CITAD Concludes 10-Day Virtual Training on Digital Inclusion for Women

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

CITAD Trains Champions to Join Crusade for Bridging Gap in Gender Digital Divide

By Yakubu Salisu, Kano

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

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

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

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

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

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

Second Edition of Bauchi Feminist Internet School (BaFIS) Organised by CITAD, with Support from Association for Progressive Communication (APC)

03th-13th August, 2020

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Three main session were taught during the training including:

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

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

  1. What to Learn

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

Participants Feedback:

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

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

Facilitators

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

Participants:

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

CITAD, ActionAid Trains 44 Persons on Social Audit

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

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

“We at Action Aid, we believe in the action of one person that can move a crowd.  The founder of Action Aid single handedly  started the organization but it is presently found in forty-five countries in the world. 72% of our total number of the nation covers youths that are vibrant and agile. As youths, you should be patriotic in your dealings because Nigeria belongs to all of us and the future generation which will come from the youths.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transparency, Accountability: Actionaid Nigeria, CITAD Train 48 Activists In Abuja Communities On Social Audit To Engage Implementing Agencies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Actionaid Nigeria, CITAD Train Abuja Communities on Social Auditing for Transparency, Accountability

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

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

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

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

AActionaid Nigeria Country Director, Ene Obi(5th person from the right) in group photograph with some participants, CITAD and Actionaid officials at the training venue on Tuesday in Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja.

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

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

The Social Mobilization  Manager for Actionaid Nigeria, Adewale Adeduntan delivering his presentation on Understanding Social Audit and its Importance during the training.

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

A participant, Jamila Inusa at an interview with journalists

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

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

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

A participant, Ishaya Gbashe during an interview with journalists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Land Grabbing Workshop for Community Activists in FCT On Sustainable Livelihood Organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

DATE: 10TH TO 15TH AUGUST, 2020

VENUE: ZOOM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

41ST Twitter Chat with Mohammed Chiroma Hassan on the Impact of Technology Tools During Covid19 Pandemic Held on the 27th of August 2020.

The guest was Mal. Mohammed Chiroma Hassan, ICT officer and Head of Bauchi Office who discussed on the Impact of Technology Tools during Covid19 Pandemic.

The #Covid19 pandemic is revolutionizing digital and online engagements across the globe. And I think it is right to openly confess that #COVID19 has exposed the education divide in Nigeria and we must all work hard to bridge this gap.

When children in some communities in Nigeria are not equipped to adapt or transit to new methods of learning and the new methods remain the only avenue to learn. That is the condition that we describe as “EDUCATION DIVIDE”

In countries such as South Korea they have integrated digital technology into government coordinated containment and mitigation process including surveillance, testing, and contact tracing and strict quarantine

And it appears to be the only entity that resisted the negative impact of the pandemic across the globe.

It is obvious that in 21st century, access to the Internet and digital devices and technical skills is a most for full participation in the society and economy.

It has started already partially here but greatly in developed nations.

The solutions are already in existence, we only need enabling environment (right infrastructures) to transit from the manual ways of doing things.

We have seen how digital health tech facilitated pandemic strategies and responsive ways that could have been very difficult or even impossible to achieve manually.

Yes we can, and that is even the reason for the advocacies and campaigns by @ICTAdvocates for government and relevant Stakeholder to help bridge the digital gap in Nigeria.

Technology Tools are software and hardware’s that aided online and offline computation processes. This include all, digital devices or defined set of instructions (software/applications) that help in computation or automation.

It could be recalled that when the Federal Government of Nigeria locked all schools on 19th March, 2020. Some states such as Lagos scheduled TV and radio shows for students. But the truth is not all the students can join i.e those in rural and undeserved communities.

Unlike Nigeria that is still battling to have access and affordable Internet services, development nations are now working on Big Data (date science) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate Covid19 preparedness and tracking of people.

Government should introduce reforms in the national curriculum that would help bridge the gap in inequality through capitalizing in public private partnerships.

@NCDCgov, CSOs and other media bodies have tried in feeding citizens with the right information regarding the pandemic and precautionary measures to help curb its spread.

It is also good to note that some people/communities are still left behind despite abundance of information floating in cloud because they have no means to access anything posted online.

This children or communities are left behind in instances like this, and not just education, they are marginalized in so many basic fundamental rights; access to education, health care services obtainable online, information, adding their voices in governance processes & more.

HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE:

To digitalise Nigeria, Federal Government should give priority to ICT sector, invest heavily and all relevant actors (CSOs, Telecommunications companies, @NgComCommission, @NITDANigeria and all) should join and develop a nation digital agenda for all by all.

 

ENGAGEMENTS:

@a_sabo12

 

Hello everyone, Do join me in welcoming our today’s guest on

 

ICT officer and Head of Bauchi Office who is going to discuss on the Impact of Technology Tools during Covid19 Pandemic. Welcome sir.

 

 

@a_sabo12

 

 

Mr

 

@ChiromaHope do you think technology can replace our physical activities looking at how it is playing significant role during this Covid19 pandemic? #CITADAgainstCovid19

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to @a_sabo12 @ICTAdvocates and 9 others

 

The #Covid19 pandemic is revolutionarizing digital and online engagements across the globe

 

@ChiromaHope @a_sabo12 and 10 others

 

We have seen how digital health tech facilitated pandemic strategies and responsive ways that could have been very difficult or even impossible to achieve manually. #CITADAgainstCOVID19 @macfound @a_sabo12 @YZYau @kamalkano

 

@ChiromaHope

 

@a_sabo12 and 11 others

 

This is because they are not equipped to adopt to new methods of learning. The reasons varies from owning TV set/Radio or lack of basic ICT infrastructure to access the online learnings

#CITADAgainstCOVID19

@macfound

@a_sabo12

@YZYau

 

@a_sabo12 @ICTAdvocates and 10 others

 

It could be recalled that when the F.G of Nigeria locked all schools on 19th March, 2020. Some states such as Lagos scheduled TV and radio shows for students. But the truth is not all the students can join I.e those in rural and undeserved communities

@ChiromaHope

 

Unlike Nigeria that is still battling to have access and affordable Internet services, development nations are now working on Big Data(date science) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate Covid19 preparedness and tracking of people.

#CITADAgainstCOVID19

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to

 

@a_sabo12

 

@ICTAdvocates

and 10 others

 

And I think it is right to openly confess that #COVID19 has exposed the education divide in Nigeria and we must all work hard to bridge this gap. #CITADAgainstCOVID19

@a_sabo12

@macfound

@APC_News

@ParadigmHQ

@YZYau

 

@a_sabo12

Replying to

 

@ChiromaHope

@ICTAdvocates

and 11 others

 

So what steps do you think we can follow in order to replicate this giant stride looking at how important it is?

 

What do you mean by “Education Divide”, Sir? #CITADagainstCovid19

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to

 

@a_sabo12

 

@ICTAdvocates

and 10 others

@NCDCgov CSOs and other media bodies have tried in feeding citizens with the right information regarding the pandemic and precautionary measures to help curb its spread. #CITADAgainstCOVID19

@a_sabo12

@kamalkano

@macfound

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to

@a_sabo12

 

@ICTAdvocates

and 10 others

 

It is also good to note that some people/communities are still left behind despite abundance of information floating in cloud because they have no means to access anything posted online. #CITADAgainstCOVID19

 

@a_sabo12

@macfound

@YZYau

@APC_News

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to

 

@a_sabo12

 

@ICTAdvocates and 13 others

When children in some communities in Nigeria are are not equipped to adapt or transit to new methods of learning and the new methods remain the only avenue to learn. That is the condition that we describe as “EDUCATION DIVIDE” #CITADAgainstCOVID19

 

@a_sabo12

 

Replying to

 

@ChiromaHope

@ICTAdvocates

and 13 others

 

Comrade as we are heading towards the end of the discussion, what is your final suggestions towards digitalization of Nigeria? #CITADagainstCovid19

 

@realtechmarket

@NITDANigeria

@NgComCommission

@FMoCDENigeria

@DrIsaPantami

@KashifuInuwa

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to

 

@a_sabo12

 

@ICTAdvocates

and 18 others

 

To digitalise Nigeria, F.G should give priority to ICT sector, invest heavily and all relevant actors (CSOs, Telecommunications companies,

 

@NgComCommission

@NITDANigeria

 

and all) should join and develop a nation digital agenda for all by all. #CITADAgainstCOVID19

@a_sabo12

 

  1. M Chiroma

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Replying to

 

@a_sabo12

@ICTAdvocates

and 13 others

 

Am excited being with you this afternoon. Bye for now! #CITADAgainstCOVID19

@a_sabo12

@macfound

@YZYau

@APC_News

@ICTAdvocates

 

40TH Twitter Chat with Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu On How Citizens Can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending on the 25th of August 2020

In continuation of its educative programs on Covid19 in Nigeria, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its 40th twitter chat on the 25th of August, 2020 with guest was Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu, the executive director, centre for Advocacy, transparency and accountability initiative on the topic “How Citizens can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending”

He started the chat by saying that Members of the community can play a vital role in holding government and intervening partners accountable through many social accountability frameworks.

According to him Citizens’ participation in the process of demanding accountability is key and vital in addressing the pandemic, with many resources being allocated to the health sector to fight against the pandemic and alleviate the suffering of citizens.

He said Citizens can demand accountability through Increased civic and political knowledge; a greater sense of how the allocation is being done in addressing the pandemic. This will help in understanding the context of what has being allocated.

In response to a question on who is responsible in educating the citizens their right to demanding for accountability from government officials, he suggested that; this is a role that civil society groups need to play in supporting citizens to understand the magnitude of engaging government. Citizens need to have an influence in the budgetary process especially releases and implementation.

He opined that as a nation, Nigeria is suffering from weak institutions, making it difficult for us to have adequate information in addressing corruption within the COVID-19 intervention. We need to advocate for in having strong institutions that will support.

He suggested that to some extent the key role citizens can play in demanding accountability in the situation of COVID19 will be through radio programs asking duty bearers questions about some of the key interventions especially Palliative distribution.

When he was asked how citizens can go about demanding accountability on COVID19 spending? He suggest Citizens can go about demanding accountability by engaging duty bearers constructively. Especially through appropriate platforms of both aspect of Government, Executive arm, legislative arm and the judicial arm.

He said Government both at the federal and the state levels have not been doing enough in providing adequate information that will enable citizens to hold them accountable, the office of the Accountant General of the federation is yet to provide citizens with adequate information, making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. This was in response to the question “whether the government is supporting the course of increase in transparency and accountability in the management of COVID19 funds through provision of right information at the right time?”

In another response to the question whether he thinks freedom of information (FOI) can work here? He said FOI to some extend is a tool being used in some states to have access to information, but it has been challenging in implementing the punishment and fines making it easier for many states to bridge the provision of the existing law. There is a need to review the law.

At the end he applaud Civil society groups  for doing a lot in creating awareness and sensitization for Citizens to hold government accountable.

He concluded by saying that in the past weeks, his own organization “centre for Advocacy, transparency and accountability initiative” focus on how to build the capacities of citizens in demanding for accountability.

ENGAGEMENT:

Hello everyone, Do join me in welcoming @ICTAdvocates‘s today guest on twitter chat on #CITADagainstCovid19, @AS_MUAZU, E.D, @CataiCenter, Muaza is an Accountability Advocate. He is going to discuss on How Citizens can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending. Welcome sir.

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu

@AS_MUAZU Aug 25

Replying to

@a_sabo12 @ICTAdvocates and 9 others Citizens’ participation in the process of demanding accountability is key and vital in addressing the pandemic. With many resources being allocated to the health sector to fight against the pandemic and alleviate the suffering of citizens. #CITADagainstCovid19

Members of d community can play a vital role in holding government & intervening partners accountable through many social accountability frameworks. In the recent times, many campaigns have being on going on tracking palliatives and support to the ministries addressing #COVID19

Thank you so much for having me to discuss this great topic today. #CITADagainstCovid19

nissimase@nissimase @AS_MUAZU How can citizens go about demanding accountability on COVIR19 spending? @ICTAdvocates @a_sabo12 #CITADagainstCOVID19 Sir, who responsible in educating the citizens their right to demanding for accountability from government officials? #CITADagainstCovid19

Government both at the federal and the state level have not been doing enough in providing adequate information that will enable citizens to hold them accountable. The office of the Accountant general of the federation is yet to provide citizens with adequate information.

Making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19 Ali Sabo @a_sabo12

Replying to @AS_MUAZU @ChiromaHope and 3 others Do you think FOI can work here, sir? #CITADagainstCovid19 FOI to some extend is a tool being used in some states to have access to information, but it has been challenging in implementing the punishment and fines making it easier for many states to bridge the provision of the existing law. There is a need to review the law.

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu@AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @a_sabo12 and 10 others To some extend the key role citizens can play in demanding accountability in the situation of COVID19 will be through radio programs asking duty bearers questions about some of the key interventions especially Palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu @AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @ChiromaHope and 4 others Making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

This is a role that civil society groups need to play in supporting citizens to understand the magnitude of engaging government. Citizens need to have an influence in the budgetary process especially releases and implementation. #CITADagainstCovid19 #COVID19 #COVID__19

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu

@AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @a_sabo12 and 10 others The most important role citizens need to play in demanding for accountability is through using d existing structures of demanding access to information especially on allocation 2 d health sector. Allocation to alleviate the suffering of people by using Freedom of Information act. Civil society groups have been doing a lot in creating awareness and sensitization for Citizens to hold government accountable. In the past weeks, our work @CataiCenter focus on how to build the capacities of citizens in demanding for accountability. #CITADagainstCovid19 Making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

Government both at the federal and the state level have not been doing enough in providing adequate information that will enable citizens to hold them accountable. The office of the Accountant general of the federation is yet to provide citizens with adequate information.

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu @AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @a_sabo12 and 10 others To some extend the key role citizens can play in demanding accountability in the situation of COVID19 will be through radio programs asking duty bearers questions about some of the key interventions especially Palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

As a nation, Nigeria is suffering from weak institutions, making it difficult for us to have adequate information in addressing corruption within the COVID-19 intervention. We need to advocate for in having strong institutions that will support. #CITADagainstCovid19 #COVID19

Here we come to the end of this discussion with @AS_MUAZU On How Citizens can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending, on behalf of @ICTAdvocates‘s E.D, @YZYau

We thank everyone for joining us & most importantly we appreciate Mr. Muazu for taking educating us on this topic

Sagiru Ado Abubakar @sagiru_ado @a_sabo12 @AS_MAAZU @ICTAdvocates @kamalkano As an advocate and someone with pationate accountable mind, how accountable is the recent distribution of govt palliative of Covid 19 for only 5ppl in each polling box? @ChiromaHope #CITADAgainstCovid19

39TH Twitter Chat on The Relationship Between Covid -19 and Weather With Tajudden Idris, Lecturer, Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kano

Ever since the arrival of the deadly virus called Covid19; a member from Corona virus family, there have been lots of disinformation and misinformation in circulation regarding the pandemic. According to World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 pandemic is accompanied by over abundance of information some of which are accurate and some are not from truth worthy sources, this makes it hard for people to find a reliable guidance they need.  Infodemic is term coined by WHO to describe high float of misinformation at the time of pandemic.

WHO and fact checking organizations across the globe warned that information speeds very fast on internet, but infodemic spreads faster than Covid – 19 viruses and poses greater thread in the fight against the pandemic.  In its series of twitter chats initiated to help fight Covid – 19, the Centre for Information and Development (CITAD) invited Tajudden Idris Wawo, a lecturer from the department of Geography, Sa’adu Rimi College of Education, Kano to clear air on the relationship between weather and Covid – 19 .

He began the discussion by explaining what whether and climate are, the relationship between the virus and weather and justify claims that cold regions in the world have high tendencies to catch the virus while hotter regions are at lesser risk.

Below is the thread of the chat as extracted:

Hello everyone,

Do join me in welcoming our today’s twitter chat guest, @TWawu, a lecturer with Department of Geography, SCOE who is going to discuss on the Relationship between Covid19 and Weather. Welcome ir

 

Thank you

My Name is Tajuddeen Idris Wawo from Saadatu Rimi College of Education Kano department of Geography I’m here to discuss on the Topic relationship between Weather and  Coronavirus

 

 

@a_sabo12 @TWawu @ICTAdvocates Doc. One of the reasons ppl mentioning on low effect of Covid 19 in African Countries is hot weather. What is the real fact on this? @hamzaish

 

This is very true because African countries lies very close to equator and receive high amount of sunshine which makes the temperature to be high

 

Weather has some important components such as follows

a Elements of Weather

b Factors of Weather and Climate

  1. Weather and Climate regions in the world

These are some of the important sub topics which comprises weather and Climate

 

Sir @TWawu Will warm weather really kill off Covid-19?

 

Of course yes because we Africans lives in Tropical regions which have high temperature

 

 

There are six weather regions of the world

Tropical regions

Temperate regions

Mediterranean regions

Arid regions

Polar regions

Continental regins

 

Dr, @TWawu Pls, will climate change make the COVID-19 pandemic worse or not?

 

Tropical regions are xterised with high temperature

Temperate regions are xterised wit mild temperature

Polar regions are xterised with ice

Arid means desert region

 

@TWawu is there any relationship between Temperature vs. Case Numbers

 

 

 

Yes as I explained that Asian Countries like China, India are among the countries having the higher number of infected persons because the have low temperature while African countries have the low number of infected persons because the temperature conditions high

 

 

What is the seasonal bahaviour of diseases?

 

Low temperature contributes to the spread of the visus that is why you see that areas having low temperature experience high number of infected persons while area having high temperature like African countries having low infected persons

 

These are some basic issues about weather while COVID 19 is a pandemic diseases which affects all part of the world

 

 

There is Strong correlation between Weather and COVID 19 Pandemic

 

@TWawu Do weather conditions influence the transmission of the coronavirus?

 

Yes of course the variables of Weather which influences the transmission include Temperature, Wind and Humidity

 

 

#CITADActionAgainstCOVID19

Sir @TWawu, some people are relating #Covid19 resistant of most Africa nations to high temperature. Can you please shade more light on this; whether or not the claim is right.

 

@TWawu it is true that cool weather increases the virus. @ICTAdvocates

 

Yes of course because if you look at the areas having the high number of infected persons you will see that they have low temperature that is why the Virus doesn’t kill and spread much in Africa

 

 

@TWawu @ICTAdvocates @a_sabo12 #CITADagainstCovid19 At this point we come to the end of today’s Twitter chat. With this we are saying BIG THANK you Doctor. We hv short of words to express our gratitude 4 your participation. Happy New Hijri Year 1442.

 

You’re highly welcome I’m ready to give you support and contributions as the need arises.

 

 

Corona virus originates from Wuhan in China this is an area where by the temperature is relatively low and going by what has happened as regard to the number of infected people you will find out that the area having cold temperature eg China, India, USA, Brazil Russia  etc

 

Of course yes because we Africans lives in Tropical regions which have high temperature

 

 

 

 

@TWawu Coronavirus seasonality: Is the spread likely to vary?

as occurs with other respiratory diseases such as influenza.

 

 

Yes of course the variables of Weather which influences the transmission include Temperature, Wind and Humidity

 

Low temperature contributes to the spread of the visus that is why you see that areas having low temperature experience high number of infected persons while area having high temperature like African countries having low infected persons

 

 

 

 

38TH Twitter Chat on How Civil Society Organizations Can Promote Transparency In the Fight Against Covid19 In Nigeria With Rabi’u Shamma on the 18TH of August, 2020

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) initiated a sensitization program on COVID19 in Nigeria. This week twitter chat which makes it the 38th edition held on the 18th August, 2020 with Comrade Rabi’u Shamma, Founder, Centre for Awareness on Good Governance and Development. The guest discussed on How Civil Society Organizations can Promote Transparency in the Fight against Covid19 in Nigeria. Here is how the discussions went.

 

*Welcome remarks*

@a_sabo12

Hello everyone Please join me in welcoming our today’s guest on @ICTAdvocates ‘s twitter chat on #CITADagainstCovid19, @R_Shamma who is going to discuss on How CSOs can Promote Transparency in the Fight against Covid19 in Nig. Welcome sir.

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Welcome Mr. @R_Shamma! We are all excited to be here with you this afternoon!

 

@mukhtars_s

My pleasure, @R_Shamma maraba! lale!! marhabun!!!

 

@ R_Shamma Response

Thanks, I am glad to be here.

 

Q 1. @ChiromaHope:

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, can you please start the conversation by briefing us on ways civil actors can promote transparency and accountability in the fight against #COVID19 in Nigeria.

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

Civil society the world over are known to be great pushers of transparency in government spending, transparency is one of the important tenets of good governance

 

Q 2

@ChiromaHope:

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, can you please enumerate the ways these actors employ in achieving their common mandates.

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

People for example have complained of spending over hundreds of millions of naira on feeding school children, when the children were actually at home

 

3

@mukhtars_s

 

My Chairman @R_Shamma In Nigeria, Private sector and the international community has contributed money and materials to support the fight against COVID-19.

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

With the increase as a result of donations of funds from the private sector and the international

community and the presidential task force, there is an urgent need to promote transparency in the collection and disbursement of these funds

 

Q 4

@a_sabo12:

 

What ways do you think are best to follow to ensure govt MDAs have become more transparent in way they handle this

pandemic especially in the area of their

spending?

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma:

Sadly, the roughly more than 500 billion so far spent by government and the donations generated have been marred by secrecy

 

Q5

@a_sabo12

 

Comrade what do you think is the reason behind govt secrecy in this fight?

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

Certainly there is always the factor of corruption, which has been a cankerworm that

has eaten deep into the fabric of governtment parastatals in Nigeria

 

Q 6

@a_sabo12

 

@R_Shamma What ways do you think are best to follow to ensure govt MDAs have become more transparent in way they handle this pandemic especially in the area of their

spending?

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma:

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for example have said to distribute billion of naira palliatives but so far there have been no breakdown of how these spendings were carried out, they usually give a sweeping statement

 

Q 7

 

@ a_sabo12

 

Can we say the money is possibly being diverted for other activities looking at how public requesting the Ministry to provide them with

necessary info but the Ministry has refused to do so?

 

8

 

@a_sabo12

 

What ways do you think are best to follow to ensure govt MDAs have become more transparent in way they handle this pandemic especially in the area of their spending?

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma

 

There is the need to ensure periodic release that can be verified by anyone, their spendings need to also be publish online, the Civil Society groups

must also be incorparated in distributions that has to do with communities

 

9

 

@mukhtars_s

 

In whatever doing there must be a challenge`s.

@R_Shamma In Nig., What challenges do CSOs facing in their effort to promote transparency in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic?

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma

 

There have been challenges certainly, many of the MDAs have not been responding to request for information even after applying the Freedom of information law, CSOs have also not been carried along in the formation of distribution committees, especially during the COVID19 pandemic

 

Q 10

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, there are a number of cries by concern citizens and CSOs over mismanagement of #CovidFunds , the recent been the findings by @CivicHive that N37.

06m spent on the purchase of just 1808 pieces of ordinary face masks.

 

 

@ChiromaHope

 

And the purchase of Prado Jeep at the cost of 39.75m and the description of what the vehicle will be used for is not stated. Plus many

others. And we have not seen any thing beyond having the figures trending on media.

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma

 

The Covid19 pandemic is another opportunity that the corrupt leadership in Nigeria have used to further milk the country dry, CSO have therefore a very big challenge to demand for transparency in all

government spendings in order to effectively deal

with this global chall enge

 

 

11

 

@ChiromaHope

 

@R_Shamma, what other action can we take aside making this figures known to the public?

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma

 

There is the need for CSOs to track all funds said to be spent on COVID19, either in terms of palliatives or provision of necessary healthcare facilities and if we found anything fishy then we can petition the relevant anti corruption agencies, EFCC and ICPC to

demand for account

 

13

*Conclusion:*

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, we have come to the end of this chat. On behalf of our E.D., @YZYau and the entire management of @ICTAdvocates, we

thank you so much for honoring our invitation.

It has been an interesting session

 

@ R_Shamma

 

Thank you very much, it is my pleasure, may we all

rise up to the challenge of ensuring transparency in

governance during and after the covid19 pandemic.

@ICTAdvocates you are doing great, cheers!

 

37TH Twitter Chat on the Race for the Production of Covid-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries With Abduljalal Nadabo (RPH) on the 13TH of August, 2020

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) initiated a sensitization program on COVID 19 in Nigeria. The twitter chat with Abduljalal Nadabo makes it 37th edition of the Twitter Chat on the 13th August, 2020.

The guest was Abduljalal Nadabo (RPH), a Production Pharmacist at RHG Health Pharmaceuticals Limited, He discussed on The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries. He started by saying, The COVID 19 Pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disabilities of even some of the most developed nations on earth. The discussion reminds him of a statement from Chapter 2 of the book “The “Lizard Shape” No Nation can effectively control what it does not produce. Mr. Nadabo defined developing Countries as a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid, a country that is not yet highly industrialized. He went further to respond to question on developing vaccines, he said it is an extremely tedious process involving many years and stages of research (experimental and clinical) technicalities, intricacies, risky undertakings and copious amount resources. He made reference to Madagascar produced vaccine some months back and it cured COVID 19. He also reference to China, produced a traditional medicine to cure the disease.

 

In responding to another question, he said developing countries have no control over these vaccines because most can neither develop nor produce them nor can they afford to make huge financial deals with Big Pharma corporations, their fate is filled with uncertainties. Africa is far from vaccine race, all efforts are dependent on WHO and other International Organisations. It either you develop the vaccine yourself or invest with Big Pharma if you have the resources.

 

At the end, he summarized the outcome of developing nations with regards to the vaccine race; developing countries should rely on World Health Organisations and other institutions like CEPI, GAVI to be considered for cheaper people’s vaccine, await the controversial Gate’s charity vaccine like the ID2020 conspiracy4, become victims of vaccine hoarding as it has happened in the past. Finally, he said the quest for COVID 19 Vaccine in play is but interplay of international politics and financial interest of pharma corporations, hopes and lots of uncertainties, leaving the developing nations with very limited options available to select at their own peril. This calls for the coming together of the countries to come up with a particular multilateral goal. It is also a wakeup call for developing countries to invest heavily in science if they want to survive through the next century.

 

Engagements:

 

  1. Join @ICTAdvocates on its 37th edition of Twitter Chat on Covid19 as it hosts Abduljalal Nadabo (RPh), Production Pharmacist at RHG Health & Pharmaceutical LTD who is going to discuss on The Race for the Production of Covid19 Vaccines & the Fate of Developing Countries @ICTAdvocates have assigned me with the task of discussing this very interesting, yet sensitive topic as it deals with international politics and public health. I’ll try to do justice to it. so follow us…
  2. Thank you very much. I’m honoured to be here.
  3. The COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disabilities of even some of the most developed nations on earth. The topic of discussion is an interesting one but not a pleasant one if the blatant truth about the situation is to be discussed.
  4. The topic of discussion reminds me of a statement from Chapter 2 of the book “The Lizard Shape,” authored by my Professor and Boss, @ProfATMora  “No Nation can effectively control what it does not produce.”
  5. I think it provides an inkling of the outcome of developing countries with regards to the race of COVID 19 vaccine. What is a Developing Country anyways?
  6. Dictiorary.com defines a developing country as a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid; a country that is not yet highly industrialized. No examples needed.
  7. Developing vaccines is an extremely tedious process involving many years and stages of research (experimental and clinical), technicalities, intricacies, risky undertakings and copious amount resources.
  8. Even so, the process is full of uncertainties as only a small fraction of preliminary vaccines (7%) reach human trials and only about 17% pass human clinical trials. Still not a 100% guarantee it will work
  9. These uncertain figures give an edge to rich countries, endowed with the advanced technologies to engage in these processes and the resources to sign multibillion-dollar vaccine deals with the Big Pharma corporations
  10. But it is also filled with peril for poor countries, which lack the resources to sign these deals, or middle-income states that risk gambling on a small number of tentative vaccines.
  11. Now before I discuss firsthand the possible fate of these developing nations with regards to the vaccine race, let’s discuss ‘Political Multilateralism and The Quest for Vaccine Nationalism’
  12. When I say “Vaccine Nationalism,” I mean every nation for itself and when I say “Multilateralism, I mean all nations coming unbiased coming together of all the nations to confront the vaccine challenge.
  13. Ever since the early stage of the pandemic, many advanced countries, including the US, China, Russia, UK, France, Germany, and Italy, have been making moves, intellectually, politically & financially to either develop or secure a vaccine for the virus.
  14. A few days ago, the Russian President announced the registration of the first Corona Virus vaccine. The Chinese are also at the forefront of this race with over 5 experimental vaccines with one already approved for limited use by their military.
  15. Carolyn and Eva of the Washington Post in an article, described this race between US and China as this generation’s Sputnik moment as it echoes technological dominance just like the space race after the launch of Sputnik in 1957.
  16. In return, of course, the 1st 100 million doses produced will be secured for the Britons. Meanwhile, the same Big Pharma Company had made a separate agreement to make 300 million doses available for the US once it is available.
  17. The EU also not left out as in the race because, amongst other individual efforts to develop vaccines, in June they made their own vaccine deals through Inclusive Vaccine Alliance forged by Germany, France, Italy & Netherlands to also secure 400 million doses.
  18. Many other countries including Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea are also in their own races. These are just a few examples. But the big question here is where do most developing countries fit in this global quest?
  19. So, let’s not deceive ourselves about multilateralism is only a political display, it’s every nation for itself out there!
  20. The way I see it since developing countries have no control over these vaccines because most can neither develop nor produce them nor can they afford to make huge financial deals with Big Pharma corporations, their fate is filled with uncertainties.
  21. On June 18th Aljazeera published a worrisome article ‘the race for the virus vaccine could leave poor countries behind.’ Clearly, the rise of this “vaccine nationalism” threatens the future of developing nations once a vaccine is found!
  22. Sir, now that a vaccine is claimed to be registered by Russia. What’s the fate of Developing countries? Are we going to fall our hand waiting anything from them, or there’s still hope about our research
  23. @AJNadabo What Is the World Doing to Create a COVID-19 Vaccine? Most countries in the advanced world are busy using every available technology and pumping an enormous amount of resources to secure vaccine deals for its people. The WHO is tracking most efforts on its end.
  24. Dr. @AJNadabo, what is your comment on claims by some medical practitioners that Chlorine cures #COVID19 patients?
  25. @AJNadabo  Is Covid 19 share similar vaccine with maleria? And Why all treatment given to the Covid 19 patients is similar with that of maleria fever? NO. COVID and Malaria are two different diseases requiring different approaches and treatments. they are nothing alike, I think the only link is the Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine
  26.  is there any procedure or procedures before producing any vaccine? Yes. developing a vaccine is a very tedious process involving many intricacies. There are several procedures to it and it requires a minimum of 6 phases over many years. Many are being overlooked due to the urgent global need in terms of COVID’s.
  27. Madagascar some months back product vaccine and it cure Covid 19, China has a product from it’s traditional medicine to cure the disease and just last week Russian govt produced it’s own. Why the differences in a single disease?
  28. @AJNadabo what efforts does Nigerian pharms are doing to ensure they try to produce vaccine for the control of Covid 19.
  29. Many governments have warned that daily life cannot return to normal until their populations have built up antibodies to fend off the virus. So pls, What is the status of a COVID-19 vaccine?
  30. @AJNadabo some people have been saying that politics is playing an important role with regards to production of covid-19 vaccine, is that true? This is actually very true, there is a lot of politics with regards to COVID-19 vaccine development. Exemplified by the US, a COVID 19 vaccine can serve as a very good tool for the campaign against next election.
  31. The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries
  32. Interesting discussion going on with @AJNadabo, this young & resourceful professional is leading a discourse on the “Race Towards Getting a Vaccine for #COVID19 & the Fate of Developing Countries”. Drop your questions/comments here on the theme of the discussion @YZYau @a_sabo12
  33. I’d like to summarize the outcome of Developing Nations with regards to the vaccine race:
  34. 1.Rely on WHO and Other International Institutions like CEPI, GAVI (COVAX) to be considered for cheaper ‘People’s Vaccine 2.Reluctantly wait for the Chinese Vaccine with a Latent Price 3. Await The Controversial Gate’s Charity Vaccine linked to ID2020 Conspiracy4. 3.Become Victims of Vaccine Hoarding as it has happened in the past with other infectious diseases like H1N1, or swine flu, pandemic. The quest for Covid19 vaccine in play is but an interplay of international politics, financial interests of pharma corporations, hopes and lots of uncertainties, leaving the developing nations with very limited options available to select at their own peril. This calls for the coming together of the countries to achieve this particular multilateral goal. It is also a wake-up call for developing nations to invest heavily in science if they are to survive through the next century. #CITADagainstCovid19 Thank you!
  35. Here we come to end of this discussion with Pharmacist Abduljalal Nadabo (@AJNadabo) who discussed on The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries. Thank you so much Pharm for taking your time to educate on this topic #CITADagainstCovid19. Thank you very much for having me. I’ll respond to some of the individual questions at my leisure.
  36. Dr. Good afternoon, Is African countries part of this race or they should wait for the super power countries? Frankly, Africa is far from the vaccine race. All efforts are dependent on WHO and other International Organizations. It’s either you develop the vaccine your self or you invest in BigPharma if you have the resources.

 

33rd Twitter Chat on How Corruption is Undermining the Fight against Covid19 Pandemic with Dr. Jide Ojo

In continuation of its educative programs on Covid19 in Nigeria, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its 33rd twitter chat on the 30th of July, 2020. The guest was Dr. Jide Ojo, a development consultant, author and a public affairs analyst on the topic “How Corruption is Undermining the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria”. Dr. Jide started the chat by responding to the question on how deeply corruption has interfere with fight against Covid19 in Nigeria. According to him, the issue of corruption during this COVID-19 pandemic is very heart rending. He said Even Nigerians have queried the FG’s spending on this COVID-29 palliatives especially the homegrown school feeding program. He further stated that if you have been following the news, you would have heard of the N1.32bn NDDC claimed to have spent on COVID-19 palliatives. He went further to cited some examples of states with Covid 19 related cases, among the examples was a case of a Councilor in Niger State who diverted 6 bags of rice and other grains given to him for distribution to personal use.

 

Another one was, few days ago, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly decided to probe over N500m allegedly spent by the State Task Force on COVID-19 headed by the Deputy Governor. He also talked about some allegations level against the federal government, he said all manner of breach of procurement processes were committed due to the emergency nature of containment of COVID-19. Till date, none can say categorically how much cash and in-kind donations have been received by the FG or States on this COVID-19. Yet a lot of donations were received.

 

Another corruption allegations levelled  against the FG is how the Social Register for the 3.6m beneficiaries were compiled and why the distribution across the states was lopsided in favor of some northern states. He said it is also believed that cash disbursement to the beneficiaries of N20, 000 conditional cash transfer is prone to corruption and that payment should have been made via their bank accounts. He also highlights that is it not shocking that Federal Ministry of Agriculture is allegedly doing the procurement for the Federal Ministry of Health. He said this was brought to his attention during a radio program, if this is true, he said it is sad!

 

In answering a question on what strategies can support civil society anti-corruption and social accountability initiatives during & after the pandemic, he responded by saying that  “We need to document and follow through some of the public announcement on donations and make an independent compilation”

He stated that in fairness to the FG, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 was more forthcoming with information on donations than many of their state counterparts.

 

He also faulted the government by saying that all manner of breach of procurement processes were committed due to the emergency nature of containment of COVID-19.

 

He made some recommendations which include:

The civil society and the media owe it a duty to follow through some of the alleged sharp practices and malpractices that have been committed during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Secondly we need to document and follow through some of the public announcement on donations and make an independent compilation.

 

CITAD In Partnership with ActionAid Celebrates International Youth Day Virtually

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in partnership with Actionaid Nigeria commemorated the 2020 International Youth Day with a call on youths, especially those in local communities to fully engage them for global change.

The International Youths Day marked every year around the world on 12th August was observed with youths from the five ICT centres which was setup by Actionaid and CITAD in FCT: Dakwa, Tunga Ashere, Pasepa,  Leleyi Gwari and Gaube communities.

The youth engagement for global action highlighted the ways in
which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes.

The day draw lessons on how youth representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

The commemoration took place via Zoom platform. The session was moderated by Salma who discussed on the significance on celebrating the International Youth Day.

It was followed by a presentation with  Hassan Sarkin Noma who is a Program Officer for Economy and Empowerment Network for Community Advancement, he discussed on Youth Exploring Opportunities a the Grassroot, he urged the youths to tap the resources within their localities and to take advantage of opportunities at their doorstep as well as explore other available opportunities.

Kehinde Obafemi who is a Youth Corps Member and Volunteer with SDG Mobile Library, she discussed on Youth Volunteerism, as a key to creating lifelong change. She task the youth to be open to learn, relearn and unlearn.

Joseph Augustine of Actionaid Nigeria discussed on 2020 theme: Youth Engagement for Global Actionaid. He urged the youth to raise awareness of their participation in the communities and also mainstream their voices, actions and initiatives.

It was quite a rewarding and educative moment as representatives of youths from these communities and resource persons discussed on various topics in line with the theme of this year’s celebration, tagged: “Youth Engagement for Global Action”

 

CITAD to Design Campaign Strategy to Cope Land Grabbing

By Sarauniya Usman, Abuja

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),
commenced a 5day training on implication of land grabbing in respective communities in the FCT, for people in the participating communities.

The 5-Day training which is expected to be concluded on Friday, aims at designing campaign strategies to mitigate the menace of land grabbing.

CITAD, said the training became necessary due to frequent land grabbing that has become a major issue affecting the FCT natives.

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

Speaking at the virtual meeting,
Program Officer, CITAD, Salma Abdulwaheed, said the International Youth Day is a significant event that offers the opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young people’s voices, action and initiatives

She explained that youth engagement for global action seek to highlight the way at which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels.

Salma,urged the youths to fully engaged in the civic space and political activities.

She said, youth representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

According to her working with the poor and excluded Communities to erradicate poverty, ensure development and good governance, will not only increase the fairness of political processes but reducing democratic deficits, contribute to better and more sustainable policies, but also contribute to restore trust in public institutions, especially among youth.

Actionaid Nigeria Representative, Joseph Augustine said the theme was apt to sensitise and guide youths who are the potential future leaders to be prepared to take their rightful place in their respective societies in the nearest future.

He encouragement the youth to participate in the civic space and political arena, stressing, “their participation is very key.”

Program Officer for Economy and Empowerment Network for Community Advancement, Hassan Sarikin- Noma harped on the need for youths to tap the resources within their localities as he spoke on Youth Eploring Opportunities at the Grassroot.

He urged youths to take advantage of opportunities at their doorstep as well as explore other available opportunities.

Sponsorship Officer,Mubarak Ekute, emphasised on advocacy as key for communities advancement.

He therefore, charged the youths in the communities to see advocacy as the key to global change.

The International Youths Day is marked August every year around the world.

The theme for this year’s celebration, tagged: “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.

From Dakwa, Tunga Ashere, Pasepa in Bwari Area Council, Leleyi Gwari in Kwali Area Council and Gaube in Kuje Area Council of the FCT, youths were engaged via Zoom Platform.

It was quite a rewarding and educative moment as representatives of youths from these communities and resource persons discussed on various topics