Text of Press Conference by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the Bill Passed into Law by the Bauchi State House of Assembly That Repeal the State Public Property and Recovery Tribunal 2017

Issued on Friday 17th May, 2019

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

Bello Way, New GRABauchi, Bauchi state.

www.citad.org  info@citad.org

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Signed:

 

Mohammed Chiroma Hassan

Programmes Officer, CITAD Bauchi

08036451430

Chiroma@citad.org

Text of a Press Conference in Celebration of the World International Telecommunication and Information Society Day by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Held on the 17th May, 2019 at CITAD Conference Hall

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Our Call

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

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

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

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

IT Private Sector

ICT companies working in the country should:

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

CSOs

The civil society organizations in the country should:

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

Conclusion

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

 

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

08064867312 isah@citad.org

Text of a Press Conference in Celebration of the World International Telecommunication and Information Society Day by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Held on the 17th May, 2019 at CITAD Conference Hall

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Call

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

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

IT Private Sector

ICT companies working in the country should:

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

CSOs

The civil society organizations in the country should:

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

Conclusion

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

 

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre For Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

08064867312

isah@citad.org

CBN encourages Bauchi women to apply for business loan

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

CBN Encourages Bauchi Women To Apply For Business Loans

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

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

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

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

NGO to train 50 young girls, women on ICT entrepreneurship in Bauchi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CITAD empowers 50 Bauchi women with ICT skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CITAD empowers 50 Bauchi women with ICT skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Text of Press Conference on Use of the Nation’s Airports to Traffic Drugs, Conniving with Some Ground Handling Workers, Airport and Airline Staff to Smuggle Narcotics to the Detriment of Innocent Passengers Held on Monday 13th May, 2019 at CITAD Conference Hall

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Thank You

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

www.citad.org

08064867312

isah@citad.org

Anti-Corruption: Centre Launches Program, Compliment Fight Against Corruption

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Media indispensable tool in fight against corruption, says CITAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Citad ta Karrama Matasan da Suka shiga Gasar da ta Shirya

A yau ne cibiyar fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma (CITAD) ta mekawa wandansu matasa guda uku yan makarantun gaba da sakandire kyautar ladar cin gasar rubutu a kan yadda za a yaki cin hanci da rashawa wanda cibiyar ta kirkiro domin samar da mafita daga halin da kasar ta tsinci kanta.

Shugabar shirye-shirye ta sashen yaki da cin hancin ta CITAD Maryam Ado Haruna ce ta baiwa wanda suka samu damar lashe gasar ta wanan karo kyautar kudin yau a babban offishinsu da ke Jihar Kano.

Wadanda suka samu damar lashe gasar sun hada da Maimunat Abdulwab daga Jami’ar Ahmadu Bello ta zaria (ABU) da Offor Christopher daga Jami’ar UNN ta Nsukka, da kuma Na’ima Adamu ta shashin kula da muhali a Kano State Polytechnic.

Maryam ta bayyana rashin jin dadin ta bisa ganin yaddda matasa basu dauki wannan gasa da muhimmanci ba, A cewar ta “yawancin wanda suka yi rubutun sun yi kadan kuma basu bi ka’idar tsarin da ake bi ba wajen bada kyautar, duk da duba da lokacin da suke batawa a bisa yanar gizo wajen tsokaci akan rashawa amma basu yin kokari wajen rubuto hanyoyin magance aukuwar hakan ba.”

Kyautar 30,000 ce za a bawa na daya, na biyu 20,000 na uku kuma 10,000 amma a wannan karo ba wanda ya samu lashes kobo a dalilin rashin yawan shiga gasar, wannnan karon wadanda suka samu nasara an basu 10,000 ne kawai.

Media, a major tool in fighting corruption in Nigeria – CITAD

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

A programme officer of the organization on anti corruption and Accountability Maryam Ado Haruna, stated this during a press conference to celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day, held at the CITAD’s office in Kano.

She said, “anti-corruption crusade can not be genuine without the media which should primarily enjoy status of whistle-blowers.

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

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

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

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

“we therefore, call on journalists not to take, threats, assaults, or even killings of their colleagues in other countries as excuse to let the standard of their profession slip.

They should also avoid allowing themselves to be used for personal vendettas or partisan interests,” she said

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

The winners are, Munnirat Abdussalam of Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Offor Christopher of University of Nigeria, (UN) and Na’ima Adamu of Kano State Polytechnic.

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

CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD), WITH SUPPORT FROM ROSA LUXEMBURG FOUNDATION (RLF)

CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD),

WITH SUPPORT FROM ROSA LUXEMBURG FOUNDATION (RLF)

 Event: Dialogue on Social Media in Academic Environment

Date: Friday 3RD May, 2019

Time: 9:am

Venue: Boardroom, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano (Old Campus)

 

Introduction

As part of a broader dialogue initiative on critical knowledge production in the university system, Centre for information Technology and Development (CITAD), with support from Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, held a one-day dialogue on youth activism in the era of social media to overcome detraction and leverage opportunities with the title, “Dialogue in Social Media in Academic Environment”

The dialogue was organised to engender discussion among stakeholders especially the academics as well as other key stakeholders on how to challenge pedagogical and epistemological practice and to proffer ways in which it can reconstruct and enable the academic space to become a robust environment for intellectual debates and advancing knowledge.

The dialogue brought together students, social activists, academics and scholars, civil society Representatives and journalists. Key profile s from the academia were also present at the dialogue including Prof. Adamu Tanko Yakasai-the Deputy Vice Chancellor of BUK who chaired the dialogue, Dr. Lawal Abdulwahab-the Dean Faculty of Information Technology, Prof. Habu Muhammad Fagge-HOD of Political Science and Dr. Nura Ibrahim-HOD of Information Media. The Executive Director of CITAD, Dr. Yunusa Ya’u and Mrs Angela Odah of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation were also present at the dialogue

  1. The Opening Session

a   Chairman’s Opening Remarks- Professor. Adamu Tanko, (DVC-Academic, BUK)

The chairman expressed his appreciation for the opportunity given to him to chair the event and also to make his contribution on this important motive. He added that he loves being among the youths and feel so happy when he’s in their midst. Talking about social media, the chairman exclaimed that all of our lives is interaction. One can only get something by coming in close contact with what he wants, understanding one another etc. Leveraging on social media is therefore critical and demanding on the academic environment.

  1. Welcoming Remarks- Dr. Aminu Aliyu (programme Cordinator)

In his opening remarks, the coordinator of the dialogue, Dr. Aminu Aliyu welcomed everyone who attended the dialogue and also expressed his gratitude to special guests of honours as well as Bayero university, Kano, which offered the venue pro bono and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation for supporting CITAD in organizing and carrying out the dialogue.

  1. Programme and its Objectives- Dr. Yunusa Ya’u Y.Z (ED CITAD)

While presenting the objectives of the dialogue, the Executive Director of CITAD, Dr. Yunusa Ya’u, explained that the dialogue was organised to see how we can change the world using social media, how we can become possible users of the social media, and refuse to use it for negative purposes. The objectives therefore according to him was engage all relevant stakeholders including students, social activists, academics and scholars, civil society representatives and journalists to generate ideas on how to transform social media from a tool for communication to a tool for critical activism and self-actualization especially in the academic environment, to change the social media into positive force for societal development. It was to also change the mindset of students from just using the social media for communications, to positive use for academic as well as self-reliance purposes. Another objective of the dialogue was also to strategise on how to transform Nigerians from consumers and users to programmers, creators and developers of our own content, applications so that we can compete with the world.

  1. Good Will Message- Angela Odah (RSL)

A good will message was also issued by the representative of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. She explained that the foundation has been in West Africa since 2010 and works around creating platforms for discussions and dialogues at international, national and regional levels on issues of development, political socio-cultural dynamics with civil society groups, academics, women and youths groups and other relevant stakeholders, to identify and discuss important issues and also provide alternative for development by ensuring that stakeholders within communities have a say in their community. She thanked CITAD for the effort the organization put in organized the dialogue and expressed that that RSL was so happy to be part of it.

  1. Solidarity Messages
  2. Dr. Lawal Abdulwahab (Dean, Faculty of Computer Sciences)

We are the users of social media, but what is important is how we use it; either negatively or positively defines us, how we regulate it is equally important. We should use the technology to add value to our society. We should use it for job creation, not just job seekers. It is a great idea to have interaction like this for us to share our ideas.

ii- Prof. Habu Muhammad Fagge (HOD, Political Science Department)

This is a very crucial discussion. Social media is an evitable phenomenon not only to the youth, but to any serious minded person living in the age of globalisation. Communication is so essential that you can actually have the skills of engaging yourself in social media activities without technically related to the background.

iii- Murtala Ibrahim (Reporter, Vanguard Newspaper)

Social media has come to stay, there is nothing we can do about that. What we can do is for Nigeria to have policies that will regulate the use of social media like some other states where they don’t have ungoverned spaces, but the suggestion was rejected. Today we all know the positive and negative effect of the social media. We all know what fake news has caused this country. So there is a need to revisit the issue of regulations to ensure that the social space on social media is not polluted.

  1. Presentations

The first presentation was titled “Managing the Imperative in Academic Environment” by Sanah Abdullahi Mu’az from department of Software Engineering, BUK. She described that the essence of the presentation is to whether or not the social media is being under-utilised, whether the social media is being used the way it supposed to be from the perspective of the students as well as from the perspectives of the lecturers.

  1. The second presentation was prepared and made by Abdulganiyyu R. Yakubu, CEO D.D. Hub. His presentation focused on “Making best Use of Social Media.” He expressed that Nigeria is one of the biggest patronizers of social media in the world. It is also noted that people of northern Nigeria has a very huge presence on the social media. This was why we have Hausa content on Facebook as well as the internet. The presentation therefore focused on the plenty of opportunities available on social media which the users can utilise.
  2. Panel Session

A panel discussion session was also held with four panelists; Aminu Ibrahim, Rabi’u Shamma, Maryam Ado Haruna and Sadiya Lawal Danyaro on the topic “Social Media Activism on Parade”.

Points from the panel discussion:

  1. Social media could be used to enforce democracy. For youths to use the social media positively, for me I define myself on social media by defining myself, whom do I want to be my friend, what to post on the social media. I select friends based on what they do. Social media is a tool we can use to send messages to the government, to comment on important issues. It is very sad how some news sites post sentiments. We need to sanitise these platforms to make them safe and send the right things. When you see anything online, if it’s not for an authentic source, try to verify before sharing it. There are many ways in which you can verify things on social media. And when you come across anything that does not supposed to be online, you can report it to the platform involved. We need to also localize the social media and have it on our local language.
  2. Social media plays important roles especially for mobilization for the activists, for instance mobilization for protests or solidarity, the use of #Hashtag is very powerful here. We have several #Hashtags like the #OccupyNigeria, #BringBackOurGirls. These are important event. Activist social media like Facebook and Twitter to campaign for certain issues. Activism like these have make government to take necessary actions, for instance like the protest for fuel subsidy.
  3. Social media has facilitated online activism just like the way it facilitated online dissemination of news and information. Social media has provided a room for democratic consolidation. To make reference to some #hashtags especially the ones initiated by CITAD like the #SayNoToHateSpeech, #StopViolenceAgainstWomenOnline, #TrackNigeria, #GBVO etc. Activism on social media can be easily accepted in some cases, while in some cases it need a lot of time before it could be widely joined. So it’s something you need to put a lot of effort into, keep doing it, keep repeating the messages and also don’t strict yourself to online activities, you need to complement it offline activities like radio campaign, street march etc. So this social media has facilitated direct communication between people at the grass-root level and those at the government level, you can simple send a message to the president on twitter by mentioning him in the post. Actually social media has so much good to offer to us, but we need to ensure that whatever we are sending out there is for national development, for positive social change. We shouldn’t promote sentiments, hate speech, fake news on social media. Let’s ensure that whatever we are pushing out is to promote unity and make Nigeria a better nation.
  4. Social media activism is a broad category. As youth activists, we need to utilise the social media in a positive way. We should not post anything that is fake or not genuine. The youths can make governments realise a particular issue which they have not noticed at first. They are a lot of campaigns that are trending on social media. The social media is a very powerful tool. If we look at the case of the ex-finance minister, we can see how powerful the social media is.  When we come together we can really pursue what we are agitating for. And the social media in the academic environment, there are a lot of platforms we can utilise for our academic purposes, e.g “Research Gate”, “academia.org.”  Most of us are on Facebook, but majority of do not hesitate to share fake news. We really need to be different from the people outside academic environment. Instead of sharing our pictures or fake news on Facebook and Twitter, we can use it to make positive impact.
  5. Questions and Comments
  6. Nigeria is a diverse country with so many unending challenges especially at the moment on time. However, if you go to the archives, you will realise that every single challenge we have in this country has been discussed, but our major problem is implementation. if you check, you will see the percentage of the implementation of those solutions is very discouraging. For instance, we are having an important discussion on youth and social media activism, but what would happen after now, how are we going to implement what we have discussed here? What mechanism do we have in place to monitor and supervise the measures that were decided? E.g the impact; what has it change in the academia?
  7. I’m giving a recommendation to my colleagues especially the lecturers, you can see the opportunities in social media in the academic environment which have been discussed here. The academia supposed to be the ambassadors of every community, in fact, every community look up to the academia for a guide. But you can imagine what we in the academia have contributed toward the negativity of the social media. For instance, the rate in which we share unverified information on the social media is so disgusting, WhatsApp group is a very good example on this. So if we ourselves are not alien to this act, how can we guide our student against it?
  • In this era of insecurity, among the students, especially the younger ones, instead of using the social media as a good opportunity, people have now developed the habit exposing their lives on social media by giving details of all their daily activities on social media including their travels and unknowingly making themselves vulnerable.
  1. Students don’t use the social media as they supposed to. Majority of students don’t even use social media for academic purpose. You find many youths on Instagram and not Twitter because twitter basically deals with intellectual postings, unlike Instagram, where peope go there for like and followers. So a lot need to be done so that our youths’ mindset will changed for them to understand that social media is beyond posting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, It can also be utilized for academic purposes. There are a lot of platforms they can use on social media for their academic benefits.
  2. I want to make a little addition to the second presentation. I did my first and second degree on the usage of social media for cooperate recruitment. Universities now in Nigeria are making serious efforts to train students on entrepreneurship, but the mentality of white collar job is still in us. So student even the post graduate ones will want to hear how they can use social media to get lubricate jobs.
  3. Our students need to understand that job interviewers are now interested in the history of your postings on social media platforms, this is why they asked for social media handles. So if your postings are negative, how do you expect them to hire or employ you? So we need to be sensitive of what we post on our social media and the comments we make on friends’ postings as well.

 

  1. Plenary: Where Do We Go from Here?
  2. Social media is just like the film industry in Kano, we can’t terminate it. We should therefore keep it in good shape. Our religious leaders should go online, endorse the good side of it and speak out against or sensitise on the negative use of the social media and the ill it may cause.
  3. We need to be creative enough to become drivers and creators of innovations not just the passengers and consumers of innovation.
  4. Youths should partner with other stakeholders like the government and other relevant stakeholders to come up with strategic ways in which the social media could be used for societal development.
  5. We need a societal orientation to become drivers of change.
  6. We need to have stakeholders on social media apart from the youths, the elders need to join the social media.
  7. The activists need to take up the challenge of following up of whatever agenda they set. Most start but do not have the courage of making it end with the desired result.
  8. We must continue to create awareness and inform people the importance of social media to our lives.
  9. Networking is very important. Students need to utilise the social media for networking to make whatever mission they have stronger and more effective.
  10. CITAD deserves commendation for it good work, but it also needs to do more on training youths on the positive use of social media.

CITAD ga waÉ—anda suka samu horo: Ku yi amfani da abinda ku ka koya

An yi kira ga wadanda suka amfana da bada horo kan kasuwanci a Intanet na tsawon mako biyar da su yi amfani da abinda suka koya don su bunkasa kawunansu.

Babban Daraktan Cibiyar Bunkasa Fasahar Sadarwa, CITAD, Malam Yahuza Zakari Ya’u ne ya yi kiran lokacin wani bada wani horo kan kasuwanci a Intanet na musamman da CITAD ta shirya wa ‘yan mata da manyan mata su 40 a Gidan Mambayya ranar Laraba, 13 ga watan Maris.

Babban Daraktan, wanda jami’i mai kula da bada horo, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai ya wakilta ya shawarci wadanda suka amfana da horon kasuwanci a Intanet ɗin da su yi amfani da abinda aka koya musu.
An koya wadanda suka samu horon dabarun yin fim da tace finafinai, zane a Intanet, kasuwancin Intanet da sauransu.

Malam Ya’u ya bayyana cewa ‘yan mata da manyan mata 6,205 ne suka bukaci a ba su horon, aka zabi mutum 40 daga cikinsu, aka kasa su rukuni biyu aka ba su horo na tsawon makonni biyar.

Ya tunatar da wadanda suka amfana sa’ar da suka yi, yadda suka samu nasarar samun wannan horo duk da dubban mutanen da suka nema.

Daga karshe ya gode wa Ofishin Jaladancin Amurka bisa yadda suka tallafa wa shirin kasuwancin.

Wakilan Hukumomi kamar Babban Bankin Najeriya, CBN, Bankin Masana’antu, Hukumar Kula da Ingancin Abinci da Magunguna ta Kasa, NAFDAC, Hukumar Kula da Kanana da Matsakaitan Masana’antu ta Kasa, SMEDAN sun halarci taron bada horon, sun kuma yi wa wadanda suka suka karbi horon bayanin aikace-aikacensu da kuma yadda za su amfana da su.

Sauran wadanda suka yi nasara a fagen kasuwanci su ma sun halarci taron, sun kuma yi magana da wadanda suka karbi horo bisa irin gogewarsu don karfafa musu guiwa su kafa sana’o’insu na kansu.

An kuma nuna wa wadanda suka samu horon yadda za su yi iya wa harkokin kasuwancinsu rijista da Hukumar Yi Wa Kamfanoni Rijista ta Kasa, CAC.