Ex-commissioner lauds CITAD over inspirational leadership lectures

The former commissioner Jigawa State Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Widi Jalo has commended the Centre for Information and Technology Development for organising series of inspirational leadership lectures for teeming youths in the state.
Hajiya Jalo made the commendation yesterday while delivering her speech during the event held at CITAD head office Dutse the state capital.
The former commissioner who quarried youths of being reluctant urged them to wake-up and copy our elders whom work-hard before making Jigawa State where it is today.
“It is unfortunate that majority of our teeming youths of today are so reluctant and dependent on others which is so bad and a great threat for their future and the state at large”,
“Therefore I called on our youths to wake-up to work hard and copy from our patriotic elders for their betterment, so that the country would proud of them in the future” Jalo said.
While making his remarks, the acting executive director of CITAD Alhaji Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai said, the purpose of organising the lecture is to inspired a good leadership behaviour to the youth for a better future of the country.
According to him, it is right time for youths to understand that a better life in present situation is not for lazy, therefore everyone has to work hard and copy from exemplary leaders like former commissioner Widi Jalo.
He commended the participants whom majority are secondary and higher institutions’ students from the state, adding that CITAD will do more for the benefit of the state.

Report OF THE Jama’are Maiden Edition of Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) Held on the 24th November, 2019 at Council Chamber of Jama’are Local Government Secretariat

The Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD organized the first edition of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) in Jama’are. In this maiden edition  CITAD hosted His grace, Yariman Jama’are and the District Head of Jama’are (Hakimin Cikin Garin Jama’are), Alhaji Nuhu Ahmad Wabi Mni (Former Permanent Secretary Bauchi State Government) as the  Guest Speaker.

The event started at about 10:30am. In his welcoming address the Executive Director of CITAD who was represented by the Ag. Program Coordinator, Malam Isah Garba, who in his welcome address, thanked the guest speaker for honoring CITAD’s invitation to be the first guest speaker at the maiden edition of ILERIS which henceforth will be holding monthly. Malam Isah enumerated briefly the reasons why CITAD came up with the initiative which according to him started some four years back in CITAD’s  head office in Kano which later taken to  Dutse office and now Jama’are office. Thus; to avail the opportunity for youths to have one on one contact with who excelled in one area of endeavourer or the other (Royal Fathers, Academicians, Politicians, Business Personalities and Women Leaders etc) thereby bringing the youth to hear from these people how they started the travails they went, their challenges and how did they overcome the challenges and lessons to be learnt in all. Therefore, giving them a  priceless chance of being mentored non gratis; to inculcate the spirit of reading culture and values in young people which is seriously degrading and to serve as a source of inspiration for the youths as  future leaders.

In his speech, the guest speaker started by making some clarifications on the concept of leadership, administration and management and the role a  leader plays in the process as source of inspiration and one who (in the process administration) exact a great deal of influence on the his followers/fellows subordinates.

Alhaji Nuhu, then went on to share with the participants his biography. An excursion into his life’s story, narrated a journey which started at birth into the Fulbe Jama’are Royal Family. Born and brought up as a scion, will all the pleasures  of this life at his disposal, Yarima had to follow through the normal route to greatness like any other son in  Jama’are Land first by attending primary school, for his primary education. He then proceeded to then Government Secondary Schoo, Azare presently called Government College, Azare (popularly known as Kuranga College) thence, he finally navigated to the famous University of Jos for his degree program which he finished in  1984. He served under the compulsory one-year national service scheme (NYSC) in 1985 and immediately after that he joined the Bauchi state civil service from which he retired as a permanent secretary four years ago.

Yarima discussed how they were given (as students) all what it entailed and required for running an effective school system by the government of those days. He admitted that t, that the treatment they were given at primary school can be regarded as a pampering! (not exaggeration in anyway). He however admitted that ‘what we had in primary school was even doubled in secondary school’!

Discussing on leadership issue, Yarima lamented the degeneration in the quality of leadership and expressed hope that things will change, for the ‘change is inevitable’. Comparing the then civil service and the presence one, he said that those days you are given jobs and promoted because you are qualified for it. But today, in terms of jobs, the children of the poor are left with the wanted, he averred.

He also discussed on the issue of values and morals which are witnessing serious crisis of proportion and magnitude in our society. He narrated how greed robbed many of their morality and conscience, an unfortunate scenario that is abound in both private and public life (among both politicians and civil servant). He gave many anecdotes on his travail in the civil service in his attempt to control and check his and others greediness for wealth tendencies.

Ahmed  maintained throughout his years in the civil service, but an attitude which cost him frequent transfer and being at logger head with the people who are comfortable with the status quo. At the end Yarima find solace in one tactic which was his deliberate choice to be posted to the so called ‘quiet, less busy and non-lucrative MDAs’ where the possibilities of meetings such elements were quite slight. He sought to be posted to the busy but less lucrative Civil Service Commission (CSC) and at a point relocated to Sharia Commission (SC). According to him people were taken aback by this probable farce comedy, how possible a senior permanent secretary, who was just coming back from the VIP executive training at Kuru Jos will choose to work in the Sharia Commission, an institution which even the government was forced only by public pressure to establish and which since its establishment has been battling with acute underfunding problem. It is unfortunate that SC has not being given the money to implement/enforce the Sharia which is its core mandate. Yarima said that what guided his philosophy throughout his stay in the civil service was his determination to maintain his integrity, in fact, ‘my integrity was more important than the money I could gather…’ he maintained.

He also shared with the participants his experiences of working within the traditional institutions after three and half decades of working in the mainstream civil service. According to him traditional institution is different from civil service for it is less bureaucratic, there were no orders and circulars, no promotions and it is less organized.

Yarima tasked the young people to take entrepreneurial and small businesses very important for the era of waiting for government jobs is gone. So the idea that we only go to school to work in the government is a very wrong one, we go to school majorly to be able to think out of a box. Hardworking is the key to success; in fact, laziness brings poverty (Lalaci Shine Talauci) the guest speaker averred.

Yarima further maintained that he reached the highest level in the civil service not because of the fact that he was born into the royal family but the key secret of his success in life laid in hardworking and the will of God. In effect, Yarima is a typical case of a scion who decided to work as hard as the son of the poor could, he  didn’t took  the slightest of pride in being of royal blood.

It will be easy for Yarima to commit class suicide than many princes and heir apparent of his caliber. His tendency of keeping to the time is superb for he came to the venue at exactly 10:00am when majority of the participants were yet to arrive.

Jigawa Youth Interfaced with Honorable Fatima W. Jallo

On the 26th of November, 2019 the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Dutse office hosted Honorable Fatima W. Jallo on its third edition of bi-monthly Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS). ILERIS is an initiative of CITAD aimed at `enriching the lives of young people through mentorship and inspiration. Accomplished personalities from different backgrounds and professions are invited to speak to the participating youth about their lives, challenges, obstacles, successes, careers, etc. with a viewing to unpacking some hints for the participating youth to copy and apply in order for them to also succeed in their endeavors.

It can be recalled that the Centre had in June this year hosted Honorable Hadiza Abdulwahab, former Permanent Secretary and former Commissioner in Jigawa state and in September, Professor Amina Bashir, Dean School of Postgraduates Studies, Federal University Dutse was also at the event. Hajiya Fatima, a veteran Journalist and former Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs in Jigawa state discussed her experience in life and the challenges she faced while growing up. As someone who has been well respected in the field of journalism and attained the position of Special Adviser and later Commissioner in her state surprised the audience when she said that “I don’t have a degree”. Fatima like other great entrepreneurs and scholars in the world; Zuckerberg, Gate and others was a dropped out student of Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna.

Hajiya Fatima who was born in Lagos in 1962 where she completed her primary education before moving to Government Girls College, Dala (GGC Dala), was also at Kaduna Polytechnic. Initially Fatima wanted to study Nursing after her graduation from secondary but due to perception (people in Northern Nigeria took Nurses as prostitutes) people had on the course then influenced her father to not allow her to study the course. Immediately she dropped out from Kaduna Polytechnic she went back to Lagos to start working with NGOs before meeting Mr. Bode Alalade, an air personality with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) who saw broadcasting qualities in her and advised her to enroll in Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Lagos, there she had her Diploma in Broadcasting. In her broadcasting days, honorable Fatima worked with African Independent Television (AIT), Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN), MITV before moving to Jigawa Radio Cooperation.

At Jigawa Radio Cooperation, Mrs. Fatima held many positions before she was called by former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki to serve as Special Adviser (SA) on Jigawa State People’s Congress (JSPC), then as a Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs under the administration of Alhaji Sule Lamido.

Hajiya Fatima is a philanthropist, believer of equity, justice and equal chance to every human no matter where he/she comes from. It is this belief that made her to adopt many Almajiris in her area. While discussing with audience at the event, Hajiya Fatima said one of her adopted Almajiris is a Custom Officer now and the other one is in Jigawa state Polytechnic studying Architecture. Mrs. Fatima believe that it is only when we take every child as our own then our society will be free from social vices like kidnapping, arm robbery, rape, drug abuse an others.

According to Honorable Jallo one thing that makes you to excel in life is dedication, hard work, honesty, believing in yourself and prayer. At the end of her discussion she advised the youth in the gathering to encourage and support their sisters and daughters in pursuing their education, the youth to be self-reliant, seek for knowledge and be respectable to their society.

During the questions and answer session an SS1 student of Government Day Science Secondary School Gadadin raised an important question where he asked the guest about how and what people in his age bracket can help in the development of Nigeria.

One-Day Dialogue on Understanding Skills Supply and Gaps as Means of Employability in Kano State in Celebration of this Year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) on Tuesday 19th November, 2019 at Mambayya House

In its effort to bring employers with trainers of prospective employees closer to it is services, the Job Placement Information Services (JOPIS) unit of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has on Tuesday 19th November, 2019 organized a one-day dialogue on the theme ‘Understanding Skills Supply and Gaps as Means of Employability in Kano State. The dialogue was held at Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Mambayya House, Kano in celebration of this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). Global Entrepreneurship Week is a global effort to address problems of employers, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. During one week, each November innovators and job creators who launch startup that brings ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare gather to celebrate the week. GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.

In his opening remarks, the Coordinator of the Job Placement Information Services (JOPIS) Unit of CITAD said that CITAD initiated JOPIS scheme to assist youth looking for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities by bringing information about jobsand entrepreneurship opportunities to them.The main function of the unit is sourcing job opportunities and collaborating with reliable sites advertising job opportunities such as Jobberman, Jobrapido, Myjob in order to connect people looking for jobs. Malam Sagiru Ado said that in celebration of the GEW week, CITAD has been organizing different activities such as public lectures, radio programs, advocacy visits career talks and entrepreneurship quizzes to students of secondary schools to sensitize them and inculcate the sense of entrepreneurship to them since at the grassroots level. He then briefed the participants about the history of the GEW, global activities on GEW and Nigerian activities on GEW.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), represented by the Program Coordinator, Malam Isyaku Garba, traced back to the history where he said in the early 80’s there was a lot of job opportunities and people did not cared and paid much attention on white collar jobs because of the number of educated ones at that time was not up to the number we have today. But as a result of increase of unemployed youth and graduate today makes it necessary to acquire basic skills since from university level. He then stressed that they are job opportunities in Nigeria just that we lack qualified personnel with required skills to fulfill the requirement.

Prof Mustapha Hassan Bichi of the Department of Civil Engineering, Bayero University, Kano made the first presentation. He presented on the Skills provided by the Nigerian Institutions. In his presentation, Prof. Bichi said that unemployment has become a major problem bedeviling the lives of youths and graduates causing frustration, depression, dejection and dependency on family members and friends.It is common knowledge that about 80% of graduates in most Nigerian universities find it hard to get employment every year. This is largely due to the curricula of the universities and other tertiary schools with emphasis on training for white-collar jobs. Currently, Nigeria like other developing countries is faced with a number of problems ranging from youth and graduate unemployment, high level of poverty, insurgency, conflict and diseases, insincerity, over dependency on foreign made goods, low economic growth and development, lack of capacity and required skills to move the economy forward and urbanization.Due to these and other reasons that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), introduced Entrepreneurship Education (EE), which is aimed at equipping tertiary students with entrepreneurial skills, attitudes and competencies in order to be job creators and not just job hunters.

Malam Adamu Ahmad, Regional Manager, Integrated Corporate Services (ICS), Kano made the second presentation. Malam Adamu explained that ICS Outsourcing is Nigeria’s leading Outsourcing provider incorporated in August 1994 and since then offering a comprehensive range of outsourcing services and provide bespoke business support solutions to all kinds and sizes of businesses. He then decried that the qualities they need, they don’t get from our people. The idea behind each business according to Malam Adamu is to survive and that is why if he does not employ quality people the company will not survive. He then finally said that communication skills and computer literacy are basic skills required by the employers. He made effort at different times to enlighten and sensitize northern youth through tertiary institutions but they failed to catch up.

Malam Baita Suleiman of Sharada Small Scale Industries expressed his worries about the attitude of most of the students sent to them for Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). He said that most of them only do not want the practical knowledge, and concentrated only on theories. He drew attention of the Nigerian institutions on the importance of imparting knowledge through local languages as it happens in other developed countries. Engr. Jafar Suleiman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Kano Branch requested the second presenter to give them time on their mentoring program.

In his final remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Malam Umar Muhammad, Director Recruitment and Training, Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board (KSSSSMB) associated the problems with miss of priority, corruption and failure to continue with 433 educational systems. He then thanked and appealed to CITAD to keep on sensitizing and helping job seekers succeed at employment and entrepreneurship support opportunities

Participants at the dialogue were members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Kano Branch, Muryar Talaka, MSI Text Solution, Sharada Small Scale Association, Kano Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Board (KSSSSMB), media and Civil Society Organizations. Different issues were raised and discussed during the general comments, some of the issues were:

  • The only way to change the mindset of graduates to embrace Entrepreneurship is by giving them orientation right from their background. Building a strong foundation of entrepreneurship from their primary to Tertiary level of education.
  • The notion that the northerners lack equal opportunity of securing most white collar jobs with the non northerners because that they do not have basic skills required is not true for the following reasons.
  • Graduate from the north lack full family support in embracing entrepreneurship or learning skills.
  • Graduates from the north lack adaptability skills and they do not want to be far away from their families compared to graduates from the south who tend to have high ability of enduring every kind of condition, no matter how hectic the location and the work is, they tends to have more tolerant and enduring skills.
  • In seeking for any job opportunity it is important to take note of the kind of email addresses to present, because a time graduates present emails that are not presentable so one should take notes of names used o emails.
  • Also to acquire any job, you must be mindful on how you mediate, mode of approach and reaction as well as body language.
  • Students should be taught more practical on entrepreneurship than theory (less spoken words more of actions) this will help to reduce the rate of crimes and employment in the country.
  • There is a difference between a university graduate and a polytechnic graduate. University students are meant to supervise command and direct while polytechnic students because they have been taught much practical than theories meant to carry out most of the practical works

Hamza Ibrahim, Coordinator, Curbing Hate and Dangerous Speech Project, CITAD, made the vote of thank on behalf of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD). He thanked the speakers and the participants for honoring the invitation and said that CITAD believed that the contribution provided by the speakers brought the success of the event. He then appalled to the participants to have the same co-operation and participation in the future endeavors.

Social media regulation bill, a threat to democracy – CITAD

The Centre for Information Technology and Development said the proposed bill on the regulation of social media will be a major threat to democracy when passed into law.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Executive Director CITAD YZ Ya’u and obtained by DAILY POST in Dutse.

He said the law will only gag the media and give security agencies power to detain and oppress whoever they see as critical dissent, threat or enemy to the government in power.

“The law will also give them the power to arrest individuals whose views are contrary to those holding political power.”

He explained that the bill proposed by the Nigerian Senate to regulate the social media named “Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulations Bill, 2019” was aimed at denying the citizens their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

“Nigerian security agencies who have been harassing, detaining individuals without court order/defying court orders, killing unarmed citizens both at peaceful protests and check points have hidden behind the senate to introduce a law that will give them more power in incarcerating and denying the citizens their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

“The bill if allowed to pass into law, it will give the security agencies the right to heighten the arbitrary arrest and detention of individuals and to clamp down organizations that are critical to their operations.”

CITAD, therefore, urged Senate to as a matter of public interest and respect of democratic principles to withdraw the proposed bill.

It also urged the general public and media houses to engage the Nigerian Senate in a peaceful and lawful manner to ensure the withdrawal of the bill.

Text of a Press Conference on the 2019 Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Participate in the 2019 IGF Holding in Berlin, Germany through CITAD’s Remote Hub!

About the Internet Governance Forum

As a platform for discussions, the IGF brings various people and stakeholder groups to the table as equals to exchange information and share good policies and practices relating to the Internet and technologies. While the IGF may not have decision-making mandates, it informs and inspires those who do. It facilitates common understandings and knowledge exchange of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges.

The IGF also gives stakeholders from all countries, including developing countries, the opportunity to engage in the debate on Internet governance and it contributes to capacity building, allowing these stakeholders to build knowledge and skills that will facilitate their participation in existing Internet governance institutions and arrangements. Ultimately the involvement of all stakeholders, from developed as well as developing countries, from governments to international organisations, from the private sector to the civil society, is necessary for advancing dynamic public policies in Internet governance. The IGF serves as a laboratory, a neutral space, where all actors can table an issue for an informed discussion across stakeholders. As an open forum, rather than a membership forum, the IGF is for all people with a stake in the Internet. Since its establishment in 2006, it has gained global prominence among stakeholders as an open, inclusive, and transparent forum for dialogue and collaboration.

The host countries for the past 13 meetings of the IGF are:

– 2006: Athens, Greece;
– 2007: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
– 2008: Hyderabad, India;
– 2009: Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt;
– 2010: Vilnius, Lithuania;
– 2011: Nairobi, Kenya;
– 2012: Baku, Azerbaijan;
– 2013: Bali, Indonesia;
– 2014: Istanbul, Turkey;
Р2015: Jọo Pessoa, Brazil;
– 2016: Jalisco, Mexico;
– 2017: Geneva, Switzerland.
– 2018: Paris, France.

The mandate of the IGF is set out in paragraphs 72 to 80 of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society (the Tunis Agenda):

“We ask the UN Secretary-General, in an open and inclusive process, to convene, by the second quarter of 2006, a meeting of the new forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue—called the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The mandate of the Forum is to:

– Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet;
– Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with different cross-cutting international public policies regarding the Internet and discuss issues that do not fall within the scope of any existing body;
– Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organizations and other institutions on matters under their purview;
– Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and in this regard make full use of the expertise of the academic, scientific and technical communities;
– Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the availability and affordability of the Internet in the developing world;
– Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or future Internet governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing countries;
– Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the relevant bodies and the general public, and, where appropriate, make recommendations;
– Contribute to capacity building for Internet governance in developing countries, drawing fully on local sources of knowledge and expertise;
– Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the embodiment of WSIS principles in Internet governance processes;
– Discuss, inter alia, issues relating to critical Internet resources;
– Help to find solutions to the issues arising from the use and misuse of the Internet, of particular concern to everyday users;
– Publish its proceedings

Centre for Information Technology and Development’s (CITAD) Remote Hub

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is going to run a remote hub equipped with facilities to enable interested Nigerians to connect with the sessions and proceedings of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2019) scheduled to take place from 25th-29th November, 2019 in Estrel Congress center, Sonnenallee, Berlin, Germany.

The remote hub is meant to serve the following purposes:

  1. To serve as a medium through which interested Nigerians can follow the IGF 2019 holding in Berlin.
  2. To give Nigerians who are unable to be in Berlin the space to contribute in the discussions by channeling their inputs to the sessions and speakers.
  3. To widen the scope and coverage of the IGF by way of connecting members with live discourse of the forum.
  4. To let the Nigerian public understand the relevance of the Internet Governance Forum and the impact the yearly forum is making.

As an ICT-focused organization and member of several IT unions/associations within and outside the country, CITAD has made all the necessary plans to ensure that it’s remote hub serves the remote participants very well. While the forum takes place in Germany, people here have a direct access to instant discussions, and that is one of the benefits the internet as a whole offers. CITAD has ran similar remote hub last year when the forum took place in France.

The remote hub will give it’s participants steady six hours live access to the main forum in Berlin. Starting on 25th November, the hub is scheduled to open at 10:00am and close at 4:00pm. A schedule of different sessions holding at different times will be presented to each participant and guides and operators have been reserved to support and respond to the participants’ questions and/or need for guidance as forum goes on. A number of sessions will hold as such plans have been made to ensure that when parallel sessions hold concurrently the remote participants can make their choices and be where they want to be. Presented below are the themes and sessions for discussion during the 2019 Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

  • Access (Digital Inclusion)
  • Accessibility (Digital Inclusion)
  • Affordability (Digital Inclusion)
  • Anonymity (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Artificial Intelligence (Digital Inclusion)
  • Big Data (Data Governance)
  • Capacity Building (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Child Online Safety (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Civic Engagement online (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Commons (Digital Inclusion)
  • Community Networks (Digital Inclusion)
  • Cyber Attacks (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Data privacy & protection (Data Governance)
  • Digital Divide (Digital Inclusion)
  • Digital inclusion of women (Digital Inclusion)
  • Digital literacy (Data Governance)
  • Digital Literacy (Digital Inclusion)
  • Digital skills (Digital Inclusion)
  • News Media (Data Governance)
  • Online gender violence (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Outreach (Digital Inclusion)
  • Social Inclusion (Digital Inclusion)
  • Surveillance Capitalism (Data Governance)
  • Trust and Accountability (Security, Safety, Stability & Resilience)
  • Universal Access (Digital Inclusion)
  • Users rights (Data Governance)

Sessions:

  • Dynamic Coalition on Child Online Safety
  • Dynamic Coalition on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media on the Internet
  • Dynamic Coalition on Gender and Internet Governance
  • Dynamic Coalition on the Internet of Things
  • Youth Coalition on Internet Governance

Conclusion

The Internet Governance Forum happens only once in a year and there are numerous benefits to be reaped by individuals, organizations, institutions, businesses, etc through connecting themselves with the remote hub CITAD set in place. Therefore, this yearly chance should be strategically utilized by people as they are in long run going to be beneficiaries of the robust discussions taking place in Berlin. Numerous experts and professional from different walks of life are scheduled to speak and engage participants on a number of themes and areas such as the ones listed above. Interested members of the public can reach out to Kamaluddeen Umar via email (kamal@citad.org) so that space can be reserved for them.


Signed:

Engr. Kamaluddeen Umar,
Technical Officer,
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

CITAD Trains Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Information Communication Technology (ICT) Skills Organized by CITAD, at AMAC Secretariat FCT, Abuja on the 19th of November 2019

Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD) trains AMAC staff on Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills. The purpose of the training is to enhance the ICT Skills of AMAC staff to perform their duties effectively and efficiently and serve Abuja citizens professionally. CITAD undertook the training as part of its civic responsibility and building relationships with governmental institutions.  The opening ceremony of the training took place at the AMAC ICT Centre with a welcome remark by the council’s secretary, Ms Rahmat Abisola Abdullahi. She welcomed and appreciates CITAD for organizing a capacity building workshop on ICT for AMAC Staff. She also emphasized on the importance of ICT in today’s society, she states that the capacity building workshop is timely and beneficial to the council.

CITAD Executive Director, Malam YZ on his part anchored his welcome note on the importance of the ICT training. He said beyond the capacity building organised by CITAD, it is an opportunity for AMAC and CITAD to build a strong partnership. He advise that the training is not for only ICT staff but AMAC should also engage other departmental staff to be part of the training. He however advice the beneficiaries of the training to extend the knowledge acquired at the course of the training to the larger society. Finally, he thanked AMAC for given them the opportunity to partner together and he is looking forward to more synergy between AMAC and CITAD.

The representative of ACTIONAID Nigeria, Joseph Augustine on his part also emphasise on the importance of ICT ,saying the world is becoming a global village, he advised the beneficiaries of the training to put more effort in other to  achieved something after the training.

Some of the participants also appreciate CITAD for bringing the training to their domain and they promise to utilise the skills learnt. The participants were trained on MsWord, Ms Excel, Use of internet, Use of social media, Powerpoint and so on.

The Special Adviser to AMAC Chairman on ICT and Donors Agencies Ms Abiodun Essient gave a closing remark. She appreciates CITAD for organizing the program and the facilitators for their time and she urged the beneficiaries to redouble their effort to ensure they achieve their aim at the end of the training. She look forward to more future partnership with CITAD.

18th Annual ICT Quiz for Secondary Schools in Kano State, Organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Held at Convocation Arena at Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil, on 21st November 2019

Introduction
In an effort to promote the development of ICT in Kano state and the entire northern region of Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has since 2001 organised annual ICT quiz for secondary schools in Kano state. This effort is also replicated in some states in the northern Nigeria. The ICT quiz is one of the several efforts CITAD has been organizing and convening for the development of ICT including several trainings with different objectives. This is with the view that ICT has become a universal language and thus, any society which is left out of the picture will be left behind. The ICT quiz is therefore organised with the main goal of motivating and encouraging young girls and secondary schools to embrace ICT right from secondary level. It is also set to motivate and support secondary schools’ managements to adequately invest in ICT subjects in their various schools. The 2019 ICT quiz marked the 18th annual quiz organised by CITAD.

As witnessed, the 2019 ICT quiz has the highest number of participating schools in the entire history of annual quiz for secondary schools organised by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD). The total number of the schools that took part in the quiz was 41.

The Program started with an opening prayer at exactly 11:27. The quiz was attended by different dignitaries within and outside the state. The chairman of the occasion Dr. Shuaibu Ahmad Usman gave the first speech where he stresses the fact that, the importance of ICT in the whole world today cannot be overemphasized which makes it necessary to give much attention on ICT programs especially to the upcoming ones with bright future. He further called on other sectors within and outside the state to encourage and contribute to programs on ICT further its promotion.

In the opening speech presented by the Executive Director of CITAD, Dr, Yunusa Ya’u who was represented by the Training Coordinator and the Treasurer of CITAD, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai, over the years the CITAD saw the need to the support and boast the ICT sector by initiating and coming up with various programme including the ICT quiz. He said so far they have recorded a lot of success and achievement from this initiative by bringing different secondary schools within the state together in order to boast their moral and academic performance. The Executive director also listed some similar programsmes that are been organized and run by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) which have been benefitted to many students, youths and women in different locations where they operate. He listed and appreciated the efforts and contributions of many the Donors who had been partnering with CITAD so far to see that such programs are being carried out yearly. Lastly, he listed all the prizes that will the awarded to the winning participant at the end of the quiz.

The Vice Chancellor of Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil who was represented by the DVC Prof Tijjani Sale Bichi started his speech by appreciating the effort of CITAD in organizing ICT Quiz yearly for secondary schools in promoting the program of “Catch them Young”. He traces back to the history pointing out some of the achievements that have been recorded going by the history of computer in the past and what we have today. He said the advancement of computer language in the whole world today makes it possible for programs of such kind to be carryout, because we have moved to another era where most of our activities run within the digital world. He then congratulates all the students for been part of this years progam which he said was a great opportunity.

There were also goodwill messages from representatives of various stakeholders in ICT including National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communication Commission, Kano State Science and Technical Board,  and Kano State Senior School Management Board respectively, where they promised to continue supporting CITAD as well as other stakeholders especially in ICT programs that will help in developing the future of the young ones (students).

The Quiz was declared opened by the chief judge of the competition, Dr. Murtala Muhammad which gave the Quiz master Abdullhamid Abdullahi from CITAD, the mandate to read out the quiz guidelines.

After laying the quiz guidelines, the competition started. The participating schools which were 41 in number were categorized into two batches. The first batch included 21 schools and below is their names and scores:

Batch A
Rounds
S/N School 1st 2nd 3rd Total
1 GSS WUDIL 0 2 0 2
2 GSS HOTORO NORTH 0 2 2 4
3 KUST STAFF SCHOOL 2 0 2 4
4 SANI BELLO SCIENCE COLL. KANO 2 2 2 6
5 FIRST LADY 0 2 0 2
6 KANO STATE POLY STAFF SCH 2 0 0 2
7 GSS K/NASARAWA 2 2 2 6
8 MAIRO TIJJABI GIRLS SCIENCE COLL 2 0 2 4
9 GSCS COMMERCIAL KANO 2 0 0 2
10 GSCS WUDIL 0 0 2 2
11 DAWAKIN TOFA SCI COLL 0 2 2 4
12 GOVT TECH COLL UNGOGGO 0 2 0 2
13 GSS DAMBATTA 0 0 0 0
14 GSS GWALE 2 2 2 6
15 GGSS DANGANA 2 2 2 6
16 GGSS DAKATA 2 0 2 4
17 GSTC KARAYE 2 2 2 6
18 GTC KANO 2 2 0 4
19 GSCS GARKO 2 0 0 2
20 GTC BAGAUDA 2 2 0 4
21 MAITAMA SULE 0 2 2 4
22 H&M GIRLS SCIENCE COLL 2 0 0 2

 

In the first round of the first batch, 5 schools scored a total of six marks each which qualified them to get to the second round.

The second batch of the competition includes 20 schools and their scores is presented in the table below:

Batch B
S/N School 1st 2nd 3rd Total
1 GTC DAMBATTA 2 2 2 6
2 GGSS KABO 2 2 0 4
3 DAY SCIENCE COLLEGE 2 2 2 6
4 GGAC G/DUTSE 0 0 0 0
5 GGC KANO 0 0 2 2
6 SAS KANO 2 2 2 6
7 GSS S/KOFA 2 0 2 4
8 GSS SHARADA 0 0 2 2
9 GGSS ADO GWARAM 0 0 2 2
10 GGSS FATIMA MOHD 2 2 0 4
11 GGSS JOGANA 0 2 2 4
12 GGASS LIMAN IDI 2 0 2 4
13 GSS GWARZO 2 0 0 2
14 GSS SUMAILA 0 0 0 0
15 SBH GSTC GWARZO 2 2 2 6
16 GGC DALA 0 0 2 2
17 GSS BICHI 0 2 2 4
18 GGSS YAR GAYA 2 2 2 6
19 GGASS DAN ZABUWA 2 2 0 4
20 GGSS SHEKARA 0 2 2 4

 

 

In the second batch also, five schools scored a total of six marks each which qualified them to get to the second round to compete with the other five schools from the first batch. Thus, 10 schools competed in the second round. Their scores are presented below:

Rounds
S/N School 1st 2nd 3rd Total
1 SANI BELLO SCIENCE COLL. KANO 0 0 2 2
2 GSS K/NASARAWA 0 2 0 2
3 SAS KANO 2 0 0 2
4 GSS GWALE 2 0 2 4
5 GGSS DANGANA 0 0 0 0
6 GSTC KARAYE 0 0 2 2
7 GTC DAMBATTA 0 2 0 2
8 DAY SCIENCE COLLEGE 2 2 2 6
9 SBH GSTC GWARZO 2 0 2 4
10 GGSS YAR GAYA 0 0 0 0

 

In the second round, Day Science College has the highest scores of six which emerged the school as the 1st position, while two others including GSS Gwale and GSTC Gwarzo had a draw of 4 marks each. Therefore, another round was competed between the two schools to determine the 2nd and 3rd positions where GSS Gwale emerged second and GSTC Gwarzo emerged third positions.

The winners are therefore:

School Position
DAY SCIENCE COLLEGE 1st
GSS GWALE 2nd
SBH GSTC GWARZO 3rd  

 

Prizes Distribution

The following prizes were given to the three winners of the competition. Similarly, the best teacher who is the ICT teacher of the school that emerged first position was given a prize too.

 

Sn Position Prizes
1. First (1st) Position Laptop Computer, Printer, Bag, Dongle and 10 yard of shadda
2 Second (2nd) Position Laptop Computer, mobile Phone, Bag, Internet Dongle and 10 yard “Shadda”.

 

3 Third (3rd) Position Laptop Computer, Bag, Dongle and 10 yard shadda.
4 Best Teacher T.V plasma 26 inch

 

Certificate of participation was also given to all students that participated in the competition as well as their teachers.

Comments and Observations by the Students

  • One of students suggested and advice that, the Quiz participant should be given two attempts for a question instead of one since they have two participants from each school. That given them a single chance makes it easier for them to fails a question.
  • Another student also suggested that there should be a provision that will give junior secondary schools students the opportunity to attend program of such kind for them to learn and be carried along. Stressing that most of the students lack exposure especially to events like this.
  • Lastly a suggestion was give by a student pleading that when reading out the options in a question, the options should be more emphasized instead of the alphabets used on each option. For instance using alphabet A(for the first option) alphabet b(for the second option).

At the end, Malam Isah Garba, who is the senior programme officer of CITAD, gave a vote of thanks and a closing prayer which declared the event closed.

 

List Donation Received

Sn Name Prize
1 National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Three  laptops computer, three bags and three internet dongles
2 Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil (KUST) Hosting and Two hundred thousand naira (200,000)
3 Rahama Radio and Television Covering the quiz competition as well as airing.
4 Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Two hundred thousand naira (200,000)
5 H&M Construction company Fifty thousand naira (50,000)
6 Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK) Fifty thousand naira (50,000)
7 Alh. Isah Ahmad (former perm. Sect. Ministry of Commerce and Industry) Fifty thousand naira (50,000)
8 Alh. Bala Maisallah Thirty (30) yards shadda
9 Bayero University, Kano Press Refurbish Desktop Computer
10 Prof. Bashir Galadanchi (CIT Director of BUK) Three (3) wall clock
11 Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) T.V plasma, Printer 3in1, Mobile Phone, T-shirt, Certificate

 

 

Bauchi budget ministry to use technology to monitor execution of projects

Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is to partner with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) to ensure compliance in execution of projects.

Commissioner for Budget, Dr. Aminu Hassan Gamawa, who stated this when he hosted officials of CITAD said the synergy between the two bodies would boost citizens’ participation in budget process, monitoring of projects with the help of digital technology, designing ICT policies, and assessing the ICT capability of staff.

Gamawa stated this in a statement by his Personal Assistant on  Media,  Muslim Pawal,

He said with the support of CITAD, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would be able sensitize communities on the need to take ownership of public projects. “I am fully aware of what CITAD is doing in improving ICTs skills and in improving transparency and accountability in the country, therefore, we will leverage that and partner with you to make progress. The most important thing is to get a starting point which will open other windows of initiative and partnership,” he said.

Acting Programmes Coordinator of CITAD, Malam Isah Garba said the agency and the budget ministry would work together to improve accountability in the budgetary process and service.

Ministry introduces software to capture teachers’ attendance

The Bauchi state Ministry of Education has introduced a software that will monitor  attendance of teachers in its  214 Secondary Schools. The  Commissioner for Education Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde, who disclosed this when he received members Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),   said that education system has suffered  neglect in the past, which has drastically affected the general performance of students in both internal and external examinations.
He said the software was designed to capture the thumbs, names, subject and topic being taught by each teacher within the school hours every day.
Dr. Tilde, who described Information Technology as a vital tool in improving  efficiency in governance, also sought  to partner with the centre for the development of the education in the state.
In his remark CITAD’s Senior Programs Officer Mallam Isah Garba said the visit was aimed at enhancing partnership with the ministry with a view to addressing some of the problems of education in the state, especially those related to ICTs. Garba said the centre  was ready to support the ongoing education reform in the state.

Project Execution: Bauchi Budget Ministry To Use Technology For Monitoring

In its determination to ensure that all its project were executed according to specifications, Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is to partner with Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) to ensure the use of technology for monitoring and compliance.

The disclosure was made by the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa when he hosted officials of the Centre who paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Wednesday.

The Commissioner said that working in a synergy between the two bodies will boost citizens’ participation in the budget process, monitoring of project using digital technology, designing ICT policy and assessing the ICT capability for the staff of the Ministry.

Aminu Gamawa further said that with the support of CITAD, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will sensitise communities on the need to take ownership of public projects in their communities, and other initiatives that may come up in the process.

He pointed out that, “I am fully aware of what CITAD is doing in improving ICTs skills and in improving transparency and accountability in the country, therefore we will leverage that and partner with you to make progress. The most important thing is to get a starting point which will open other windows of initiative and partnership”.

On his part,  the leader of the team, who is the Acting Programmes Coordinator of CITAD, Malam Isah Garba said that they were at the Commissioner’s office to seek partnership with the Ministry which is the entry point of all development partners.

He said that CITAD and the ministry would work together to improve accountability in the budgetary process and public service in the ministry as contained in a statement by Muslim Lawal, Personal Assistant on Media to the Commissioner.

Bauchi Govt. partners NGO to improve workers capacity on ICT

The Bauchi State Government to partners Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) an NGO in improving the capacity of workers on Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the state.
Dr Aminu Gamawa the state Commissioner for Budget and planning stated this when the NGO CITAD pays advocacy visit to him in Bauchi on Wednesday.
He said CiTAD will be useful in improving the ICT capacity of the staff of the ministry and a lot of other initiatives that may come up in the process.
The commissioner listed areas that he thinks CITAD will be of help, such as area of active citizens’ participation in the budget process, monitoring of project using digital technology, designing ICT policy
Dr Gamawa also said by assessing the ICT capability for the Ministry, sensitizing communities to take ownership of public projects in their communities.
According to him, The most important thing is to get a starting point which will open other windows of initiative and partnership. ‘
“With me in this office it is no more about getting the commissioner’s commitment or that of any policy maker it is about how we can partner and implement,” he asserted
He stressed that CITAD had contributed to the development of communities, especially its work in the area of accountability which he said “this is making a lot of impact in promoting accountability in the country,” .
Earlier, Malam Isah Garba The leader of the CITAD team and the acting Programmes Coordinator of the Center said, they were at the Ministry to seek partnership with the Ministry of Budget and Economic planning which the entry point of all development partners as well as the ydesigner of the development of the state.
He said they were also in the ministry to discuss areas of collaborations between CITAD and the ministry in improving accountability in the budgetary process and public service of the ministry.

Bauchi Govt directs Principals to own Android Phones

Bauchi State Government has directed all public secondary school Principals and their Vice to own an Android phone.

Dr. Aliyu Tilde, the State Commissioner of Education issued the directive on Wednesday when he received officials of the Bauchi Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).

He said the directive was imperative to make the school heads ICT compliant.

“Android is the familiar terminology that is widely being used in every being’s life.

“Smartphones, tablets, gadgets, personal computers, etc are the products of smart technology that have made human life smarter, easier and accessible.

“Smart technology has not only enhanced the way of living but also became an integrated part of everyone’s life,” he said.

According to him, Information Technology has been influencing lives in recent years in the fields of education, as such remained a vital communication tool in improving learning outcomes and better teaching techniques.

He said his office had developed a software through which he monitors the daily attendance of teachers in the 214 secondary schools across the state.

The commissioner pledged to partner with CITAD in the area of ICT to transform the education system in the state.

Earlier, the CITAD Senior Programs Officer, Malam Isah Garba explained that the visit was to enhance partnership with the ministry.

He pointed out that CITAD had conducted series of activities aimed at improving the education sector in the state, including a research in 2015 on the state of education which led to the declaration of state of emergency in the sector in the state.

Garba assured that CITAD would support the ongoing reform in the education sector in the state, and appreciated the activism and reform mindset of the commissioner towards bringing positive changes to the sector.