The guest was Muazu Alhaji Modu, an Expert in Budget Tracking & Mandela Washington Fellow, who discussed on Tracking Covid19 Palliatives at Grassroots

He started by explaining what tracking of Covid-19 palliative distribution means, he said, tracking Covid-19 palliative distribution in grassroots completely different from normal service delivery tracking. This is extraordinary tracking brought by extraordinary circumstance that require extraordinary measures

In the process of tracking COVID-19 palliative distribution we must ensure COVID-19 protocol & guidelines are been observed which includes social distancing, wearing facemask & restriction of movement & burn on large gathering to curb the spread of COVID-19.

He used Yobe State as example throughout the chat. To ensure compliance with the COVID-19 protocol and guidelines while tracking palliative, the guest stated that they recruited Local government volunteer observers across the 17 LGAs of Yobe State. To monitor distribution of the palliative and compliance with COVID-19 protocol in the distributions in the LGA with strict compliance to COVID-19 protocols. The observers in LGAs Monitored and documented methodology used in the selection of beneficiaries, number of beneficiaries in the LGAs, process of the distribution and compliance with the protocols in distribution across the 17 LGAs and shared with the team

To validate the primary data from LGA observers gathered in the field, he said they write Freedom of information act (FOIA) request to @sema_yobe as an agency responsible for the palliative distribution in the state, Yobe Task Force on COVID19, @officialNEDC office in Yobe State requesting breakdown of fund, food and non-food item donation received by state government, breakdown of palliative distribution and methodology.

He stated the importance of tracking palliatives at the grassroots as ensuring  that palliative reach right beneficiaries and to ensure that right beneficiaries are the once that received  the palliative.

When he was asked on the issue of ensuring protocols are being observed during the distribution looking at how hungry & desperate people are, he said, is the responsibility of government to ensure strict enforcement of the protocol while distributing palliative also, both government and citizens group strengthen advocacy and sensitization on the effect of COVID-19. He further said “there have been a lot of challenges tracking spending on palliative due to lack of authentic data to engage.”

He advised those willing to follow palliative spending to leverage on Freedom of information Act, to ask question around COVID-19 spending. To ensure that the palliatives are not abused or hoarded, effective use digital technology (social media) to put the distribution process in Spotlight. He emphasized.

Also he stated that they paid advocacy to the relevance authorities like the Executive Secretary @@sema_yobe which is at the same time Secretary of Covid-19 Palliatives distribution Sub-Committee where they further discussed COVID-19 palliative distribution in Yobe state.

At the end he started that the palliative don’t reach to the right people, he cited example with his community in Yobe state, he said, it was four pieces of spaghetti and half mudu of rice in Gwange community, polling unit called KULLOMA it was 19 persons were selected to benefit and these persons is the executive of unit was being selected.

Engagements:

1. @a_sabo12

Hello everyone, Do join me in welcoming @Muazulittle4, an Expert in Budget Tracking & Mandela Washington Fellow to

@ICTAdvocates‘s Twitter Chat Series on Covid19 who will be discussing on Tracking Palliatives at Grassroots.

2. @Muazulittle4

Tracking covid-19 palliative distribution in grassroots completely different from normal service delivery tracking. This is extraordinary tracking brought by extraordinary circumstance that require extraordinary measures.

As the speaker continues with his presentation  there were questions and comments from the participants, these are as follows:

1. @a_sabo12
   So why do you think it so even important to track these palliatives at the grassroots, sir?
2. @Muazulittle4 Replying to @a_sabo12

To ensure that right beneficiaries are the once that receive the palliative.

1. @Muazulittle4 Replying to @a_sabo12

in the process of tracking COVID-19 palliative distribution we must ensure COVID-19 protocol & guidelines are been observe which includes social distancing, wearing facemask & restriction of movement & burn on large gathering to curb the spread of COVID-19.

1. @a_sabo12to @Muazulittle4 @ICTAdvocates and 11 others

Sir, how can we ensure these protocols are being observed during this distribution looking at how hungry & desperate people are?

1. @Muazulittle4

Government to ensure strict enforcement of the protocol while distributing palliative Also, both government and Citizen Group strengthen advocacy and sensitization on the effect of COVID-19

1. @ChiromaHope

Replying to @Muazulittle4 and @a_sabo12 @Muazulittle4, there have been a lot of challenges tracking spending on palliative due to lack of authentic data to engage. What advice will you give to those willing to follow palliative spending?

1. @teemerh_beekay
   how do we ensure the palliatives are not abused or hoarded sir twitter.com/muazulittle4/s
2. @Muazulittle4 replying to @teemerh_beekay & @ChiromaHope

By Effective use digital technology (social media) to put the distribution process in Spotlight

1. @Danmliki Replying to @Muazulittle4

How might we break the cycle of corruption in distribution of palliative to affected communities areas @Muazulittle4

J.@Muazulittle4 Replying to @Danmliki

Most efficient way of break a cycle of corruption is effective use of media (conventional and social) to the process in the Spotlight

1. @alhajialimella1 Replying to unblock
   @Muazulittle4@a_sabo12and 12 others

Is the palliative get to the right persons?

1. @Muazulittle4 Replying to @alhajialimella1

The answer is no. That why we are more concern with methodology of selection and distribution

1. Replying to @alhajialimella1 @Muazulittle4 and 13 others

The answer is no no even if yes then it was four pieces of spaghetti and half mudu of rice in my community gwange my polling unit called KULLOMA it was 19 persons were selected to benefit and these persons is the executive of unit is being selected

1. @Muazulittle4
   Data very is important in the tracking palliative without right data we unable to understand context
2. Baaba Muhammad Isa Replying to @Muazulittle4

Sir. Is there any punishment set aside for diverting palliatives meant for vulnerables to VIPs?

1. Muazu Alhaji Modu (Little)

@Muazulittle4

All punishment set for corruption, the diversion of palliative is another form corruption

1. @alhajialimella1

Replying to

@Muazulittle4 and 13 others

So I don’t for them and I think is high time for us to be on our two legs to mitigate these act from happening because indirectly is affecting us cause we are part of the community.

1. @Muazulittle4He is strong accountability advocate
   @alhajialimella1

adding some more advice!

1. @ChiromaHope

Well done @Muazulittle4! On behalf of the E.D, @ICTAdvocates we sincerely thank you for the time and knowledge you shared with us. @YZYau @a_sabo12 @kamalkano #CITADAgainstCovid19

1. Muazu Alhaji Modu (Little) @Muazulittle4

Thank you so much for hosting me

By Salisu K Ismail

Cibiyar bunƙasa fasahar sadarwa ta zamani da ci gaban al`umma (CITAD) ta tallafawa matasa guda 31 da tallafin kuɗi fiya da naira miliyan 5 domin daƙile yaɗuwar cutar korona ko COVID-19 a cikin al’umma.

Jami’in yaɗa labarai na Cibiyar ta CITAD, Ali Sabo, ne ya bayyana haka a jiya litinin a gurin rufe horon da cibiyar ta bayar ga matasan, wanda za su koma cikin al’ummar su domin su yi amfani da abin da su ka koya wajen hana yaɗuwar cutar COVID-19 a cikin al’umma.

Tun da farko cibiyar ta CITAD ta bayar da tallafin ne da hadin gwiwar gidauniyar MacArthur da kuma International Institute of Education.

Ali Sabo ya ce sun baiwa matasa guda 120 horo na musamman, sai dai mutum 31 ne su ka yi nasarar samun tallafin bayan da su ka gabatar da tsari tare da kasafin yadda za su gudanar da aikin da ake buƙatar za su gabatar akan cutar ta COVID-19.

Haka kuma Ali Sabo ya ce za su sanya ido wajen ganin yadda matasan za su yi amfani da tallafin wajen yin abin da aka ba su domin su.

Labarai24 ya tattauna da wasu daga cikin waɗanda su ka amfana da tallafin inda su ka bayyana jin dadinsu tare tabbatar da yin amfani da tallafin a inda ya dace

• “Babu shakka wannan abin alfahari ne la’akari da yadda aka samu matasa maza da mata da su ka samu horo na musamman akan yaÆ™i da cutar COVID-19, wanda kuma tabbas zamu yi amfani da shi a inda ya dace, domin mun samu horon da zamu je mu yi a cikin al’ummar mu” in ji Gazzali Haruna Ibrahim.

Haka shi ma Salim Sani Shehu ya ce tabbas wannan wani abin koyi ne ga sauran cibiyoyin da su ke rajin yaƙi da yaɗuwar annobar COVID-19.

“Wannan shiri da cibiyar CITAD ta yi ya zama abin misali kuma kwaikwayo ga sauran cbiyoyin da su ke rajin yaƙi da annobar cutar korona, domin tabbas CITAD ta yi rawar gani wajen yi mana horo na musamman tare kuma da bamu tallafin domin yin abin da aka bamu horo akai” in ji Salim Sani Shehu.

Isma’il Abdu Bichi, wanda shi ma daya ne daga cikin waɗanda su ka amfana da tallafin ya ce za su yi amfani da tallafin akan abin da aka buƙace su da yi.

“Mun samu horo akan yaki da bazuwar cutar Corona, kuma tabbas wannan horon ya ƙara mana ilimi akan cutar ta COVID-19, kuma za mu koma unguwannin mu domin ganin mun yi amfani da ilimin da mu ka samu akan cutar ta COVID-19” In ji Isma’il Bichi

Taron dai na tsahon kwanaki goma ne, kuma ya gudana ne a dandalin intanet na Zoom.

A ƙarshe Ali Sabo ya ce yana fatan matasan za su cigaba da yin aiki da abin da su ka koya ko bayan ƙarewar tallafin.

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has supported 31 youths in Kano with N 5,289, 375 for COVID-19 education of the populace so as to reduce spread of the disease.

CITAD Campaign and Communication officer, Ali Sabo  stated this on Monday after an intensive training on how the youth would go back to their communities to train others on COVID-19 preventive measures and ways to encourage testing for the disease in the society.

Ali Sabo said 120 youth were trained for 10 days out of which 31 were funded after submitting proposals on how they intend to train others in the communities and carry out other activities aimed at reducing spread of COVID-19.

‘’They were all encouraged to write and submit proposals on how they intend to step down the training out which 31 were selected and given sub-grant amounting to N 5,289, 375,’’ said Ali.

‘’The maximum of the sub-grant to individual is N170,625. Also we have put in place mechanism to guide them on how to carry out the training for effective goals achievement.’’

He noted that for every activity to be conducted by the youth to sensitize the community must be followed with a report so as to get value for money and reduce the disease.

Ali Sabo implored the youth to sustain the initiative even after the life span of the project.

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), with support from MacArthur Foundation, has aided 31 young people in Kano State with a sum of N5.3 million so that they may contribute to tackling the spread COVID-19 by engaging members of their communities.

Ali Sabo, CITAD’s communications officer, said on Monday that the youth had been trained on how to organise step-down training in the communities to encourage the public to present themselves for testing.

He added that 120 young people were trained online for 10 days and 31 were funded after their proposals had been reviewed.

“Participants were encouraged to write and submit proposals on how they will spread awareness in the society and 31 qualified. The maximum sub-grant to an individual is N170,000, and guidelines have been provided to guide the training,” Sabo said.

He encouraged the participants to work according to the mandate given to achieve significant results. He also asked them to sustain their advocacy and community engagement even after the training.

Speaking to HumAngle, some of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation for the financial support.

“I feel very glad and overwhelmed. The sub-grant is a form of motivation to me that the world watches the impact I make in my own little ways and I should continue to do more of it,” enthused Abdul-Aziz Musa Etudaye.

“Being selected from a pool of applicants to be part of the over 100 trainees and, later, selected out of it to be part of the 31 sub-grantees is a huge reason to be happy and grateful.”

Etudaye said the pandemic has adversely affected many people in Kubomtso, Kano, where he is from, and he hoped to contribute to making life easier for them. His plan is to empower young residents of the community through training on entrepreneurship “so that their susceptibility to the negative impact of the pandemic can be mitigated”.

Another beneficiary, Isma’il Auwal, said the grant from CITAD and MacArthur has motivated him to work more effectively and promised to conduct follow-ups after his campaign in order to sustain impact.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), held its 42nd Twitter chat on the 1st of September. The guess was Ibrahim Nuhu a Health Professional and Program Coordinator, CITAD. He discussed on Health Workers Efforts to Living New Normal Amidst Covid19.

He started by talking about the New Normal with regard to COVID 19 Pandemic is looking into the way health professionals are recovering from the depth of challenges imposed by the virus and regaining back to normal working conditions and how difficult the situation was and many health professionals suffer from one form or the other ranging from the fear of stigmatization and economic loss, also the strikes in which unions embark on amidst the need of their Services by the public in some states, it reached a point where health professionals are avoiding to show themselves to the public and the government were not showing rightful concerns over their status, which he said led to threats where families and friends are afraid of coming close to us especially after work.

He was asked that during the early days of this pandemic there were a lot of fears among the citizens, as a health worker how did you manage that with your family & friends? He said we tried to manage that through counselling and awareness to our families for them to know and understand the real situation and accept it.

He added that all the health professionals are giving the fullest to care, prevent, cure, rehabilitate the victims of COVID 19 but the living status of us is not being recognized by the authorities, but now as we begin to resume to our normal life the situation is changing from the side of health workers and the government at all levels despite the challenges on ground.

He was asked on what measures they are putting in place to ensure the safety of their colleagues and general public. He said The measures they take are using the guidelines protocols given by NCDC like social distancing, using protective devices and frequent hand washing to avoid cross infection of the virus and with the New Normal they are advocating for wages increase, provision of PPE from side of the government and favorable working environment so as to get motivated and face the challenges squarely, Also they equally request government to recruit more health professionals in order to breech the gap of those we lost during the pandemic.

In conclusion, he recommended that, People should always abide by the NCDC protocols like using face marks in public spaces, washing hands frequently and Health workers should also use PPE at work and take good care of their clients with no discrimination.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in partnership with Association for Progressive Communication (APC) has concluded a ten-day training on digital inclusion for women via Zoom platform.

In a statement Thursday by Maryam Haruna, CITAD’s Programme Officer, the training, tagged Bauchi Feminist Internet School was aimed at bridging the gender digital divide in the country.

She explained that the programme, which was the second edition, offered intensive training on various topics regarding access to internet governance and policy making in the arena from the perspective.

According to Miss Haruna, part of the training objectives was also for the beneficiaries to stepdown what they had learned in the school to at least 10 other persons, whom 70% should be female gender.

” The participants will also take part in social media campaign to support the advocacy for a national inclusion agenda. They will also undertake advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders to solicit their support for the national digital inclusion agenda developed by CITAD,” the statement reads in part.

She added that the training, which started on August 3 and ended on August 3,drew at least 25 participants from different states in Nigeria including Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa and Kano, adding that the participants were journalists, writers, gender advocates, as well active social media users.

She explained that the first edition of the school was conducted in April 2019 in Bauchi state, adding that the programme derived its name of Bauchi Feminist Internet School because it started in the state.

“Three main session were taught during the training, including African Declaration of Internet Rights and Freedom, Digital Right and Feminist internet.

By Yakubu Salisu, Kano

Centre for Information Technology (CITAD), a Kano based Nongovernmental body (NGO), with Support from Association for Progressive Communication (APC) on Thursday, concluded a ten days (10) training to produce digital inclusion champions who will join the campaign for bridging gender digital divide in the country.

The training which happens to be the second edition of its Bauchi Feminist Internet School held on Zoom App were about twenty five (25) participants drawn from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa and Kano were trained and cuts across different fields of endeavors such as journalists, writers, gender advocates, as well active social media users.

During the 10 days training, participants were intensively trained on various topics regarding access to internet, governance and policy making in the arena from the perspective with beneficiaries of the training expected to stepdown what they have learned in the school to at least 10 other persons, whom 70% should be of the female gender.

Furthermore, they are also to take part in social media campaign to support the advocacy for a national inclusion agenda as well as, undertake advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders to solicit their support for the national digital inclusion agenda developed by CITAD.

The training which made up of three (3) session discussed on; African Declaration of Internet Rights and Freedom, Digital Right Advocacy as well as well as Feminist Internet.

The first edition of the school was conducted in April 2019 in Bauchi state where it derived its name of Bauchi Feminist Internet School.

03^th-13^th August, 2020

Bauchi Feminist Internet School is a programme initiated by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Association for Progressive Communication (APC) with the main purpose of producing digital inclusion champions who will join the campaign for bridging gender digital divide in the country. It offered intensive training on various topics regarding access to internet governance and policy making in the arena from the perspective. The first edition of the school was conducted in April 2019 in Bauchi state where it derived it name of Bauchi Feminist Internet School. The August BaFIS is therefore the second edition of the programme.

It was part of the training objectives for the beneficiaries to:

1. Stepdown what they have learned in the school to at least 10 other persons, whom 70% should be of the female gender.
2. Take part in social media campaign to support the advocacy for a national inclusion agenda.
3. Undertake advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders to solicit their support for the national digital inclusion agenda developed by CITAD.

The School drew at least 25 participants from different states in Nigeria including Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa and Kano. The participants were journalists, writers, gender advocates, as well active social media users.

Three main session were taught during the training including:

1. African Declaration of Internet Rights and Freedom,
2. Digital Right Advocacy,
3. Feminist Internet.
4. Training Expectation:

One of the key expectations is learning how to use the internet more effectively, with a view of carrying women along, as they have been left behind in this part of the country. Thus, most of the participants stated that they expected to have increased capacity on use of internet and technology in their campaign for women and girls’ rights in Nigeria and even beyond.  Some of the participants also stated that they expected to develop a network of people with common goal of bridging gender gap.  Some said that they expected a lot to be taught concerning the use of internet especially from the feminist perspectives. Another expectation as stated by one respondent was to be heavily impacted on the various concept of feminism as regards to ICT and most especially internet. She wrote, “I want to know how to break this shackle of generational ignorance women have on internet and push them towards a better understanding and utilizing of internet. I want to learn how to become an independent woman. Learning the basis of feminism.”

1. What to Learn

The main skills the participants expected to learn more about was feminism, the application of feminism in internet advocacy and campaign, learn how to go about educating other male and female feminists on how to advocate for feminist internet. Also learn how to teach women to stand for their rights. They also stated their expectation to learn more on Digital rights, gender balance, concept of non-discrimination. Expect after the training to have a well-built capacity on the concept of feminist internet.

Participants Feedback:

1. “I want to say big thank you to this great opportunity. I really learned a lot from this programme. It was indeed an Eye opener to me. I also thanked Mark Nuhu for informing me about this opportunity. Above all, thank you to our able host Maryam, you have been great” – Doshima Priscilla Hemen.
2. “The programme is very satisfactory and I haver learned a lot. As an advocate, you need to learn these skills that were taught here, like understanding what the internet is meant for and know your right as an advocate as well as how to protect the right of others. Gender violence and other forms of cybercrime is so prevalent these days and if you don’t know your rights, how do you protect it? I have also become very clear with what exactly stakeholder is and how to identify key ones from the course and even the difference between legislation and policy. The class works were really helpful, it made me do a lot of researches on different areas. Thanks to CITAD for this opportunity.” – Safiyya Muhammad Daba.
3. “I’m so pleased with this opportunity because I have learned a lot about digital rights and freedom bill that was supposed to be passed by the National Assembly which has been not passed, I have also learned that it is our responsibility as advocates to keep pushing for it. I already knew that women are lacking behind in using the internet, but now I have an idea how to contribute in bridging gender digital gap in the country. I have also understood that girls and women can use the internet to equip and enhance themselves instead of just using it for entertainment. As a user now, I understand my rights better and I’m now better prepared.”- Zainab Musa Yahya.

1. “For me what, apart from the topics that were treated which I have learned a lot, what became outstanding to me also is the Zoom platform itself. This training took some time to teach us how to interact with the zoom platform and I have seen how it’s more efficient compare to other platforms we used in other forms of online training. A big thank you to CITAD for this.” – Sadiya Murtala.
2. “I have really learned a lot from CITAD. I look forward to more opportunities from CITAD. Thank you” – Mark Nuhu.
3. “This is training has really been impacting. One of the things I have learned is that one must become physical before he can contribute, you can use your social media to advocate for women digital inclusion. Another thing I learned is the digital rights and how to protect it, initially I don’t know them but as a result of this training, now I do. And the facilitators are all amazing, they really did their best in ensuring that we understood very well. Thank you to CITAD and the facilitators.” – Patience Danladi Pabang.

Facilitators

1. Yunusa Yau
2. Boye Adegoke
3. Remmy Nneke
4. Maryam Ado Haruna

Participants:

1. Abubakar Modu Yerima
2. Adam Auwal Dakata
3. Amina Mubarak Ahmad
4. Amina Musa Balteh
5. Amira Galadima Soba
6. Awwal Dahiru
7. Beeve Hua
8. Endurance Ed’james
9. Farida Haruna Bello
10. Fatima Kabir Umar
11. Halima Muktar Abubakar
12. Halima Suleiman Sani
13. Hemen Dooshima Priscilla
14. Linda Uchenna Ugwueze
15. Mark Nuhu Mabudi
16. Mary Ann Emmanuel
17. Maryam Abubakar
18. Pebang Danladi Wammar
19. Rukaiya Ahmed Ganga
20. Sadiya Murtala
21. Safiyya Muhammad Ali-Daba
22. Vihishima Sylvester Terlumun
23. Zainab Musa Yahaya
24. Zainab Nasir
25. Zainab Shafi’u Mustapha

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, Tuesday in Abuja, kick started a 3-day training of 44 persons within the FCT on social audit.

Speaking, the Country Director ActionAid Mrs. Ene Obi charged the trainees on the importance of participating in the program to help them know their right in their various communities as well as making their community leaders accountable to them.

“If you don’t leave a stage better than the way you met it, then consider yourself a failure, and one would be in a system of failure of leaders and a lot of insanity. You have to be insane when you see so much from other people and yet the investment in Nigeria youth is poor, then what kind of investment, training, and flagships do we have available for our youths? Leaders aren’t doing citizens a favour carrying out responsibilities to their Communities,” Obi stressed.

peaking, the Social Mobilization Manager ActionAid Mr. Adewale Adeduntan said the aim for the training is to apply social audit as an approach to engender good governance and relationship between the led and the leaders because.

“We realised public holder officers take people of the Community for granted like they are doing them a favour.

“It is another channel to create an approach of interaction between those in power and the Community in terms of project intervention and not dump it and to get community information for community to engage constructively,” Adeduntan stated.

Speaking to journalists, he said that confidence lies in the quality of participation. “It is one thing to be trained and another to be able to transfer knowledge and skills to others. But above all, it will be a collective engagement on a platform that would be formed at the end of the workshop. Governance is suffering at the community level and development should be demanded driven.”

Earlier in an interview, the Programme Manager CITAD Ms. Salmat Abdulwaheed disclosed the training to have covered participants from the four Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, i.e. Kwali, Kuje, AMAC and Bwari Area Councils respectively.

According to her, that at the end of the workshop, the participants should be able to train others pulling a number of people to join in the advocacy of their community development and also engage their community leaders in the challenges faced by the people without taking bribe or sweep it under the carpets.

Also speaking, the Partnership and Local Right Advisor Action Aid Mrs Hajara Opaluwa-Adamu said the objective of the training was to teach each representatives of the Communities how to access government intervention projects to facilitate the youths on how to audit and hold their representatives accountable.

Speaking, two of the participants, Mallama Jamila Inusa of Guto Community under the Bwari Area Council and Mr. Ishaya Jonathan Gbashe of Kilankwa2 of Kwali Area Council respectively, collectively acknowledged the training to be an eye opener for them all to be patriotic in the demand for the rights of citizens.

“For me, it was difficult to differentiate between financial audit and social audit. But the class today has given me an edge to ascertain the implementation policy project in my Community and I have learnt that it is crucial to approach them for the project document politely and this would be done collectively as a community, making an enquiry to ensure a quality work is been done,” Gbashe stated.

Actionaid Nigeria in partnership with the Centre for Information and Communication Technology (CITAD), have organised  a 3-day training on Social Audit for 48 activists and facilitators from 18 hard-to-reach communities in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

The training aimed at building capacity of participants to engage implementing agencies for transparency and accountability.

Actionaid is an international  non-profit governmental organization that works with communities to reduce poverty, promote human rights and justice worldwide.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the other hand, is committed to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development and promotion of good governance.

The Country Director of Actionaid Nigeria, Ene Obi said  the  Social Audit Training of Trainers held at Dutse-Alhaji in Bwari Area Council  was predicated on the believe in the power of one person standing right and doing the right thing- starting a change from an environment.

She said that Nigeria is at its present level  because many politicians managing the affairs of  the country have no sanity.

Obi who stated this  on Tuesday while declaring open the 3-day training  said our leaders take the centre stage at every point in time but at the end of their rule,  bequeath no positive change to the country.

Blaming the present predicaments of the country to the failure of our leaders,  she regretted that despite the volume of its  young which are great potential  for development, Nigeria is still at a standstill after many decades.

“Many of our politicians have no sanity. There is a lot of insanity in the environment. If  you don’t leave the stage better than you met it then you are a failure.

“So what we are having is a colossal failure of many leaders.  We have maternal mortality rate like no other time, violence  everywhere, violence against women and girls,  so many people are idle due to unemployment. But we will continue to work hard,” Obi said.

While congratulating the participants for being part of the training, she admonished them not  to give up but stand against bad when it is bad. “Lets work together,  network together, exchange ideas and stand for what is right at all times because that is what will change the future,” she said.

The Actionaid Nigeria Country Director also congratulated the Centre  for Information and Communication Technology( CITAD)for the training.

The training had 48 activists and facilitators from  18 communities in four area councils of the Federal Capital Territory where the organization with support from CITAD is offering interventions.

They include among others:Leleyi Gwari, Leleyi Bassa, Kilankwa,  Pai in  Kwali area counci, Tunga-Ashere, Jiwa, Dakwa, Tunga-Nasara,AMAC, Gaube, Kayache, Tukpechi, Bwari-Pasepa,  Guto, Igu, Kuchibuyi  in Bwari area council.

In an interview with journalists, the Social Mobilization  Manager for Actionaid Nigeria, Adewale Adeduntan said the training was to conscientize community members and facilitators on how to apply social audit as an approach to engender good governance, accountability and transparency in terms of the relationship between the lead and the leaders.

He said:”We realize that people in public offices take the citizens for granted a lot. They act arrogantly as if they are doing community people favour. Remembering that the resources they use is our common wealth, they should be used judiciously in such a way that the people can benefit.

“We are  therefore, trying to create an approach whereby we can interact with our leaders interms of the projects and intervention they bring to the communities.”

He said the organizations wanted to create a situation where the people could engage their leaders constructively, ask questions about the project cost, specification to ensure they don’t just dump projects  on the people but execute them according to specifications as this will bring about a new order and good governance in Nigeria.

“The engagement is not going to be an individual thing. The participants will be working on a platform which we call social audit committee which will be formed in the course of the training on Wednesday. They will be officially introduced to the government so that they can now begin to take their decision forward with the government from there,”he explained further.

Adeduntan noted that  at the community level,  local governance is suffering in Nigeria, adding that development should be demand-driven.

“It is the people  that should  demand what they need you to do for them. But   here in Nigeria, people just campaign and say when I  become chairman, I will do this for you. If this is reversed and we have a community assembly where people come together and  say what they need and submit their charter to the government and say this is what we want, the spate of abandoned projects will be reduced.
“It is a natural model that if you are doing things for the people, they should be aware. So confidently, people’s involvement or participation will  accelerate development in Nigeria,” said the Social Mobilization Manager.

Earlier while delivering a presentation  on “Understanding Social Audit and its Importance” Adeduntan explained that Social Audit is a process to establish accountability which empowers the community to ask questions and demand answers from the implementing agencies.

“It is done by the community or beneficiary group. It is an audit of the implementing agency that examines physical, financial and  process-related issues. Both quantitative and qualitative inputs are publicly verified,” he explained further.

Actionaid Nigeria’s  Local Rights Programme Advisor, Hajara Opaluwa-Adamu said also while responding to questions from journalists that the workshop is a social accountability  capacity building  aimed at  training the community people on how to access government intervention in their communities.
“We are trying to see how this facilitators will be able to audit any firm that comes to their communities and hold their representatives accountable to the community. Political office holders are supposed to serve us, so whatever they do is not a favour but their rights, so we are trying to build their rights consciousness so they don’t look at it like its a previlege but their right. What we want to achieve more or less is to have social auditors in the communities,” she explained.

Speaking in the same vein, CITAD Program Officer, Salma Abdulwaheed explained that the training aimed at educating   the community people about social audit- how to seek accountability and transparency in government project in their respective communities.

She said the training became necessary because “we noticed that much is not being done in communities in the FCT like basic infrastructure. There are budgets for constituency projects  but where are those constituency projects?. The  training will help the community activists to  track those project, the progress and where these projects are implemented.”

The programme officer said after the training,  participants  are expected to return to their respective communities to do a  step down training for others in their respective communities “so that we can begin to see changes in constituency projects in their communities.”

“Our expectation is that participants will do a step down training for others in their communities to get other members of their communities to join them in the advocasy. After this they will engage their community leaders to join in the campaign and with their supports, they will be able to engage any politician and demand for accountability and transparency,” Abdulwaheed said.

Participants who were also interviewed at the training by journaliats were greatly delighted to participate in the training.

One of them, Ishaya Gbashe from Kilankwa 11 Community, Kwali Area Council, says he feels so excited about the training because before now  he couldn’t differentiate between financial audit and social audit.
However, with the training, he says he now understand that he has a right to demand for  details of projects being executed by implementing agencies and the government in his community.

The training has opened our eyes to understand that it is very crucial for us to approach our councillors and local
government chairman politely and demand for project documents, budget documents on constituency projects and make enquiries to ensure that intervention deployed is according to specifications.

He  said in due course, he will form a group to engage implementing agencies and government Representatives executing projects in his community.

A female participant, Jamila Inusa from Guto community in Bwari Area Council, said the training has made her knowledgeable about the subject, adding, she can confidently pass on the knowledge acquired to other members of her community.

“The training  has benefited me very much because I now  know what what I didn’t know before,  that I have the right to ask questions about projects in my community. I know how to face my local government chairman or councillor to question them about what they are doing and what they are not doing for our community,” said Inusa.

The training which  continues on Wednesday with other interesting activities, will be concluded on Thursday.

Actionaid Nigeria in partnership with the Centre for Information and Communication Technology (CITAD), has commenced a 3-day training on Social Audit for 48 activists and facilitators from 18 hard-to-reach communities in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

The training aims at building capacity of participants to engage implementing agencies for transparency and accountability.

Actionaid is an international  non-profit governmental organization that works with communities to reduce poverty, promote human rights and justice worldwide.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the other hand, is committed to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development and promotion of good governance.

The Country Director of Actionaid Nigeria, Ene Obi said  the  Social Audit Training of Trainers held at Dutse-Alhaji in Bwari Area Council  was predicated on the believe in the power of one person standing right and doing the right thing- starting a change from an environment.

She said that Nigeria is at its present level  because many politicians managing the affairs of  the country have no sanity.

Obi who stated this  on Tuesday while declaring open the 3-day training  said our leaders take the centre stage at every point in time but at the end of their rule,  bequeath no positive change to the country.

Blaming the present predicaments of the country to the failure of our leaders,  she regretted that despite the volume of its  young which are great potential  for development, Nigeria is still at a standstill after many decades.

“Many of our politicians have no sanity. There is a lot of insanity in the environment. If  you don’t leave the stage better than you met it then you are a failure.

“So what we are having is a colossal failure of many leaders.  We have maternal mortality rate like no other time, violence  everywhere, violence against women and girls,  so many people are idle due to unemployment. But we will continue to work hard,” Obi said.

While congratulating the participants for being part of the training, she admonished them not  to give up but stand against bad when it is bad. “Lets work together,  network together, exchange ideas and stand for what is right at all times because that is what will change the future,” she said.

The Actionaid Nigeria Country Director also congratulated the Centre  for Information and Communication Technology( CITAD)for the training.

The training had 48 activists and facilitators from  18 communities in four area councils of the Federal Capital Territory where the organization with support from CITAD is offering interventions.

They include among others:Leleyi Gwari, Leleyi Bassa, Kilankwa,  Pai in  Kwali area counci, Tunga-Ashere, Jiwa, Dakwa, Tunga-Nasara,AMAC, Gaube, Kayache, Tukpechi, Bwari-Pasepa,  Guto, Igu, Kuchibuyi  in Bwari area council.

In an interview with journalists, the Social Mobilization  Manager for Actionaid Nigeria, Adewale Adeduntan said the training was to conscientize community members and facilitators on how to apply social audit as an approach to engender good governance, accountability and transparency in terms of the relationship between the lead and the leaders.

He said:”We realize that people in public offices take the citizens for granted a lot. They act arrogantly as if they are doing community people favour. Remembering that the resources they use is our common wealth, they should be used judiciously in such a way that the people can benefit.

“We are  therefore, trying to create an approach whereby we can interact with our leaders interms of the projects and intervention they bring to the communities.”

He said the organizations wanted to create a situation where the people could engage their leaders constructively, ask questions about the project cost, specification to ensure they don’t just dump projects  on the people but execute them according to specifications as this will bring about a new order and good governance in Nigeria.

“The engagement is not going to be an individual thing. The participants will be working on a platform which we call social audit committee which will be formed in the course of the training on Wednesday. They will be officially introduced to the government so that they can now begin to take their decision forward with the government from there,”he explained further.

Adeduntan noted that  at the community level,  local governance is suffering in Nigeria, adding that development should be demand-driven.

“It is the people  that should  demand what they need you to do for them. But   here in Nigeria, people just campaign and say when I  become chairman, I will do this for you. If this is reversed and we have a community assembly where people come together and  say what they need and submit their charter to the government and say this is what we want, the spate of abandoned projects will be reduced.
“It is a natural model that if you are doing things for the people, they should be aware. So confidently, people’s involvement or participation will  accelerate development in Nigeria,” said the Social Mobilization Manager.

Earlier while delivering a presentation  on “Understanding Social Audit and its Importance” Adeduntan explained that Social Audit is a process to establish accountability which empowers the community to ask questions and demand answers from the implementing agencies.

“It is done by the community or beneficiary group. It is an audit of the implementing agency that examines physical, financial and  process-related issues. Both quantitative and qualitative inputs are publicly verified,” he explained further.

Actionaid Nigeria’s  Local Rights Programme Advisor, Hajara Opaluwa-Adamu said also while responding to questions from journalists that the workshop is a social accountability  capacity building  aimed at  training the community people on how to access government intervention in their communities.
“We are trying to see how this facilitators will be able to audit any firm that comes to their communities and hold their representatives accountable to the community. Political office holders are supposed to serve us, so whatever they do is not a favour but their rights, so we are trying to build their rights consciousness so they don’t look at it like its a previlege but their right. What we want to achieve more or less is to have social auditors in the communities,” she explained.

Speaking in the same vein, CITAD Program Officer, Salma Abdulwaheed explained that the training aimed at educating   the community people about social audit- how to seek accountability and transparency in government project in their respective communities.

She said the training became necessary because “we noticed that much is not being done in communities in the FCT like basic infrastructure. There are budgets for constituency projects  but where are those constituency projects?. The  training will help the community activists to  track those project, the progress and where these projects are implemented.”

The programme officer said after the training,  participants  are expected to return to their respective communities to do a  step down training for others in their respective communities “so that we can begin to see changes in constituency projects in their communities.”

“Our expectation is that participants will do a step down training for others in their communities to get other members of their communities to join them in the advocasy. After this they will engage their community leaders to join in the campaign and with their supports, they will be able to engage any politician and demand for accountability and transparency,” Abdulwaheed said.

Participants who were also interviewed at the training by journaliats were greatly delighted to participate in the training.

One of them, Ishaya Gbashe from Kilankwa 11 Community, Kwali Area Council, says he feels so excited about the training because before now  he couldn’t differentiate between financial audit and social audit.
However, with the training, he says he now understand that he has a right to demand for  details of projects being executed by implementing agencies and the government in his community.

The training has opened our eyes to understand that it is very crucial for us to approach our councillors and local
government chairman politely and demand for project documents, budget documents on constituency projects and make enquiries to ensure that intervention deployed is according to specifications.

He  said in due course, he will form a group to engage implementing agencies and government Representatives executing projects in his community.

A female participant, Jamila Inusa from Guto community in Bwari Area Council, said the training has made her knowledgeable about the subject, adding, she can confidently pass on the knowledge acquired to other members of her community.

“The training  has benefited me very much because I now  know what what I didn’t know before,  that I have the right to ask questions about projects in my community. I know how to face my local government chairman or councillor to question them about what they are doing and what they are not doing for our community,” said Inusa.

The training which  continues on Wednesday with other interesting activities, will be concluded on Thursday.

DATE: 10^TH TO 15^TH AUGUST, 2020

VENUE: ZOOM

The challenge to livelihood and food security in FCT communities disrupts and threatens the sustainability of agricultural and pastoral production and invariably the sustainability of livelihoods of rural communities. Land grabbing have a direct impact on the lives and livelihood of the people by disrupting and threatening the sustainability of pastoral production and agriculture.

This issue reinforces circles of extreme poverty, hunger and destroys social status; food insecurity affects the most marginalized groups that include women and children. The livelihood structure, food security and wellbeing of farmers are threatened and compromised which contribute to poverty, food and nutrition insecurity and poor health of farming communities, and further escalation of conflicts.

Due to the marginalization and the land grabbing issue in FCT, Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD) organized a five days virtual workshop which took place via zoom platform. The five ICT Centres (Dakwa, Tungan Ashere, Leleyi Gwari, Pasepa and Gaube) in FCT participated in the workshop with 25 community activists in attendance: 5 participants from each centre.

The 5 Day training became necessary due to frequent land grabbing that has become a major issue affecting the FCT natives; the aim is at designing campaign strategies to mitigate the menace of land grabbing.

Majority of the FCT natives are predominantly farmers and the issue with land grabbing had lead to some of them lost their lands and their means of livelihood.

Speaking at the virtual meeting, Mr. Thomas Edor discussed on the concept of Land Grabbing and FCT development plan.       According to him, all land in the FCT belongs to the government and land grabbing can be legal and illegal. He said land issues in Abuja is quite different from land in other states, land grabbing not does exist in Abuja according to some school of thought he said, but it should be noted that for you to go about the issue of land you need to consider and study the land use acts, land tenure laws, the pre-colonial, colonial and the post colonial land laws. He cited some examples of land grabbing issues in Rivers State and Borno States.

AbdulAziz Nasiru, he is a Building technology expert. He discussed on agencies responsible for land related issues in FCT and proper ways to acquire land in the FCT. Abdulaziz said for an individual to acquire land there is need to follow all the stages stipulated by law and land layout.

At the moment there is issue of double allocations of land in the FCT.

It was a rewarding and educative moment as representatives of youths from these communities and resource persons discussed on various topics, the activity ended with question and answers.