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) support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through their Digital Access Programme (DAP).

This is part of a global project to catalyze the flourishing of community networks as a means of connecting the unconnected

The project focuses on selected locally managed community networks in three regions, Africa, Asia and Latin America, to strengthen their impact, reach and sustainability

This group of community networks will form the core of a peer community that can connect and broaden support for community-based connectivity initiatives, nationally, regionally and internationally

The project will achieve its objectives through peer learning and exchange, awareness raising, technical assistance, capacity building for the development of scalable, innovative and sustainable networks, policy and regulatory advocacy and community mobilization.

The training was held at CITAD office Jama’are branch on Tuesday 04^th May 2021, with 8 attendees from Itas DEX Initiatives, Jama’are Traders Association, Jama’are blowse Association, and Itas youth Association, opening remarks was said by Engineer Suhail CITAD Technical officer, he welcomed each and every one who attended the training he says that the purpose of the training is to aware and shows the benefits of the community networks to the peoples as well as how to start or build their own community networks,

The training slides has 9 modules, and started at 10:00am by Engineer Suhail with the introduction to community networks, what services community networks offers and types of community networks, he gives clear definition of community networks by the Internet Society (ISOC) and services that community networks offer like voice, data E.T.C and ended the section one of the training with discussion about the types of community networks and answering questions from the participants,

Goes to 30 minutes break from 11:30am to 12:00am after the section one of the training has ended

Back to the training Engineer Suhail continuous with the explanation on how to start community networks, what facilities or infrastructures needed in order to start community networks, and explanation on what regulatory conditions required for communities to start their own community networks,

And again goes to 30 minutes breaks from 1:30pm to 2:00pm, after the section two of the training completed

The last section of the training has started from 2:00pm by Engineer Suhail, he explains how the community network link themselves nationally and internationally, and ended the last section of the training by explaining the ways for community networks follows to solve sustainability issues, that is how the community networks continuous sustaining itself even without any support from others organizations like APC.

The whole training finished with the vote of thanks by the Engineer Suhail CITAD technical officer, he thanks everyone for attending the training and he encouraged these micro-organizations members to be very active and spend their time by acquiring new skills so that the project will successfully be achieved and implemented in their area.

 

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) support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through their Digital Access Programme (DAP).

This is part of a global project to catalyze the flourishing of community networks as a means of connecting the unconnected

The project focuses on selected locally managed community networks in three regions, Africa, Asia and Latin America, to strengthen their impact, reach and sustainability

This group of community networks will form the core of a peer community that can connect and broaden support for community-based connectivity initiatives, nationally, regionally and internationally

The project will achieve its objectives through peer learning and exchange, awareness raising, technical assistance, capacity building for the development of scalable, innovative and sustainable networks, policy and regulatory advocacy and community mobilisation.

The training was held at Dakwa Community Centre FCT on Wednesday 28^th April 2021, with 13 attendees, from Allah ye ba kowa Association Tungan ashere, Aye Bwaka Gwari Association, and Zaboda women Association Psepa, opening remarks was said by Engineer Suhail CITAD Technical officer, he welcomed each and every one who attended the training he says that the purpose of the training is to aware and shows the benefits of the community networks to the peoples as well as how to start or build their own community networks,

The training slides has 9 modules, and started at 10:00am by Engineer Suhail with the introduction to community networks, what services community networks offers and types of community networks, he gives clear definition of community networks by the Internet Society (ISOC) and services that community networks offer like voice, data E.T.C and ended the section one of the training with discussion about the types of community networks and answering questions from the participants,

Goes to 30 minutes break from 11:30am to 12:00am after the section one of the training has ended

Back to the training Engineer Suhail continuous with the explanation on how to start community networks, what facilities or infrastructures needed in order to start community networks, and explanation on what regulatory conditions required for communities to start their own community networks,

And again goes to 30 minutes breaks from 1:30pm to 2:00pm, after the section two of the training completed

The last section of the training has started from 2:00pm by Engineer Suhail, he explains how the community network link themselves nationally and internationally, and ended the last section of the training by explaining the ways for community networks follows to solve sustainability issues, that is how the community networks continuous sustaining itself even without any support from others organizations like APC.

The whole training finished with the vote of thanks from Malam YZ Ya’u Executive director CITAD, he thanks everyone for attending the training and he encouraged these micro-organizations members to be very active and spend their time by acquiring new skills so that the project will successfully be achieved and implemented in their area.

 

The Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, has called on Nigerian government through the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to come up with a robust policy that would encourage the flourishing of community networks that would hasten digital inclusion in Nigeria.

 

The Centre also urged the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, to support community networks initiatives across the country as part of its intervention to promote faster inclusion progress.

 

According to the Executive Director of the centre, Dr. Y. Z. Yau at a press briefing in Kano on Tuesday, “community network should be given license-free spectrum to use; proof of concept permit in connection with community networks should be license free; institutions of higher learning such as universities should embrace and deploy community networks to both meet their community needs and to serve as experimental sites for learning and domestication technology; both the NCC and USPF should establish a unit with the responsibility of coordinating their affairs with respect to community networks”

 

The centre stated that the USIP 2019 report “identified 114 connectivity gaps in the country as either underserved and unserved. It defines underserved area “as an area where less than 50% of the households or individual users have access to a minimum of 1.5 Mbit/s” while it defines unserved communities as “area where less than 10% of households and individual users have either no access to internet or have the most basic access such as EDGE.”

 

“When poor people cannot afford the cost of connectivity or data, connectivity becomes useless as it would not be utilized. Poverty is a key a factor that makes it impossible for many people to use the internet. Many Nigerians are not able to afford regular use of data.

 

“Aside from inability to afford, there is also the fact that lack of satisfaction makes people to stop using the services. In Nigeria, with an apparent monopoly by the four mobile technology service providers, quality of service is not their priority. They treat customers with no respect or regard because they are not penalized for quality of service falling below acceptable global benchmarks.

 

“Monopoly also controls the way people integrate with technology such that people are not able to learn, modify and remodify technology to suit their purpose. There are therefore many reasons why the USPF model needs to be complimented. Moreover, the USPF model is geared towards supporting the market rather than communities and subsidy regimes often end up being more beneficial to the market players than to communities whose affordability it is supposed to raise,” Yau stated.

 

According him, “bridging the digital divide is not possible by treating communities as passive recipients of support or as market to be developed. Rather, the most effective strategy is to engage the communities to identify how they can, with support of from stakeholders, address their peculiar connectivity needs.

 

“This community-driven strategy is the catalysing of the flourishing of community networks. Community networks are providing platforms or channels for people to communicate. This communication could be between individuals, within the community or outside it. The Internet Society defines community networks as “telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by a local group to meet their own communication needs.

 

“Community networks take different forms, with some extending access using commercial networks, others building their own source of connection, etc. But because they usually connect the unconnected, they are considered as extending connectivity to the last file,” CITAD further stated.

 

On the situation in Nigeria, the Centre observed that “there are very few community network operating in the country. The two that have most extensive experience are the one in Kafanchan established in 2006 by Fantsuam Foundation, a civil society organization there and one in Ibadan, Ibadan WUG.

 

“The Nigerian Chapter of the Internet Society in partnership with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is establishing another in Zaria. There is also commercially driven community network coming on board, the best know is Fiam WiFi in rural areas of Lagos state. The reason why community networks are slow to pick up in Nigeria is because we do not have policies to guide them nor does government provides support to encourage such initiatives.

 

“The regulatory framework at the moment does not provide for community networks as distinct providers of connectivity in the country. Indeed, neither the NCC Act nor the USPF Act have made mention of community networks, consequently there is a lacuna as to how community networks are to be treated. For the moment, the few community networks are providing connectivity to underserve and unserved community by acting as point of farther distribution of connectivity provided by the main commercial players.”

 

The centre therefore recommended the following:

 

The NCC should come up with an appropriate policy that will encourage the flourishing of community networks in the country as a means to hasten digital inclusion in Nigeria

The USPF should support community networks initiatives across the country as part of its intervention to promote faster inclusion progress

Community network should be given license-free spectrum to use

Proof of concept permit in connection with community networks should be license free

Institutions of higher learning such as universities should embrace and deploy community networks to both meet their community needs and to serve as experimental sites for learning and domestication technology

Both the NCC and USPF should establish a unit with the responsibility of coordinating their affairs with respect to community networks

Doing away with some component of spectrum fees in exchange for commitment to rollout in specific unserved/underserved areas as provided in the Strategic Plan of the USPF

 

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called on the government at all levels to provides for community networks in various localities to enhance digital inclusion for all in the country.

 

The call was made by the Executive Director of the center, Y. Z Ya’u on Tuesday during a press conference tagged ‘The need for policy directions on community networks’, which held at the center’s board room in Kano.

 

He said the centre finds it necessary to made the recommendation for the community networks as a result of the effects of the recent lockdown brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

He added that many communities could not access their schools and healthcare services despite the opportunities online due to poor or absence of networks.

 

He opined that the commercial telecoms companies in the country could not invest in rural areas because there is no market there, urging that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should provide for free community networks to bridge the gap and enhance inclusion.

 

“In its report of 2019, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) identified 114 connectivity gaps in the country as either underserved or unserved. It defines underserved area “as an area where less than 50% of the households or individual users have access to a minimum of 1.5 Mbit/s” while it defines unserved communities as “area where less than 10% of households and individual users have either no access to internet or have the most basic access such as EDGE,” the director has said.

 

He added that “Although the telecommunication sector in Nigeria is one of the fastest growing, there are still many people who are left behind.

 

“Statistics show that as at “September 2020, Nigeria has 205,252,058 active telephone lines, 107% teledensity, 151,512,122 active internet subscription, and 86,714,978 broadband subscription representing 45.43% of the population,” he added.

 

The centre recommended that the NCC should come up with an appropriate policy that will encourage the flourishing of community networks in the country as means to hasten digital inclusion in Nigeria, adding that it should be license-free.

 

It also called on the USPF to support community networks initiatives across the country as part of its intervention to promote faster inclusion progress.

 

INTRODUCTION: 

Water is one of the necessity for human lives and it challenges is making life difficult for many people and communities around the globe most especially in developing nations which Nigeria is included. For this reason, the United Nation set aside 23rd of March of every year to highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. It was on this note that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the 28th of March, 2021 constituted a media team and paid a field visit to some of the communities that are in dare need of water in Kunchi Local Government of Kano State. The objectives of the visit were to:

1. Assess the level of the challenges the communities are facing in terms of accessing and using water
2. Gather some evidences and data that will be used to advocate to concerned authorities, Philanthropies and Non-Governmental Organizations to come to the aid of the communities
3. Bring the issue to the public notice so that necessary actions will be taken to address it.

The team started the visit with Gwalaide village of Gwarmai ward where more than 20 communities depended on a single well that was built for over 35 years by a philanthropist for their source of water. The communities according to the ward head of the Gwalaide village, Malam Haruna Mai Unguwa Dan Zubairu that are using the well include: Dagiri, Limamai, Kargo, Jodade, Gadango, Borin Zare, Madaka, Gwadama, Waire, Santa, Agalawa, Hayin Malamai, Kuku, Gidan Maigari, Gobirawa, Sabuwar Tasha, Tutawa, Jinjimawa, Baje Yola etc. According to the ward head of Gwalaide village, these communities are coming to the well every day for over 30 years to get the water they would need for their daily activities. Also in our interview with a 65-year-old resident of the area, Malam Yahuza Muhammadu Yahuza of Kuku community, he narrated to the team that his communities are in dare need of water. He stated that every day he has to trek for more than 30 minutes and wait on the queue for 8-10 hours before he could get the water his family will use for that particular day. He continued in a cracked voice, to mention that because of this problem, they have for long stopped their children from going to school in order for the children to fetch the water the family will use. 

Another resident of the area, Malam Abdullahi Mustapha revealed to the team that this water challenge in the area has deprived the people of the communities many things; their children are not being able to go to schools, frequent diseases outbreaks in the area because they are using same water their animals are using and as Muslims their women are no longer observing the purdah (women sitting indoors as prescribed by the holy Qur’an) because they have to come out too to help the family in getting the water and most of the times during Ramadan they use to force their children to break fasting in the day time due to the hardship they are facing in fetching the water. Malam Mustapha described the politicians in the area as of people with empty promises. 

The team also visited another community in the Local Government, named Kwardagwallen Shuwaki of Shuwaki ward, the community is not more than 22 kilometers from the Local Government Headquarter. This particular community has only one hand borehole which more than 10 communities relied on for their source of water. According to Malam Muhammad Umar, a resident of the community, thousands of people from the neighboring communities are every day trooping to get their daily water. He noted that the communities are in this difficult situation for a very longtime but no one cares to come to their aid. When he was asked on whether they have ever complained to the government, Muhammad Umar said he could not remember how many times they have complained to the authorities but what they received every time were empty promises. 

Observations: 

1. The communities’ people are finding it difficult to access water 
2. Their children are not being able to go to schools
3. Frequent disease outbreaks in the areas 
4. The communities’ people are using same water their animals are using 
5. As Muslims their women are no longer sitting indoors as prescribed by the holy Qur’an because they have to come out too to help the family in getting the water
6. During Ramadan they used to force their children to break fasting in the day time due to the hardship they are facing in fetching the water
7. Teachers and healthcare personnel posted to these communities do not report to work on time because they also have to look for water for their use
8. There are no motorable roads in a terrain that is characterized with too much sandy depressions 
9. In spite of their water problem, they also suffer from gully erosion which affects their farming activities and in the raining season they suffer devastating floods 
10. This water problem is not limited to a few communities in the Local Government but affects nearly as much as two-thirds of the communities of the local government area

Recommendations: 

1. Governments both at local and state levels should provide wells and boreholes in the areas
2. Philanthropies and Non-Governmental Organizations to also help in massive construction of boreholes and wells in the communities 
3. Government should build schools in the area
4. Government should construct road that connect these communities 
5. Civil Society Organizations to sensitize the communities’ people on the importance of community contributions

Conclusion 

The situation in Kunchi Local Government area illustrate the sad reality that for many rural communities, they are yet to see the dividends of democracy. They have continued to endure years of rural neglect as if they are not citizens. Daily, their ears are assailed by reports of the huge sums of money government claims to be spending on development projects such as the recently announced 9 billion for the new flyover bridge by the Kano State Governor and yet no tier of government had cared to address this basic need of the people.  They have heard government declaring education as free but their children cannot attend school because of the children and their teachers have to spend a great part of their day looking for water. They have heard government is building rural primary healthcare centres and yet in these communities, the primary healthcare centres cannot function because they have no water. There are stories about government promoting rural employment through empowerment but here there are no roads so people are desperate to leave their community to escape the grinding poverty of this place where people do not have time to engage in other thing as they spend the greater part of their time looking for water. Various communities of Kunchi Local Government have heard on radio the debates annually about the state and national budgets but see nothing coming to their communities from the budget. They have, like all other communities, elected representatives from Councilors and Local Government Chairman to state and National Assembly members, yet they do not hear these elected representatives talking about their problems. Their closeness to the Local Government is only geographical because they are unable to access it and get it to address their problems. Indeed, Kunchi Local Government communities are outside governance in every positive sense and only come to contact with authorities as one of the member of the community observed, when a youth from the community commits a breach of the law. 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

On its efforts to bring solutions to societal problems, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has developed a Mobile Application that will be used to locate lost and found items called CIGIYA Application. The CIGIYA mobile Application is available on google play store. The CIGIYA Application, which is the first of its kind will facilitate the searching of lost items by people and help transport associations, media houses and other relevant organizations to generate a database of lost items. This will enable individuals to use the application to search for possible found items and the location they were submitted, as most of the transport associations have huge number of unclaimed lost items as a result of uncertainty of where the items are submitted. However, the announcements made in the media houses do not reach some people who lost their items as the announcement may happened when they are not on the tune and it is normally within short days. With the new CIGIYA Application a permanent database of lost items will be available online and people can search it any time by item type, date range, car park or station. The data base will simply be generated by the representative of agreed parks, media houses or unions.

 

NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS (NURTW)

 

On the 29th of March, 2021, the Technical Department of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) led by Engineer Kamaluddeen Umar visited the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of Yankaba Motor Park, Kano State. The objectives of the visit was to introduce the newly developed CITAD Mobile Application, CIGIYA Application to the Union and seek for partnership. CIGIYA Application is a lost and found application that is designed to help public to search for their lost items that are found and reported to one of the Transport Union Offices, Radio Stations, Ward Heads, and Market Associations etc. This will help the public to find their lost items easily and reduce the number of unclaimed lost items at the above mentioned places.

 

After presenting the application and how it works by the lead of the team, Engineer Umar to the Union’s Chairman in person of Alhaji Garba and his members, the Union leaders showed great interest and commended CITAD for coming up with this initiative. The chairman continued to state that the application is very relevance looking at the huge number of unclaimed lost items in their offices. The chairman being convinced with how the application will solve their problems in connecting their passengers with their lost items invited members of their Union’s sister association, Taxi Association in the Motor Park to join the meeting. 

At the end of the meeting the chairman directed his members to bring some of the lost items for upload onto the application.

 

AREWA RADIO

Similarly, on the 30th of March, 2021, the team also led by Engr. Kamaluddeen Umar paid another visit to Arewa Radio Station to intimate them on the newly CITAD’s CIGIYA Application. The reason of the visit was to seek for collaboration and partnership with Radio Station. The Station Manager of the Radio, Malam Shehu Bala Kabara appreciated and commended CITAD for coming up with the initiative and finding the station worthy of partnership, he went further to state that the newly app is related to their work and will serve greatly in addressing daily issues that arise in lost and found items. 

Malam Shehu narrated an instances that happened which took almost a year before the owner got his belongings, but said with the help of this app people can easily locate their lost items within a short period of time. He also recommended that CITAD should reach out to some business centres/cafés to use the app so that people who do not have smart phones or can’t use the app can go and get help there. Finally, he assured the team his organization’s full utilization of the application.

At the end of the meeting, the Technical Officer of CITAD, Engineer Suhail Sani explained and demonstrated to the members of the station present at the meeting and showed them how they can upload lost items in their possession.  

 

As skepticism on taking the Covid19 vaccines is growing among people and trust deficit between government and Nigerian citizens is also widening, there is need for organization working in the area of creating awareness to bring experts in the area of diseases prevention and curation to dispel and regain the trust of the citizens to ensure every citizen get vaccinated in order to defeat the virus squarely. It is for this reason that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) hosted Professor Isah Abubakar Sadeeq, Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, Bayero University, Kano to discuss on the Safeness of Covid19 Vaccines and why everyone should get Vaccinated. The professor started the discussion by informing the audience about the number of vaccines developed globally and their efficacy by saying that “There are more than 100 candidates’ vaccines at different stages of Clinical trials but so far Nigerian authorities have authorized the use of 6 of them. Of them modern and Pfizer Biotech have the best efficacy rates of 95-96% but are more difficult to handle & more expensive” and when he was asked about the importance of the mass vaccination, he went further to state that “Mass vaccination is essential in that it raises the Community level immunity referred to as herd immunity. When about 80-90 % is reached, transmission of the virus may not be possible. The disease may thus be eliminated through the mass immunization strategy”

Hello everyone,

Join me to welcome @ICTAdvocates today’s twitter chat guest on #CITADagainstCovid19, Prof. @isaabubakar_, Director, Centre for Infectious Diseases, BUK who will discuss on the Safeness of Covid19 Vaccines & the Need for Mass Vaccination in Nigeria. Welcome sir.

Thank you very much indeed

Question:

Sir, can we start by knowing how many vaccines we currently have and their efficacy?

Responses:

There are more than 100 candidates’ vaccines at different stages of Clinical trials but so far Nigerian authorities have authorized the use of 6 of them. Of them moderna and Pfizer BioNtech have the best efficacy rates of 95-96% but are more difficult to handle & more expensive.

There are more than 150 Candidate vaccines at different stages of Trials, but so far WHO has approved the use of 6 ready for use.

Question:

Prof @isaabubakar_, how do ordinary people get access to the vaccines in Kano?

Responses:

For now health workers and leaders are being vaccinated. The authorities concerned will roll out plans for other people soon.

Question:

Good afternoon sir, is the Covid19 vaccine safe for people to take, and what are some of the advantages attached to taken the vaccine? #CITADagainstCovid19

Response:

The benefits of taking the vaccines have by far outweigh the risks. The side effects are mild & self-limiting. They include mild fever, feeling of unwell, mild rashes

Question:

Given that the vaccine is limited, how can people be assured they can get it without being subjected to demand for some form of payment by vaccine administration officials? Are there mechanisms for citizens to report this if this occurs?

Responses:

Although it is limited, the vaccination program is a continuous exercise. Govt and partners will do all that is possible to provide adequate amount of vaccines to vaccinate at least 70% of Nigerians within 2 years 2021 & 2022

Question:

So sir, can you tell us the importance of Mass Vaccination?

Response:

Mass vaccination is essential in that it raises the Community level immunity referred to as herd immunity. When about 80-90 % is reached, transmission of the virus may not be possible. The disease may thus be eliminated through the mass immunization strategy

Question:

Sir, there is some argument among the people that why should someone that is being vaccinated still wear facemask. Can you tell us more about this?

Responses:

None of the measures is 100% effective in preventing against the disease. The more measures we take the better until herd immunity is achieved. It is recommended that we continue to wear mask even after vaccination for now. The situation may change in the near future

Question:

As we are coming to the end of this discussion, what advice do you have for citizens to ensure they get vaccinated and what recommendations do you have for Govt to ensure enough vaccines are being provided in the country, sir?

Responses:

Everyone should avail themselves for vaccination as it is the surest way of wiping this disease. The world is now united against the disease and the powerful are helping us to deal with the disease. We do not want a situation where the will succeed and leave us lagging behind

 

Here we come to the end of this discussion, on behalf of everyone  @ICTAdvocates’s we thanks our guest most sincerely for taking his time to educate us on this important topic. Thank you once again, sir.

 

 

Held On the 14^TH OF DECEMBER, 2020

The Centre for Information Technology and Development on the 14^th of December, 2020 formally commissioned its Social Media for Accountability Lab and Radio Studio. The two projects which have been established with support of Macarthur Foundation, aimed to train youth and students on Social media for accountability and give the university journalism students an avenue to practice what they have learned in the schools. The projects are also established to train youth on anti-corruption fight and accountability. Personalities at the event were Honorable Commissioner, Kano State Ministry of Information, Comrade Muhammad Garba who was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Malam Usman Bala, Professor Habu Muhammad Fagge of the Political Science Department, Bayero University, Kano as the chairman of the occasion, Engineer Y.Z Ya’u, the Executive Director, CITAD and Mr. Oladayo Olaide, Deputy Country Director, Macarthur Foundation who joined the event virtually.

In his remarks at the commissioning of the social media lab and radio studio, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Habu Muhammad Fagge described the social media for accountability lab and the online radio as one of the most important event in the state. Prof. Habu stated that he was very delighted to serve as the chairman of the occasion as it was a history making event because whenever people talk about social media what first came to their minds was that it is a platform where all such of social nuisance is taking place. But today CITAD has changed the narrative and turned it into something very important; for knowledge production. Remarking further, Professor Habu stated that social media is a modern invention that links individuals with other groups, organizations with other organizations and organizations with state and non-state actors. He called on youth in the state to use social media for instrumental purposes and encouraged them to use it for knowledge production, communication, public enlightenment and research. He also described youths in northern Nigeria as the harbinger of transforming the society through modern techniques, innovation and technological development and social media encapsulate all of these. He stated that as many youth in northern Nigeria are everyday joining the social media without a proper knowledge on how to use it, this project commissioned by CITAD will help greatly in putting the youth in the right direction.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Y.Z Ya’u stated that the reason behind the establishing of the social media lab was to train youth on how best to use the social media and to see to the creation of a New Nigeria where justice and accountability will prevail. He continued by saying that social media provided an avenue for people to inject their voice and many individuals are using social media without tapping its potentials and how best it will benefit them and their country. Also, the Executive Director stated that the Online Radio which has since started its transmission on internet was being established to promote accountability, good governance and democracy in the country, noting that democracy cannot and will not flourish without having fertile avenues where citizens will voice their opinions and this type of radio (online radio) has revolutionized the broadcast industry and given millions of citizens access to radio stations without spending much. The Executive Director also stated that the social media lab was always open to Kano state Ministry of Information for training it information officers and other staff.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Oladayo Olaide, the Deputy Director at MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria said he was very delighted seeing this project had become a reality. Mr. Olaide reiterated the importance of adhering to covid19 protocols as the Foundation is always encouraging its sub-grantees to respect the protocols. He also added that the Foundation was very delighted to be partnering with CITAD in this work because the essence of the social media lab and the radio station were to enhance citizens’ voice which is what the Foundation has been supporting for a very long period of time. He said the launching of the two projects were not just for the people to come and see the laptops in the lab or the journalists to witnessed the cutting of the tape in the studio but to create a platform for citizens to be able to better engage in the campaign for accountability, fight against corruption and contribute to consolidation of democracy in the country. Emphasizing that, the radio was being launched to create avenue to disseminate information and for the exchange of information between and among citizens, he added. He concluded that the success and impact of the launching of the two projects will not be judged by the number of attendees today but by the changes that the projects are able to catalyze through the information generated and the feedback that are transform into action points.  Finally, he called on social media users to be ethical and responsible on the way and manner in which they use to engage in good governance without throwing the country into further chaos.

In his commissioning remarks, the special guest of honor at the event, Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Comrade Muhammad Garba who was ably represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Malam Usman Bala, mni expressed his happiness and commended CITAD for taking the lead in this important revolution. According to him, democracy is about engaging positively and these two projects are what they intend to do. He noted that social media is a tool for construction as well as destruction, he thanked CITAD for kick starting this project to sensitize youth on using social media to promote accountability. He expressed his ministry’s readiness to collaborate with CITAD in this project.

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

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

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

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

It is for this reason that we strongly condemn this bill and call on the State Governor Barr. M.A Abubakar not to assent to it for the following reasons:

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

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

 

Signed:

Mohammed Chiroma Hassan

Programmes Officer, CITAD Bauchi

08036451430

Chiroma@citad.org

 

 

 

 

Are you an electrical/electronic engineer interested in being able to design, develop, prototype and test a quad copter drone?

Are you an electrical/electronic engineer interested in design, development and testing of mechatronics on the Arduino AVR platform?

Are you an electrical/electronic engineer interested in the fundamentals that enable design and development of modern control and communication systems?

You are invited to contact CITAD at one of its offices as follows:

• HEAD  OFFICE:3rd Floor, NSITF Building, No.1 A Social Insurance Road, Behind Trade Fair Complex Zaria Road Kano P. O. Box 10210,  Kano : 08054362931, 08023212501, Website: www.citad.org , e-mail: citadev@gmail.com  email:info@citad.org

• JIGAWA OFFICE: Flat B, Aduwa House, Behind Old Market, Aminu Kano Way, Dutse, Jigawa State, Tel. No. 08060820921, 08068078282,

• BAUCHI OFFICE: NUJ Secretariat Opp. Reinsurance House, Ahmadu Bello Way Bauchi, Bauchi State. Tel 08062528361, 08152758686,

For available slots in design and development internships in Embedded Systems Design;

Graduates of related disciplines are also welcome.

Embedded systems are the computers that are now our handsets, smart phones, cars, refrigerators, air conditioners, micro waves, TVs and soon our houses. Industrial production processes, air planes and other advanced systems were the first embedded systems in the last few decades._

The Objective – To introduce a new breed of engineer in Nigeria vast in embedded systems and general electronics. A core set of people for national engineering development and production planning.

An engineer who can design/develop products, carry out production planning functions. An engineer who can solve the technology problems around us by following a design process and ending with a full prototype using minimal or no input from America, Europe or Asia. An engineer who can design the production process for this prototype.

Interns who pass through this program will be ready to undertake the design and development tasks necessary to make Nigeria a technologically advanced nation. Individuals and companies working to begin design and production will readily employ these engineers. Companies, institutions and government agencies involved in activities related to engineering for the end user will find them superior to the average applicant.   Not an Entrepreneurship Program – The main aim is to move Nigeria away from importation of finished goods and the resultant distortion of definition of engineering by producing the critical human resource. There will be no installation or repair or maintenance or operation work in this program.  By inculcating a design and production mentality in this internship, a new crop of engineers will flower. 

By Mamilu Isah and Sagir A. Abubakar

As part of its effort in contribution to find solution to the problem of cattle rustling across most of the northern state, the Center for Information technology and Development (CITAD) has established Cattle Rustling Information System (CATRIS) which is to provide documentation as well as real time alert system to relevant officials and agencies on report of cattle theft so that immediate steps could be taken to rescue them and apprehend the rustlers. On Tuesday 26th April, 2016 the center organized a gathering for the unveiling of the portal. The event gathered different Fulani organizations, media and civil society organizations took place at NISTF Hall and aimed to inform the participants about the take-up of the portal.  

Kamilu Isa Ahmed who the welcome remarks, he welcomed the participants and said CITAD was implementing a project that aimed at using technology to fight cattle rustling in the northern Nigeria. He explained that the platform was a geospatial, meaning once reports come in it gives you the coordinates of the place where the incident happened as well as the terrain. This would allow security agents to have an idea of the type of vehicles to use as well as understanding of the various road networks and foot paths. As an information platofm, its usefulness lines in the way the people that are supposed to act engage it. The platform is to provide information to security agencies, we will also provide the same information to local volunteers who can then activate local contingencies within their communities to try to recover and rescue the cattle that are stolen.

1. Z. Ya’u, the Executive Director of the CITAD briefed the participants about the Cattle Rustling project that the center was implementing and the objectives of the portal. He mentioned that the cattle rustling project was an off-shoot of the peace project CITAD was carrying out in northern Nigeria with the support of Mac Arthur Foundation. He added that the objective was to mobilize all stakeholders to work collectively to promote peace building. He said that in the cause of the project, CITAD realized cattle rustling had become a major problem in northern Nigeria, particularly in the North West and North Central zones of Nigeria. CITAD realized that except for few newspaper publications which are not in-depth, there has not been much attention to this problem in the media. Within government circles, there had not been much efforts at developing strategies to deal with the problem. We realized that it was a big problem which if not carefully addressed, will end up being much bigger than Boko Haram, in terms of its area of operation.

He then said that, CITAD has established cattle rustling information portal and the objective of the portal was to provide documentation as well as real time alert system to the relevant officials and agencies. The system he said deploys an Ushahid based platform that provides a geo-referenced recording of the incidences and has alerts to people who need such reports. It also provides opportunity for using either text, phone, email or social media for people whose cattle were being stolen to immediately report to the platform such that such information will be escalated to the relevant authorities and broadcast to CITAD’s  own network of volunteers against cattle rustling for necessary action.

The second session was the practical demonstration of the portal and was facilitated by  Shazali Sunusi Suleiman from CITAD. He demonstrated how to send report either via text SMS and social media.

ASP Abubakar Amiru who represented the Kano State Commissioner of Police at the event told the participants that their men are doing their best to tackle the menace in and around the country. He said in each division there are personnel assigned to receive information on the cattle rustling. He gave the following phone lines as police hotlines on the issue of cattle rustling. The phone numbers are 08076091271, 08099999110, 08032419754 and 09053872286

At the end of the program, room for comments, questions and observation were given to the participants. Following comments were made:

• Rabiu Shamma urged that the operation of the portal should be made easy so that the ordinary person will be able to upload reports.
• Harira A. Wakili asked about the availability of GSM network especially in the forest where such incidences occur
• Malam Usman Usman requested CITAD to widen its awareness campaign programs to reach the Fulani nomad as most of them are not aware about CITAD and its activities
• Sunusi Ahmad Baffa commented that the Fulani have now started constituting team of volunteers in their ranches to provide security to their properties. But the major problem now is that the thieves use to slaughter the cattle immediately they have stole them and sell the meet so that even if you encounter them you will not be able to identify your cattle.
• Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim, secretary of Miyyatti Allah organization urged the media to be broadcasting such issues in the night when they Fulani are at home.

Lastly vote of thank was given by Sagiru Ado, the Entrepreneurship Officer of CITAD who thanked all the participants for honoring the invitation given to them and wished them safe journey.

Introduction:

On the 16th of December, 2015 CITAD hosted key stakeholders for the National presentation of the research reports on the state of education in the Northeast. The National presentation which held at the Newton park hotel, Abuja, had Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, Vice Chairman Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative as Chairman of the event, also in attendance were  education commissioners, Perm. Secs, Directors, Members of Federal and State Assemblies, SUBEB Chairmen and Directors, P.T.A Chairmen, Development partners, Professionals from Universities and other educational institutions, media, researchers, cluster members and other CSOs. The main objective of the National presentation was for the stakeholders to look at the reports and generate a possible change agenda for the restoration of the education sector in the region. The individual reports have been validated at the state level before the National presentation.

Major problems

Below are the major problems with the education in the Northeast as highlighted at the event

* Even though Northeast is facing serious challenges of insurgency, education sector suffers the most as schools have been destroyed which forced children to be out of schools

*  There is lack of political will from the policy makers

* There is low enrollment and high drop out

* Education is poorly funded 

* Some state governments do not make commitment to access UBEC funds because of the counter-part funding 

* There is  a significant number of unqualified teachers 

* There is lack of teachers motivation especially those posted to rural areas 

Major recommendations 

*  We all have  a big responsibility of putting hands together to develop a strategy for rebuilding the educational sector 

* Solutions to North East really have to come from the North East

* The need to allocate the UNESCO recommended 26% of the state budget to education 

* Stakeholders need to put more efforts to ensure judicious utilization of education funds 

* Lawmakers need to come with education supporting legislations

* The need to declare state of emergency on education in the Northeast 

* Stakeholders especially the CSOs need to do more in the area of public awareness on the need to send children to school and control drop out 

* The need to strengthen guidance and counselling centres in sechools 

* The need to strengthen teachers college 

* State governments need to partner with local governments to access UBEC funds  

Some commitments

* State Education Commissioners/Perm. Secs commended CITAD effort and expressed readiness to partner with the project, and implement some reserach recommendations were possible    

* USAID/SACE Chief of Party expressed commitments to continue supporting CITAD to continue making constructive engagement 

* CITAD and cluster members expressed readiness to continue the engagement at state, zonal and national level

* Some officials from the states education ministries promised to provided additional date for the researchers to improve on the quality of the report. 

 

eace Clubs, Students Peace and Empowerment Mentorship Volunteers – Kano State

 

The List of Peace Clubs, Students Peace and Empowerment Mentorship Volunteers (SPEV)

 

S/N

SCHOOLS

PATRON

MENTORS

PRESIDENT

1.

G.G.S.S SHEKARA

 

ZUWAIRA RABIU

MALAM MAHMU KABIR

& BALA ALI

HABIB M TUKUR

2.

G.G.A.S.S TAHIR

ABDULLAHI AHMAD TAHIR and ADAMU SALUHU

UWANI AHMAD BALARABE

HAUWA MUHD

3.

RUMFA COLLEGE

SAKINA HARANA MUSA and HAFSAT IBRAHIM DANTIYE

SHEHU SANI

 

4.

S.A.S

YAHADI YUSIF FARUK and RABI UMAR USMAN

HAFIZU CHIROMA KABARA

ABDULLAHI AMINU

5.

G.G.S.S. GANDUN AL-BASA

 

 

 

6.

G.G.A.S.S GWAMMAJA

 

 

 

7.

G.G.S.S JOGANA

KHADIJA

MUHD SANI ISMAIL

ABDULLAHI

8.

G.G.A.S.S MARYAM SHEKARAU

LUBABATU SURAJO

UMAR MUHD UMAR

 

9.

G.S.S SHARADA

MAL.HAFIZU HARUNA

IBRAHIM GARBA AMINU and MAL. SAIFULLAHI

 

10.

G.G.S.S HASSANA SUFI

 

 

 

11.

G.G.S.S FATIMA MUHAMMAD

 

 

 

12.

G.G.C KANO

HAJIYA DIJE SUMA’ILA

MARYAM LAWAN and AMINU UMAR IDIRS

 

13.

G.G.S.S AISAMI

 

 

 

14.

G.G.S.S DAKATA

 

 

 

15.

G.G.S.S. YAKASAI

 

 

 

16.

G.S.S UNGUWA UKU

 

 

 

17.

G.SS STADIUM

 

 

 

18.

G.S.C.S MAI KWATASHI

 

 

 

19.

G.S.S KWANDILA

 

 

 

20.

G.G.S.S GIGINYU

 

 

 

21.

G.G.A.S.S GORON DUTSE

 

 

 

22.

MUHD VICE ADAMU (MVA)

 

 

 

23.

G.J.S.S DAURAWA

 

 

 

24.

G.G.S.S MARYAM ABACHA

 

 

 

25.

G.S.S KOFAR NASARAWA

 

 

 

 

In its effort to promote entrepreneurship and create awareness on information and communication technology (ICT) among the citizens, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dutse on Tuesday 27th January, 2015 organized one-day YouWin Sensitization lecture. The lecture was organized in consideration of the need to promote women participation from the state in the scheme, as a lot of the women in the state lack the technical skill to register with YouWin and develop good business plan. This results the massive failure of the women in the previous awards, as the award is solely an ICT based.

The sensitization lecture was conducted at NULGE Secretariat Dutse, Jigawa State and attended by about 50 participants. Alhaji Magaji Uba Idris Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Jigawa State made the opening remark on behalf of the Honorable Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. In his remark, he welcomed the CITAD team and the participants and expressed his gratitude on the activities of CITAD in Jigawa State especially those that are related to the ministry and the women. He then drew the attention of the participants to try as much as they could to benefit from the YouWin fourth round award.
The first presentation was on the YouWin program from the first round to the fourth round of the scheme. Malam Sagiru Ado Abubakar CITAD’s program officer, entrepreneurship, highlighted the history of the program. He told that the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) Program is a collaboration of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communication Technology (CT), the Ministry of Youth Development and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development that will launch an annual Business Plan Competition (BPC) for aspiring young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, in line with the Federal Government’s drive to create more jobs for Nigerians. The program will be implemented in partnership with Nigeria’s private sector, which will be requested to provide funding support. Sagiru Ado also stated the goals and objective of the program and the criteria of the eligibility to apply for the business plan competition.
Shehu Usman Halipha made the second presentation on the YouWin registration procedure. Malam Halipha stated all the requirements for the registration ranging from personal details, address, education and qualifications. The last presentation was on developing the YouWin business plan. The presentation demonstrated the nature of good business plan with examples.
Hajiya Halima Isyaku Director Planning of the ministry made the vote of thanks. She thanked CITAD for organizing the sensitization lecture and urged the participants to follow all the guidelines and the procedures of the program in order to benefit from the award.