must not only be ICT friendly but stick to use of ICTs in their day to day operations and that should be made compulsory on all staff to have the basic knowledge and skill of ICT.
5. Prepare to address the issue of gender base violence online which is a major factor that promotes digital marginalization of women.

IT Private Sector

ICT companies working in the country should:

1. Include targeting corporate social responsibility projects towards educating and training the citizens in the area of ICT
2. Support CSOs that are working in the areas of ICTs to promote campaigns and awareness creation among the citizens in need to migrate from the analogue behaviour to digital.
3. Reduce high cost of data and facilities especially in the rural area

CSOs

The civil society organizations in the country should:

1. Intensify campaign on the need for the citizens to adopt and push t access and use internet in their endeavours
2. Include in ICTs driven activities in their works

Conclusion

Access to information is a right and while digital technologies offers prospects to make this a reality, there are still obstacles being erected by governments and business organizations to limit. The governments and other stakeholders should work together to leverage these opportunities in our move to push the country forward through making our youth attained their potentials using the instrument of digital technologies

 

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre For Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

08064867312

isah@citad.org

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Bauchi State has encouraged women in the state to apply for loans in the bank to set up businesses for self sustenance. Speaking on Monday during an orientation program for second phase of digital livelihood for young women and girls organized by Centre for Information Technology And Development (CITAD) held in Bauchi, a senior staff of the bank Shuaibu Baba Ahmed said the bank gives special consideration to women while giving loans. According to him, one of the loans being granted by the bank is Micro Enterprises Development Funds where a beneficiary can access up to N10 million and repay in seven years with five per cent interests. He added that applicants do not need to present any collaterals to qualify for the loans but should only introduce a traditional ruler or a clergyman in their areas as a guarantor. The bank further stated that it also grants agricultural loans to farmers under Anchor Borrowers’ Program saying the 2019 wet season farm inputs for rice farmers in the state will be launched by it on Tuesday. Earlier in his remarks, CITAD’s program officer Mohammed Chiroma explained that the idea behind the training was to teach women on how to use information communication technology to boost their businesses as well as equip them with business skills. He said the participants of the training were drawn from different parts of the state adding that the program would last for a period of one month.

BAUCHI – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Bauchi State has charged women and girls in the state to apply for loans from the bank to set up businesses for self-sustenance.

Speaking on Monday during an orientation programme for second phase of “Digital livelihood for young women and girls” organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held in Bauchi, a senior staff of the bank, Shuaibu Baba Ahmed, said the bank gives special consideration to women in giving loans.

“One of the loans being granted by the bank is Micro Enterprises Development Funds where a beneficiary can access up to N10 million and repay in seven years with five per cent interest.

“Applicants do not need to present any collaterals to qualify for the loans but should only introduce a traditional ruler or a clergyman in their areas as a guarantor. The central bank also grants agricultural loans to farmers under Anchor Borrowers’ Programme. The 2019 wet season farm input for rice farmers in the state will be launched on Tuesday” he said.

An Non Governmental Organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has commenced the training of 50 young girls and women on Information, Communications Technology (ICT) in Bauchi.

Mr Zakari Ya’u the Executive Director CITAD, represented by Malam Ahmed Yakasai, the Head of training stated this at the orientation programme for the second phase of digital livelihood for young women and girls in Bauchi on Monday.

He said the training will mainly focus on women in information communication technology aims to equip participants with skills to build competitive businesses and entrepreneurship skills.

“The participants will be trained in diverse aspects of online and technology entrepreneurship which will enable them to access funds from other agencies.

“Women entrepreneurs need to be well trained to be able to manage the funds, be accountable and competitive in their production and marketing,” he said.

Earlier the Programme Officer CITAD Bauchi Malam Mohammed Chiroma said the participants will be trained for one month on basic ICT training, blogging, using ICT to promote new and existing business, used of graphic application, Internet and safety online practices.

According to him, the workshop seeks to equip beneficiaries with knowledge on how to utilize ICT to run successful business enterprises as well as bridge the between the gender.

He said women and girls need to be empowered especially through the utilization of digital knowledge so that they can achieve self reliance in different business areas such as food production, decoration, photography, and film and video editing.

Chiroma said the training is expected to unlock women’s potential and enable them to effectively take charge of their affairs.

In his remark Mr Shuaibu Ahmed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) explained and educate the participants on the on existing loan schemes provided by Central Bank to empower women and youths.

He urged the young girls and women not to relent on their efforts in their quest to be successful entrepreneurs and employers of labour in the near future.

He explained that many doors are available at the CBN loan facilities such as the Agri-Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) Small scale medium loans, Among others.

Ahmed charged the participants to make good used of the opportunities in CITAD and CBN to establish their entrepreneurship empires.

Malama Hauwa Abubakar a participant expressed her appreciation to CITAD for given her the opportunity to acquired business skills on digital entrepreneurship.

“That will exposing me to the world of computer and digital technology and its potentials,” she said

Abubakar pledged to be determined and committed during the training session to learn effectively.adding that I want to be a successful business woman and employer of labour.

A non-governmental organization, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has commenced training of 50 women in Bauchi to enhance their skills on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Bauchi.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the exercise on Monday, Mr Zakari Ya’u, Executive Director of CITAD, represented by Malam Ahmed Yakasai, the Head of Training, said the exercise would equip participants with skills to build competitive businesses.

“The participants will be trained in diverse aspects of online and technology entrepreneurship, which will enable them access funds from other agencies.

“Women entrepreneurs need to be well trained to be able to manage the funds, be accountable and competitive in their production and marketing,” he said.

Earlier,the Programme Officer of CITAD in Bauchi, Malam Mohammed Chiromancy, said the participants would be trained for one month on basic ICT , blogging, using ICT to promote new and existing business, use of graphic application, Internet and safe online practices.

He said women and girls needed to be empowered, especially on the utilization of digital knowledge so that they could attain self-reliance in different business areas such as food production, decoration, photography, as well as film and video editing.

In his remarks, Mr Shuaibu Ahmed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) explained educated the participants on the on existing loan schemes provided by CBN to empower women and youths.

He urged the participants to make good used of the opportunities in CITAD and CBN, to establish their businesses.

Mrs Hauwa Abubakar, a participant, expressed appreciation to CITAD for given her and others, the opportunity to acquire business skills on digital entrepreneurship.

“The exercise will expose us to the world of computer and digital technology and its potentials,” she said

#TrackNigeria – A non-governmental organization, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has commenced training of 50 women in Bauchi to enhance their skills on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Bauchi.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the exercise on Monday, Mr Zakari Ya’u, Executive Director of CITAD, represented by Malam Ahmed Yakasai, the Head of Training, said the exercise would equip participants with skills to build competitive businesses.

“The participants will be trained in diverse aspects of online and technology entrepreneurship, which will enable them access funds from other agencies.

“Women entrepreneurs need to be well trained to be able to manage the funds, be accountable and competitive in their production and marketing,” he said.

Earlier,the Programme Officer of CITAD in Bauchi, Malam Mohammed Chiromancy, said the participants would be trained for one month on basic ICT , blogging, using ICT to promote new and existing business, use of graphic application, Internet and safe online practices.

He said women and girls needed to be empowered, especially on the utilization of digital knowledge so that they could attain self-reliance in different business areas such as food production, decoration, photography, as well as film and video editing.

In his remarks, Mr Shuaibu Ahmed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) explained educated the participants on the on existing loan schemes provided by CBN to empower women and youths.

He urged the participants to make good used of the opportunities in CITAD and CBN, to establish their businesses.

Mrs Hauwa Abubakar, a participant, expressed appreciation to CITAD for given her and others, the opportunity to acquire business skills on digital entrepreneurship.

“The exercise will expose us to the world of computer and digital technology and its potentials,” she said .(NAN)

Gentlemen of the Press, on behalf of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), I welcome you all, to this press conference, which we plan to reach out to the general public through you specifically stakeholders in managing, patronizing, and working for all purposes in Mal Aminu Kano International Airport.

You may recall that sometimes last month, the case of one Zainab Aliyu a student of Yusuf  Maitama Sule University, Kano who arrested sometimes in December, 2018 in Medina for allegedly owning a luggage that contained some drugs suspected to be Tramadol Tables which is prohibited by the Laws of Saudi Arabia and she remained there in castration till April this year, when the clamour from her family and well wishers and investigations by the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mal Aminu Kano International Airport revealed that the said luggage although tagged in Zainab’s name, it did not belong to her. Rather, some unscrupulous people, working in the airport used the particulars of Zainab and her remaining luggage entitlement, allowed by the airline to check in luggage that contained hard drugs which led to her arrest.

This incidence revealed to us that, there are possibly many Nigerians, innocently implicated by these group of miscreants  may be languishing in detention, or some might have even paid the supreme sacrifice either here in Nigeria or outside the country.

For example, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency revealed that it arrested 93 passengers in 2018. A breakdown shows that 77 males and 16 females were involved. From January to April 2019, 30 passengers were caught, among whom were 25 males and 5 females. Statistics also indicate that 22 arrests were made from inbound while 51 were for outbound flights. From January 2019 to April, the agency made 4 inbound and 19 outbound arrests at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos

 

It is in view of this that we want use this medium to reach out to specifically call on:

1. National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify their search and surveillance of passengers’ luggage and the environments during boarding and ensure that no luggage is tempered with after the legal owner has checked it in and no luggage escape the screening process matter who brings the luggage or owns it.
2. The airliners should make sure that all handled to them by the passengers are put under effective care that nobody will temper with them and punish or report to the appropriate agencies any of their staff or of the companies they contacted in packaging luggage found  tempering or inserting something into passengers’ luggage.
3. The airport authorities should endeavour to provide all the needed equipment that will help the security personals in the airport to work in accordance with international air travel standards so as to minimize such case.
4. The passengers on their own side need to arrive the airport early so as to reduce the congestion during boarding which often deter the security personnel in the airport to work diligently. They should also be extra conscious that they do not take any luggage from another fellow passenger nor give their luggage to any other passengers. Passengers should also avoid giving their luggage space to any agent or fello passengers in the event they don’t have unused luggage allowance to check.
5. The Corporate Affairs Commission as well as the union of travelling agencies should partners together to fish out travelling agencies that cheat ignorant passengers in the process of their business and delist them if they do not comply with warnings and standard of operations.
6. FAAN must be on its feet to make all airliners stick to the operational guidelines and ensure that the airport is up standard to enable all personnel working in the airport have the required facilities and equipment to do their working diligently.
7. The Media should partners with all stakeholders in taking travelling and airport operational guidelines to the public so that the people at the grassroots especially are aware about them and help to ensure that miscreants do not continue to manipulate ignorance of the guidelines to implicate them in the act.

While we thank the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mal. Aminu Kano International Airport Unit for the role they played in investigating and apprehending the mischief makers that put Zainab into this act without her knowledge, we want to use this opportunity to call on the judiciary, particularly the judges handling this case to bring all those who have hand in the matter to books so as to serve as deterrent to others.

Thank You

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

www.citad.org

08064867312

isah@citad.org

In an effort to compliment the Federal Government’s war against corruption, a kano Based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre for Information Technology (CITAD), has initiated two competitions; “Report a Project and Innovative Ideas” to engage the youths in the on-going fight against corruption.

The program Officer anti-corruption and accountability project of the Centre, Maryam Ado Haruna made this known on Tuesday in Kano.

According to her, The report a project, is a competition that invites applications from students in tertiary institutions to write on abandoned projects in their various communities with the aim to expose cases of abandoned projects that have positive impact on the lives of the people either as a result of fund diversion or change of government.

The Innovative Ideas, according to Haruna, is a competition where students of higher learning institutions write essays on how best to fight corruption and the best writer stands to win a token price of N30.000, while the second runner-up gets the sum of N20.000 and the 3rd winner gets N10.000.

She said the aim of the program, is to engage the youths in critical thinking and innovative ideas which at the end, will lead them to asking questions and holding those in public offices accountable.

“ We introduced the programs to engage our youths in the fight against corruption by engaging in critical thinking to begin to demand for answers from those in authority.

The youths whom are the majority in the country have a significant role to play in the fight against corruption.

It’s only when the youths begin to use the media to expose such cases that those representing them in government would sit up and perform their duties according to the law”.

Maryam, however, decried the low participation of students in the programs charging them to fully participate in such programs and make their contributions towards the development of the country rather than wasting time on unproductive matters on social medias.

Three participants (students) drawn from University of Nigeria (UN) Nsuka, A.B.U Zaria and Kano State Polytechnic, however, received the sum of N10,000 each as encouragement for participating in the just concluded round which ended up without any winner.

In the same vein, the Program Officer, applauded the efforts of journalists in the fight against corruption noting that, as the world recently celebrated the 2019 World Press Freedom Day, the Centre, frowns at threats, harassment, intimidations and unnecessary arrest to prevent journalists from doing their job.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has described media as essential tool to the fight against corruption in Nigeria and beyond.

This was stated on Tuesday by Maryam Ado Haruna, Programme Officer, Anti-corruption and Accountability Project, at a press conference to celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day, held at the CITAD’s office in Kano State.

According to her, anti-corruption crusade can not be genuine without the media which should primarily enjoy status of whistle-blowers.

She noted that corruption is a practice that flourishes in the dark, so media exposure is vital part of the war against graft by exposing the sharp practices perpetrated in government and private organisations.

Miss Haruna also described social media as another powerful tool in fighting corruption, advising journalists to explore social media as avenue to complement their efforts of fighting corruption.

The programme Officer however lamented how press freedom is violated despite several laws, declarations and policies protecting it.

“threats, harassment, intimidation, assault, unlawful arrest and detention of journalists is well as pervasive impunity for the perpetrators are making journalism not safe practice in various parts of the world, despite its importance in our society and development.

“we therefore, call on journalists not to take, threats, assaults, or even killings of their colleagues in other countries as excuse to let the standard of their profession slip. They should also avoid allowing themselves to be used for personal vendettas or partisan interests,” she said

In the same vein, the centre presented cash prizes of the sum of N10, 000 to three winners of its Anti-corruption Competitions on “Report a Project” and “Innovative Ideas” respectively.

Miss Haruna explained that the competitions were destined to contribute to fighting corruption from the grassroots, lamenting that there were low entries in to the contests.