Segun Awofadeji

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in procurement, to promote transparency and accountability.

This was disclosed by a Senior Programme Manager of CITAD, Isa Garba, when he led his team on advocacy to SUBEB and his management.

According to him, CITAD trains directors and deputy directors on accountability and transparency in public service.

“We are here today to inform you that CITAD is granted by the United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID) through the ‘State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness’ (State2State) to implement a governance project in Bauchi State,” he explained. “The goal of the project is to strengthen citizens’ participation in governance through active participation in the budgetary and procurement processes of the state.”

According to him, the project’s objectives include enhancing the capacity of 40 CSOs to engage both government and citizens in the budget process to improve citizens’ participation in budget processes and the skills of 40 government officials, among others.

He added that in the implementation process, CITAD would work with SUBEB and engage legislators in increasing the budgetary allocation to the education sector and help the agency in monitoring projects.

In his response, Permanent Commissioner, Alhaji Idris Hardawa, said, “Our books are always open for you to go through, and we are ready to work with you in achieving a transparent procurement atmosphere. We are partners with you in the development of the basic education sector.”

He added, “Everything we do here is open and transparent in line with financial and procurement regulations. We ensure that due process is followed in procurement transactions.”

Centre for Information Technology and Development and Library Aid Africa, with support from Action Aid launched an ICT centre and library in Pasepa community, Bwari Area council, FCT. The launch took place on Thursday 3rd February, 2022; the team paid a condolence visit to the palace in solidarity for dead of their community king.

The launch started with an introduction of staffs, members of the high table and community members. A welcome address was given by CITAD programme officer Yesmin Salako who appreciated and welcomed everyone to the launch of the library and ICT centre, she applauded the community members who took charge of the project and saw to the library set up being a reality, stating that all the vendors (carpenter, electrician, and artist) all came from the community, indicating that there is ownership of the project by the community. There was a goodwill message from Dr. Oluchi Iche Kalu from National Library of Nigeria (NLN), who commended the efforts of CITAD, AAN and LAA on setting up a library at a rural community, she explained that it is one of the goal of the National Library is to see that the art of reading is taken place at the grass root level. The president of Women Entrepreneurs Development Forum (WEDF); Hajiya Halima Zubairu Dambatta also delivered a good will message, the organization spoke on most of its humanitarian activities in the community, and were excited to see more projects going in the community, WEDF also promised to impact the community positively while working together with every development partner working to see to the development of the community.

Action Aid Director of programmes; Hajiya Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, delivered a lecture on Action Aid perspective of development. While delivering her lecture she said “The objective of the program is enhancing technological skills as well as breaking barriers to digital development. We want to see a situation whereby everyone in Nigeria has digital access and are able to connect to the world, irrespective of their location, sex, gender and status”. She further explained that the organization is partnering CITAD which is providing technical support for successful implementation of the project. CITAD was able to work with the community after our mobilization making sure people provide the space. In partnership, we brought in the technical equipment while CITAD is bringing in the technical support in terms of expertise and digital literacy and then we connected these people to a forum in New York where they see what is happening in the world and then they see how young people are mobilizing and then they are able to take their issues in the community and engage with their duty bearers.  And then they are also engaging in digital campaigning”.

The launch proceeded with a speech from the Community leader Alhaji Mohammed Pasepa who gave a community brief, involvement in the project and sustainability plans. Mohammed Pasepa said that the ICT centre which was established by CITAD has led to many development in the community as they plan to convert the centre to a school where people pay to learn how to operate the computer. He said the community members use the centre to apply for jobs, they print community works and also students planning to write JAMB can practice with the computers before proceeding to write the exam. He appreciated the set-up of the library while involving the community in the construction purpose, he also added that other students or children from neighbouring communities will benefit from the library.

To officially launch the library and ICT centre CITAD, AAN directors, representatives of the National Library, President WEDF, community leader and the children from the community proceeded for a ribbon cutting. Group photographs were taken, refreshments were served and gifts were received from AAN and WEDF by the community librarian Abubakar Ibraheem. 

The program came to an end with a vote of thanks delivered by CITAD assistant programmes officer Mubarak Ekute, he thanked everyone for gracing the event and making the day a memorable one. 

The media links are; https://www.blueprint.ng/citad-aan-launch-ict-centre-library-in-pasepa-community/           https://humanitywatch.ng/874-2/

Centre For Information Technology And Development (C ITAD) organized a monthly We-You Pro Influencers’ meeting The meeting started with welcome remarks by Malam Isah Garba, Senior program Officer, CITAD Who represented by Executive Director Malam Y.Z Yau Where he thanks everyone for attending the meeting on behalf of CITAD Board, and the Executive Director
Malam Isah gave the objectives of the meeting, as:
To formally introduce the ambassadors/ Influencers and get them know each other and be familiarized with each other.
To introduce the project, its objectives to the influencers
To design and agree of a work plan for the ambassadors/influencers
To agree on the activities and methodology of conducting their activities in their various localities.

To share the Demand charter with the ambassadors
Then John Otaro give brief explanation of the project and the new slogan for the campaign for the inclusion of Women and Youth in party leadership and elected positions nin Kano state. The new slogan is
Hope, Action, Progress, which has the symbol of traffic light as its logo and urge that hence the campaign will be identified with these symbols. the slogan and the logo According to John the project is aimed at contributing to an inclusive and responsive democratic process and outcomes through citizens’ led actions towards 2023 general elections in Nigeria. The duration:the campaign is a build up to the 2023 elections. Strategic Objectives
To enhance peoples’ power in democratic and inclusive governance.
To Enhance democratic choices for citizens.
To mobilize a critical mass of young people and women leading disruptive campaigns towards translating citizens’ demands into policy actions in Kano State.
To ensure that Citizens’ capacity is strengthened to demand accountability
to enhance capacity of government and its institutions for gender responsive service delivery to strengthen the capacities of young people and women on campaign strategies, policy, and influencing towards taking leadership positions to drive positive change
To engender an inclusive decision-making political process that reflects the priorities of the young people and women in kano state.
PROJECT SCOPE: The project will be working in the following Local government areas in kano including :including Bichi, Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Sumaila, Tarauni.
During the meeting the Youth and women political charter of demand was shared to the influencers which each gave his personal and organizational commitment to amplify the demand of the women and youth and their messages towards 2023 general elections.
The demand and messages are:
We collectively agreed and came up with a charter of demand that will remove political blockages for the effective participation of youth and women in politics in Kano State. Therefore, we are submitting this charter which contains the demands of youth and women in Kano State ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Citizens demand at least the allocation of 35% of all positions in political party leadership and elective positions to youth and women.
Political Parties should subsidize /offer free forms for youth and women aspirants respectively
Media houses should support youth and Women aspirants and contestants in amplifying their manifestations in their programmes.
Media houses should support youth and Women aspirants and contestants in amplifying their manifestations in their programmes.
Communities and stakeholders should find ways to identify credible youth and women in their communities and support them to aspire as candidates.
We are soliciting the support of Religious leaders to lend their voice and influence in support of youth and women candidature through their sermons and preaching, especially come out with the roles youth and women played in the history of religions and societal development
Media, Civil Society Organizations and community Based Organizations should sensitize the public on the need for women and youth participation in politics
Security agencies should stick to the rules of engagements and non partisanship in all their engagements with political parties and politicians
Community Influencers should support young and female politicians to gain positions in political parties and win elective positions
Religious and Traditional leaders should engage in voter education to help in providing safer political space that will encourage youth and women participations
Business communities and individuals should support credible candidates among youth and women, lacking the financial capabilities to contest elections

MESSAGES
Both in the socio-political and economic sectors, women and youth in Kano State are not well represented: therefore, women and young aspirants need to be supported by all.
Every decision making that does not have women and youth representation is not inclusive: stakeholders should support women and youth for inclusive decision making
As gender based violence almost becomes a norm, women and youth need to be part of the decision making process to raise and support decisions that will fight the menace better
Inclusion of youth and women in to key political and elected positions means inclusion of about 61% of the population into the process, support that for a better and inclusive society
The high number of out of school children in Kano can easily be mitigated if youth and women are involved
There is nothing for us without us, include youth and women into leadership positions to get their buy in and contributions in all policies and decisions to be taken on their behalf.
The next meeting is scheduled to hold in the third week of February 2022.

CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD)

REPORT OF CAPACITY BUILDING ON COMPUTER NETWORKING FOR TUNGAN ASHERE AND PASEPA COMMUNITIES, FCT, ABUJA HELD 30th November, 2021 and 2nd December, 2021. 

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is implementing a project entitled Supporting Community-led Approaches to Addressing the Digital Divide Nigeria coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through their Digital Access Programme (DAP).

The project is part of CITAD’s effort toward a digitally bridged communities in Nigeria specifically, to catalyze the flourishing of community networks as a means of connecting the unconnected. One of the inspiring strategies of CITAD for supporting CBOs on the project is capacity building which is expected to further encourage them to own and continuously support the establishment of community networks in the disadvantaged locations.    

In view of this, CITAD organised a one-day capacity building for both Pasepa and Tungan Ashere communities on “Networking”. The programme was opened by Yesmin Salako (Program Officer) where she welcomed participants to the training and called for active participation by all. 

Objective of the training is to support the selected communities with enhanced skill on networking. It also aimed at equipping participants with basic skills of computer Networking as well as the connectivity technologies and the required tools needed to connect between devices.

Facilitated by Muhammad Bello Yahaya (Technical Officer, CITAD), the highlights of his presentation included: introduction of computer networking, importance of networking and how computer plays role in simplifying daily/routine activities. 

Some technical areas such as introducing participants to the basic tools needed for network connection and how to configure a router, crimping of cat4 cable, LAN testing, and connecting the devices to communicate. 

Comments/Questions during the sessions: 

Ismail from Tungan Ashere: asked whether there is need for Data usage before a file can be shared with another device? This question was answered with a demonstration that, you need no Data just to share a file. 

Another question was on how to protect his account from hackers?

This was responded thus; by using strong password which combines characters, also by using two-way authentication factors.

Closing: 

In his remark, a community leader Mr Bulus from Pasepa thanked CITAD for the support and promised that the graining will be stepped down to rest of the community members and also, he picks networking as the area of his interest. 

During the training, participants were grouped and assigned task to do configuration and connecting the devices to test their skills. Thirty-five participants attended the two different sessions from both organizations.  

Attached are pictures from the two session:

Some pictures of the training from Pasepa community

By KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna

Worried by the statistics that over 100 million Nigerians lack access to Internet connectivity in 114 communities across the country, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Pantami to set up a national policy for the development of Community Networks.

Executive Director CITAD, Yunusa Zakari Yaú made the call at a press briefing in Kaduna on Wednesday.

“Call on the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy to set up a mechanism for the development of a National Policy for Community Networks,” he said.

CITAD also called on the NCC to develop guidelines and regulations for the operation of community networks in the country and to allow communities to access and use TV White Space (TVWS) for the purposes of setting up community networks.
” Enjoins the Galaxy Backbone PLC to provide communities with access to its backbone for them to use as their community networks getaways.
“The USPF to support the upgrading of the many community digital centres they set up in the country to serve as nucleus of community networks for communities that desirous and passionate to set up such in their communities.
“NITDA to work with communities at grassroots level to drive digital literacy which is critical for the effective utilization of digital technology and which is the foundation upon which the digital transformation agenda of the country will rest,” it further called.
Similarly, the group tasked  the private sector operators in the sector to as, their corporate social responsibility support communities building community networks.
“Call on all other stakeholders, including political office holders to support communities to go digital as critical contribution to community development,” he said.
The Executive Director explained that at the 16th edition of the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF)   commenced two days ago at Katowice, Poland, with the general theme of “United Internet”.

By
Zainab Aminu and Sagiru Ado Abubakar
In its bid to transform young people mindset to be great achievers, the Centre for Information
Technology and Development (CITAD) in its monthly Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive
Series (ILERIS) has on Friday 3 rd December, 2021 hosted the chairman of the Nigerian
Governors’ Forum (NGF), Executive Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi as guest speaker
of the month. ILERIS is an initiative of CITAD for about four years ago that invites a personality
monthly who succeeded in life to interact with its staff, friends and other youth with view of
shaping their lives. In his opening remark, the Executive Director of the Center for Information
Technology and Development (CITAD) said that CITAD came up with this initiative to inform
young people to know that their lives is about struggle. They should know that people achieved
successes because they identified what they want achieve. He added that today His Excellency
governor of Ekiti state is a subject of our discussion. We want be inspired with his stories, we
want know why people enter into active politics. Today we have someone who started as
activist and later transformed into politics. We want know what inspired him to become a
politician? How he made the transformation? All this is to have more Fayemis in Kano State.
In his presentation, His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi gave a brief background of his modest
upbringing and dedication to education, his successes and challenges while moving from
Student Union Government (SUG) in school to Starting up a Civil Society Organization and then
accidentally joining politics. He was the Director of CDD for the first ten years where he played
the role of advocating for a better Nigeria through agitating for policies and identifying areas
that needs attention in governance. “Leadership is influence and sacrifice” and all “services are
dedicated to the common goal of a better nation”. He encouraged the youth to be more active
in national building and politics because of the fact that the country belongs to us and we
cannot abscond our responsibilities. I used to always remember the words of late Dr.
Tajuddeen Abdurrraheem where he used to say that we must organize and stop agonizing. It is
from organizing that we could get a better Nigeria. This country belongs to us, not criminal
gangs, charlatans and those who seek to destroy peace.
While answering question on the role of Nigerian governors on proposed electoral bill on direct
primaries, the guest speaker said that there is misconception about the role of the governors
on the proposed bill. He said that governors are not opposing the bill, instead the bill do not
provide options to other political parties in the country that do not enough resources to
conduct direct primaries. Adding that you cannot have a single approach to one form of
primaries because there will be incidences that single option may crash to the extent that you
cannot achieve the desire goal. We are proposing to add consensus and anyone you choose
governors may have influence.

Since he was elected as the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, he declare free education for all
residence irrespective of people indigene ship from primary one to ss3 including paying of
WAEC and NECO fees. That’s why we are having highest enrolment of students at primary and
secondary schools level. In order to have inclusive governance, there is an office of PWD in Ekiti
State Government. A law is also constituted to enable all appointments to include 5% of PWDs.
He then argued that governors are against local government autonomy bill. He said that
according to Nigerian Constitution, each state has the right to determine the number of LGs in
its state. He finally assured the audience that since his inception into office he did not assign a
death warrant as he does not believe that will solve problems.

Report of Digital Marketing Training for Jamaare Traders

Association

[gview file=”https://www.citad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Report-of-Jamaare_Edited-1.docx”]

ItREPORT OF CAPACITY BUILDING ON COMPUTER NETWORKING ORGANIZED BY THE CENTRE
FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD) ON THE 16 TH OF SEPTEMBER,
2021 AT DAKWA ICT CENTER

[gview file=”https://www.citad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Edited-Abuja-Report.docx”]

KanSIS – REPORT – CITAD

By Abdallah el-Kurebe

Participants rise from a civil society consultative meeting on community networks with a call on the federal government to expedite action on the development of national community networks.

Community networks is a telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by a local group to meet their own communication needs and also a communications infrastructure, designed and erected to be managed for use by local communities.

“The national regulator should hasten the processes of articulating a National Community Networks Policy for the country,” the participants urged government.

The one-day meeting, held virtually on July 27 2021 and attended by over 40 CSOs from different parts of Nigeria, was convened by the Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD.

The meeting was to, among other things, sensitize the civil society organizations on the importance of community networks as a tool for addressing the digital divide, as well as explore the possibility of a joint advocacy for the government to develop a policy framework for the community networks.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the executive director of the centre, Mr YZ Yau on Wednesday, noted “that at the present, the country does not have policy for community networks, a situation that has hampered their evolution and growth.”

Read part of the communique below:

The meeting featured four presentations as follows:

1. Concept and Benefits of Community Network
2. Community Network in Practice: Experience from of Fauntsuam Foundation
3. Community Networks in Africa
4. The Policy Vacuum with Respect to Community Networks in Nigeria

Observations

Participants observed that:

1. There is no policy or regulation to recognize community networks as distinct operators with appropriate conditions for their operations
2. That at the moment there are over 100 unserved or underserved communities who are digitally excluded in the country
3. That although there are over 298,823,195 connected lines out of which 297,536,702 were said to be active in the country, only about 40% of these are connected to the internet, meaning that internet penetration in the country covers only about 40% of the population.
4. That most of the blind areas are in either hard to reach, rural communities or poor communities where affordability is a problem, hence the market mechanism is not able to provide connectivity to them since it would be unprofitable.
5. That although the Nigerian Communication Commission is favourably disposed to midwifing the policy framework for community networks, there are still many challenges that have to be addressed for community networks to flourish and be sustainable in the country
6. Community network will bring opportunities for direct access to education and health care for rural residents

Recommendations

Participants, believing that community networks have immense benefits in addition to providing veritable tool for bridging the digital divide In the country, recommend that:

1. The national regulator should hasten the processes of articulating a National Community Networks Policy for the country
2. That NCC should formal regulations allowing the use of TVWS technologies to address access challenges have yet to be issued
3. That community networks should be categorized as a different layer of operators and be given license exempt
4. That community networks should be considered as start –ups and be eligible to national support systems for start ups
5. Efforts should be made in expanding high speed network and network infrastructure to underserved rural communities
6. Government through USPF, NCC and NITDA should facilitate the setting up of community networks centres at rural and hard to reach areas
7. That government should support an initiative that offers free or subsidized spectrums to local communities

Resolution

The participants unanimously resolved to form a CSO Coalition on Community Networks with the following objectives:

1. Popularize community networks as catalyst tool for addressing digital divide and promoting digital inclusion in the country
2. Sensitizing their community members about the importance and benefit of community network
3. To conduct sustained advocacy for the national telecommunications regulator to come up with a national policy framework for community networks in the country
4. Support effort by all stakeholders to address the multifarious dimensions of the digital divide in Nigeria.

A youth activist in Kano, Mrs Hauwa Mustapha, has advocated for institutional support for the youth at formal and informal levels, to build their confidence for political participation.

Mustapha made the call at a virtual conference organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support of Rosa Luxembourg Foundation on Wednesday in Kano.

CITAD virtual meeting focused on youth inclusion in politics and governance with theme “Critical Knowledge Production Series Dialogue: Youth Political Inclusion: How to Strike a Balance Between Age and Principles.”

In her presentation, Mustapha stressed the need to broaden youth engagement beyond the quest for political office, but in policy and program analysis.

She said through formal and informal institutions, the youth can be encouraged and guided on orientation and development of basic skill required for self-development, mental and psychological health, adding that there should be responsible and accountable communication strategy, useful for diverse local, national and international youth network with common interests.

Mustapha also traced the Nigerian history and justified how youths were engaged in leadership before, during and after the military rule.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has congratulated Dr. Aminu Hassan Gamawa over his appointment as the new Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.

The centre in a statement said the appointment of Dr. Aminu Gamawa as the new Chief of Staff, Government House Bauchi who is the immediate past Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning was a testimony of his hard work and people’s orientated policies and approach introduced in discharging his assigned responsibilities.

“This is to on behalf of the entire CITAD family congratulate Dr. Aminu Gamawa, who was one of the anti-corruption Social Influencers of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) between 2017 to 2020 who has just been appointed as the new Chief of Staff to Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Muhammad.”

CITAD while praying to Almighty Allah to make it easy for the new Chief of Staff to perform his assignment, urged him to continue with the good work which he is known for so as to ensure the success of the administration for the benefit of Bauchi State and its people.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Wednesday, 9th June, 2021, held career talk on the computer profession for students of secondary schools.

The career talk which held at Government Girls Secondary School (GSS), Sani Mai Nagge, Gwale Local Government of Kano State is part of the ongoing programme of CITAD to enlighten school communities on the importance of ICTs as well as sensitize students to take career in the computer profession.

The event held at the school computer laboratory Hall. The key presentation was made by Muktar Sulaiman who in his speech stressed the need for girls to make effort to acquire ICT knowledge.

He said given the current educational backwardness of the north, only by embracing ICTs would we be able to bridge the gap. It is necessary for each and every one of you to acquire ICTs knowledge” Mukhtar Suleiman added.

On his part the Training Officer of Centre, Malam Kamilu Isa encouraging the secondary school girls to pursue ICT related careers and this will expose them to new trends in technologies that can be applied in various industry sectors.

He added that the application of ICT in learning enables girls and women to have equal quality education, which leads to personal development, allowing them to manage their lives.  There is the need to instill confidence among girls so that they can be as good as men in both using and improving technology.

The human resources of the Centre Halima, Sa’idu Nayaya, said that without doubt, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), sector remains a fast growing area with limitless possibilities for national and international development, and the sector offers enormous empowerment opportunities to diverse people across the globe.

He added that it is sad to note that despite the boundless opportunities it presents, fewer girls and young women are actually getting involved in the sector.

He also encouraged girls to take to careers in ICT, because it would help solve lots of socio – economic problems.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has presented hate speech books to journalists in Adamawa State to raise awareness on hate speech and corruption.

CITAD senior programme officer, Isa Garba, said the best way to tackle hate speech and corruption is for the society not to support the perpetrators.

The presentation of the two books: “Context and content in hate speech discourse in Nigeria” and “The compromised state, how corruption sustains insecurity in Nigeria” is in line with CITAD’s culture of documentation of development.

Garba lauded the role journalists play in advocacy and urged them to pass the message to the general public in a simplified manner.

He expessed worry that hate speech has been identified as major cause of religious and ethnic crisis especially among politicians regardless of its consequences on the society.

Garba noted that in order to guard against the intergenerational transfer of hate speech, CITAD adopted a system that crowd source what is perceived as hate speech which is analysed using hate speech monitors.

He said CITAD is championing sensitisation of the public on the effect of such negative tendencies, while urging NBC to intensify efforts and ensure punitive measure on defaulters.