REPORT OF THE 1-DAY SENSITIZATION OF WOMEN ON DIGITAL INCLUSION AND 2-DAY TRAINING on online and Safety
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Association of
Progressive Communication (APC) organized a 1-Day sensitization for women on digital inclusion and
2-Day training for women on online safety which is part of practice of care under the community
network project. The training aims to provide mental and health safety at Dakwa, Leleyi Gwari,
Pasepa and Tungan Ashere communities of the FCT where CITAD operates. The project emerged
during the COVID-19 period as a measure to ensure that, partner’s lives and health are given
priority.
The sensitization and training took place on 31 st Mar, 1 st and 3 rd April 2023 in the four communities of
the FCT and had in attendance 30 participants in each of the community to make a total of 120
women (15-29yrs = 70, 30+ = 50 PLWD = 2). The facilitators include: Yesmin Salako, Usman Isah,
Mathias Ojoma and Ibrahim Suliaman Jama’are.
The objective of the sensitization and training are to: Understand ICT and how it is transforming
society, problems of gender digital divide, Why ICT are important for women and girls, how to
address the digital divide: the role of community, understanding of internet security and safety &
Gender Violence Online, Digital health and safety clinic, Understand feminist internet principles.
The training was inclusive, participatory and engaging as participants shared experiences on digital
inclusion and how important it is in today’s world. At Pasepa and Leleyi Gwari it was an outdoor
training facilitated under a tree shade while at Dakwa and Tungan Ashere it held in the ICT centre.
The training held for four hours each day with a break of 30 minutes.
The facilitators began the training with an opening remark to which the objective of the activity was
widely explained to the participants, and why CITAD had continued to create awareness and build
women’s expertise especially around digital inclusion. Topics around ICT and how it is transforming
society, problems of gender digital divide, Why ICT are important for women and girls, how to
address the digital divide: the role of community, understanding of internet security and safety &
Gender Violence Online, Digital health and safety clinic, understand feminist internet principles were
discussed during the cause of the training.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
Ummusalma M Sabiu a participant at Tungan Ashere community had commended the efforts of
CITAD to bridge the digital gap, however she raised the concerns of the community members to take
advantage of the internet but the digital devices are too expensive to purchase.
Adama Abubakar also a participant at Leleyi Gwari community is also concerned that despite their
interest to harness the oppurtunities the digital space possess as has been learnt during the training,
they lack the digital skills to operate the devices and also the network is very poor in their
community and as such lack connectivity to the internet.
Safiya Idris a participant from Pasepa community has emphasized that the women trained would put
a lot of effort to ensure their children are digitally literate.
Maryam Isma’il a participant at Dakwa community had inquired about how ICT can help in gaining
good healthcare. Yesmin Salako who facilitated the training at the community expatiated that
through ICT hospitals are exposed to so many modern facilities which would increase and aid the
practices of the health practitioners, also as an individual one could easily assess information about
one’s health from the internet to avoid unnecessary self-medication.
RECOMMENDATION
After the training the women recognized the training as an eye opener and had decided to utilize the
opportunity to enroll themselves at the ICT centre in their community in order to be equipped with
the necessary ICT skills. At Tungan Ashere community Ummusalma Ibrahim and Habiba Muhammad
at Dakwa Community were appointed by the participants to coordinate the women (who had agreed
to contribute N50 each to fuel the generator) to fix a date every week to learn the digital skills. The
community champion Bashir at Tungan Ashere and Ismai’il at Dakwa communities would equip the
women with the necessary skills and also sought for technical assistance from CITAD when the need
arises.
At Dakwa community, the community had decided to transition the ICT centre to a Digital training
centre, where people come to learn digital skills, pay some fees and also receive a certificate after
undergoing some training for a fixed period of time.
EVALUATION
After the training about 75% of the participants were able to understand ICT and how it is
transforming society; Why ICT are important for women and girls; Understand feminist internet
principles. Only 25% were able to understand online gender violence as few of the women are on
the digital space.
At the end of the 3-day activity group photographs were taken.
ACTIVITY COMMUNITY FACILITATOR
Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women
Dakwa Yesmin Salako
Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women
Leleyi Gwari Mathias Ojoma
Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women
Pasepa Usman Isah
Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women
Tungan Ashere Ibrahim Sulaiman
Jama’are
