Beneficiaries Laud CITAD’s Stride Over Training On Digital Innovation 
https://infomedia.ng/beneficiaries-laud-citad/

By
Sagiru Ado Abubakar

In Azare Bauchi state training centre, the women-focused incubators training entitled Digital
Creativity and Innovation for Young Women (DICI-YOW) that has been conducted by the Centre
for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Lenovo Foundation
has yesterday entered into third phase. The phase termed business ideation and aimed to
introduce the participants to the business environment, capital requirements, capital mobilizing
strategies, conceptualize the value chain of the business, understand the market and client
base building, digital marketing, labour and skills needed for the business and business
sustainability issues. The participants have since been trained in basic digital literacy that
consisted of Introduction to Windows, Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint and internet
application. Also, they undergone training on courses such as graphics design, mobile app
development, website design and some mobile and computer software (Mobile tools).
Due to the skills acquired, most of the trainees are eager to secure jobs or mobilize capitals and
start ICTs related businesses. To help the trainees achieve their dreams, yesterday at the Azare,
Bauchi state training centre, the trainees were trained on how to secure jobs or source
entrepreneurship and business support. The training let the participants to understand that
there are jobs available in Nigeria but most of the jobs come with certain set of requirements.
Soft skills such as the digital skills provided by Lenovo training are basic requirements that an
employer expects someone to have in order to be successful in a job position.
The training has yesterday demonstrated websites that the participants can visit such as
jobberman.com, ziprecruiter, teachaway, careerjet, indeed, linked in, glassdoor to secure jobs,
soft loans and grants from government initiatives like Bank of Industries (BOI), Bank of

Agriculture (BOA) and foundations so that they can be self-reliant and even employ others as an
entrepreneur cannot work alone.
Other opportunities shared to the participants included Women Startup Challenge, Tech
Startup Grant, 2023 ‘Open Minds – Young Voices’ Youth Activists Program, the 3rd Cohort for
iHatch free intensive incubation program and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
In order to make things easier, the participants were urged to be on CITAD facebook pages i.e
friends of CITAD, peace Now, CITAD Alumni etc where such information has been shared
regularly by Job Placement Information Services (JOPIS) scheme of CITAD assisting youth
looking for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities by bringing information about job
opportunities to them. JOPIS Unit are getting job opportunities on newspapers from Libraries,
collaborating with reliable sites advertising job opportunities and creating library and reference
on the job opportunities so that people can benefit from.

Digital Livelihood and Digital Creativity Beneficiaries Trained on Entrepreneurship, Business Support Sources

By

Sagiru Ado Abubakar

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) under Digital Livelihood and Digital creativity and Innovation Programs has trained young women and girls to acquire information communication technology (ICT) knowledge. The goal of these programs was to contribute to reducing the gender digital divide and unemployment through technology skill transfer that will enable young women and girls to acquire ICT-based entrepreneurship skill and set up small scale ICT-based businesses. To achieve aforementioned goal, on 11^th and 12^th December, 2022, the Job Placement Information Service (JOPIS) unit of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has organized sensitization workshops for the beneficiaries of digital livelihood and digital creativity innovation programs in both Kano and Bauchi (jJama’are and Itas) training centers on how to secure jobs and source entrepreneurship and business support.  

The workshops introduced the participants to sites that they can visit to secure soft loans and grants from government initiatives, Bank of Industries (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and foundations so that they can be self-reliant and even employ others as an entrepreneur cannot work alone. 

At the start of the workshop, a call of volunteers from Save the Children was shared and helped the participants to apply. The job opportunity is looking for applicants with ICT-Based skills similar with that of digital livelihood and digital creativity beneficiaries to actively involved in the implementation of the PLANE project. The opportunity paid attention to female candidates, marginalized groups and those with disabilities

Other opportunities introduced to the participants included Women Startup Challenge, Tech Startup Grant, 2023 ‘Open Minds – Young Voices’ Youth Activists Program, the 3rd Cohort for iHatch free intensive incubation program and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). 

Job Placement Information Services (JOPIS) is a scheme by CITAD to assist youth looking for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities by bringing information about job opportunities to them. Functions of JOPIS Unit are getting job opportunities on newspapers from Libraries, collaborating with reliable sites advertising job opportunities and creating library and reference on the job opportunities so as easily refer to it when the need arises.

Job Placement Officer will be responsibility for providing advice, council and information to prospective applicants. All job vacancies, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities are posting time to time on CITAD facebook groups “friends of CITAD”, “CITAD ALMUNI”, “Peace now” and pages

CITAD, Lenovo Partner to Empower 200 Girls on Digital Creativity and Innovation

By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – No fewer than 200 young girls and women in Kano state benefited from Digital Creativity and Innovation training organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD to revamp the entrepreneurial spirit as a critical factor for sustainable development.

The Centre said the program is designed to empower young girls to have access to digital skills to address the gender digital divide and reduce poverty in Nigeria.

Engr. Kamal Umar, who is the Technical Officer of the Centre, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Kano.

HotPen reports that the capacity-building training which took place at Hall B, CITAD main office in Kano, titled; “The Challenges of Seedling and Nurturing Creativity and Innovation Among Young Women” had Prof. Asabe S. Muhammad, Provost Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare as the Chair of Occasion, Dr. Sana Maaz from the department of Software Engineering, Bayero University, Kano.

Others include: Aliyu Dahiru Aliyu, Assistant Editor, HumaAngle Media, and Aisha Bako, Chief Executive Officer, Onyx Investment Advisory Limited, Abuja.

Engr. Kamal opined that “Empowering young girls to have access to digital skills is one way to addressing the gender digital divide in the country”.

He said “bridging the digital divide will contribute to the greater empowerment of women to overcome gender marginalization, unemployment, and poverty”. Kamal revealed that the training will significantly assist young women in the de-feminization of poverty and avail them with an opportunity to contribute to their bid for wealth creation.

Addressing the participants during the training, Dr. Sana Maaz went down memory lane and explained to the young women the importance of entrepreneurship in the current tides of technology and self-reliance as a woman.

Dr. Sana recounts her ordeal as a woman in a family of 9 with a single male child in the ancient city of Kano and how she defeated stereotypical maxim associated with women in Northern Nigeria.

Mr. Maaz counseled the young women to develop an open mindset and become drivers of innovation not passengers of it. She noted with dismay the presence of human capital (Seedling) and lack of spirit in nurturing young girls in our societies.

Highlighting the challenges young women are experiencing in nurturing creativity and Innovation in Nigeria, Aliyu Dahiru Aliyu, one of the leading panelist laments how Cultural, Religious and Political milieus among other significant barriers are discouraging digital creativity and innovation among young women.

Aliyu echoed the need to carry everyone along in respect of gender in the current paradigm shift from analog to digital technologies on businesses in the world.

He attributed lack of incentives, motivation, and role models for young women as part of the barriers hindering them to start businesses. Aliyu further advised young women to leverage on digital technologies for wealth creation.

(SERIES ONE)
By
Sagiru Ado Abubakar
In its effort to provide students with knowledge and skills to fight corruption and contribute in
raising young people who will assist and contribute in the fight against corruption Nigeria, the
Centre for Information Technology and (CITAD) has on Thursday, 2 nd June, 2022 conducted the
first of its four series Training Workshop for the 36 secondary school teachers from 18 senior
secondary schools across Kano state. The workshop served as Master Training to build the
capacity of the selected teachers which in return will step down the training to the anti-corruption
clubs formed in their respective schools.
CITAD has been implementing a project titled ‘Engaging Students of Secondary Schools for
Raising Awareness about Corruption and Accountability’ supported by MacArthur
Foundation, with the following objectives:
1. Inculcate in the minds of the students an early understanding of the negative impact of
corruption on the society
1. Use the opportunity of the engagements with the students to raise public awareness about
corruption and how to fight it
2. Encourage students to think critically on how to address the menace of corruption in the
society.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and
Development (CITAD), Malam YZ Ya’u said today in Nigeria corruption has become a major
hindrance to the development of the country. We have seen in daily basis corruption cases in the
country and we have to widen our knowledge to understand that corruption is not only about
public sectors, it is about what is wrong and what is right. To fight corruption, we must teach our
young ones good values and ethics especially the rule of law. This is to show young people that
there is law against corruption. Malam Y.Z continue to say that, we must ensure anti-corruption
agencies are above everyone with no exception and no one is above the law. As mentors,
CITAD expects you to go to the wider society to say no to corruption and teach them how to
learn to fight corruption. It is a big challenge that CITAD throws to the mentors but it is the only
way we can rid this menace out of our society especially if we succeed in integrating the fight
against corruption in the school curriculum. He then informed the participants that the workshop
is a pilot campaign to see whether we can convince school administrators that there is way we
can include anti-corruption fight in the way we teach our students. He finally mentined that the
activities of the project are to conduct inter-secondary schools quiz in the State, build the

capacity of some students and to update knowledge and skills of teachers in the area of fighting
corruption in secondary schools. One of the expected outcomes of the project is to support state
government to incorporate anti-corruption knowledge in the curriculum of secondary schools as
part of the Civic education syllabus.
To assess the participants’ knowledge about the workshop and establish what participants
already know, the participants were asked to write on sheet of papers their expectations of the
workshop. The following information was generated from the participants:
 We expect to learn ways to prevent our students in participating in form of corruption in
and outside schools
 CITAD as an IT organization, we expect to be taught the technological ways of fighting
corruption
 To understand why corruption offenders are not been punished
 To learn how to avoid taking corruption
 To provide us with new ideas and logic that we can use to address the danger of
corruption to our students and other people in our society
 To know the root of corruption and its types
 Expecting to jointly eradicate the issue of corruption in the country
 Through the help of EFCC and ICPC to be oriented about the consequences of corruption
 To teach us the method and techniques to tackle corruption
 To enlighten our students to read hard and shun away from all corruption practices
 To add voice on the negative effect of corruption
 To listen from the reliable source corruption related issues
In his remarks, Malam Umar Muhammad Yakasai, Director Training and Recruitment, Kano
Senior Secondary Management Board (KSSSSMB) said managing secondary schools requires
partnership and they are happy to have CITAD as their partners. He said that just last two weeks
teachers under his board were at CITAD for Guidance and Counseling workshop. He then added
that corruption is a theme that disturbs everybody and the country. He finally thanked CITAD for
bring them on board in this journey and mentioned that CITAD poetry publication on corruption
NGausa has been in circulation in their schools.
The first presentation was taken by Alh. Dalhatu Abdallah, Assistant Superintendent,
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on
understanding the work of ICPC. Abdullahi said that ICPC receive and investigate complaints
from members of the public on allegations of corrupt practices and in appropriate cases,
prosecute the offenders. Also examine the practices, systems and procedures of public bodies
and where such systems aid corruption, to direct and supervise their review. Duties of the
Commission include section 6 (a-f) of the ICPC Act 2000 sets out the duties of the Commission
as paraphrased in the following:

 To receive and investigate complaints from members of the public on allegations of
corrupt practices and in appropriate cases, prosecute the offenders.
 To examine the practices, systems and procedures of public bodies and where such
systems aid corruption, to direct and supervise their review.
 To instruct, advise and assist any officer, agency, or parastatal on ways by which fraud or
corruption may be eliminated or minimized by them.
 To advise heads of public bodies of any changes in practice, systems or procedures
compatible with the effective discharge of the duties of public bodies to reduce the
likelihood or incidence of bribery, corruption and related offences.
 To educate the public on and against bribery, corruption and related offences.
 To enlist and foster public support in combating corruption.
 With respect to the prosecution of cases, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act 2000 provide that every prosecution for offences under it shall be deemed
to be done with the consent of the Attorney-General. Furthermore, it is provided that the
Chief Judge of a State or the Federal Capital Territory shall designate a court or judge to
hear and determine all cases arising under the Act. Presently, there are two such
designated Judges in each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory
• Malam Haruna Adamu made the second presentation titled ‘Understanding the Various
Dimensions of Corruption in Nigeria’. The presentation focused on the role of Anti-
Corruption Club Mentors with a view to identify and discuss less technical ways to
reduce corrupt practices in secondary schools. As a social environment, schools are the
best places where corruption can be analyzed and mitigation strategies taught for future
use by the future leaders (students). Haruna Adamu set the objectives of his presentation
as follows
• To identify the role of mentors on delineating Corruption and its effect on society to
secondary school students in Kano
• To strengthen the capacity of Anti-corruption club mentors on reducing corrupt practices
in the society
• To identify new mentoring strategies for Anti-corruption mentors in Secondary Schools
of Kano
• Develop a more realistic work plan for mentoring on Anti-corruption for secondary
schools in Kano
While talking about forms of corruption, Haruna said that corruption in Nigeria happens in
several ways and in different dimension. He criticized the law makers in the country who
according to him tried to institutionalized corruption. Adding that even lobbying from the law
makers can be a form of corruption. Other forms of corruption include, Extortion, Cronyism,
Nepotism of favoritism, Patronage, Graft and embezzlement, Bribery, receipt of illegal proceeds

(extortion, kickbacks), Theft and privatization of public resources and funds, Illegal
appropriation (forgery, falsification, embezzlement, misappropriation of money, property),
Abuse of state funds, waste, Nepotism, favoritism (appointment to the posts of relatives and
friends), Collusion (granting preferences to individuals, conflict of interests), Taking gifts to
speed up problem-solving, Protection and covering up events, Electoral violations (buying votes,
rigging election results), Extortion (civil servants illegally set a fee for services or artificially
create a deficit), Clientelism and patronage (politicians provide material services in exchange for
citizen support), Illegal contributions to election campaigns (transfer of gifts to influence the
content of the policy), Abuse of power through (intimidation or torture) and Manipulation of
regulation (falsification of elections, decision-making in favor of one group or person).
He finally urged the school mentor to play the following roles in the ANTI-corruption Clubs:
• Develop and implement the Anti-corruption modules for students
• Demystify all Anti-corruption terms to students for ease of understanding, ownership and
sustainability
• Facilitate partnerships among students and
• Create interface between Anti-graft body and the students
Malam Idris Isyaku, Head of Public Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) represented EFCC Zonal Commandant at the workshop. He talked about the work of the
commission. He explained that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a
Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud
(419 fraud) and money laundering. EFCC was established in 2003, partially in response to
pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named
Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community's efforts to fight
money laundering. The agency has its head office in Abuja, Nigeria. Adding that while the ICPC
targets corruption in the public sector, especially bribery, gratification, graft, and abuse or misuse
of office, the EFCC investigates people in all sectors who appear to be living above their means,
and is empowered to investigate and prosecute money laundering and other financial crimes.
Ali Sabo, CITAD Communication Officer, presented paper titled ‘Assessing the Ant-Corruption
Efforts in Nigeria Since 1999: Challenges and Prospects’. At the end of his presentation, he
divided the participants into three groups and asked each group to:
1. Identify some potential policy-related sources of corruption in Nigeria and proffer
possible solution
2. Ways use to curb corruption at grassroots level

By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has organized a 2-days training for selected youths from Kano South Senatorial District on the use of Social Media for Accountability in Rano local government area of Kano state.

The training, themed; “Social Media for Accountability”, allowed the participants to acquire relevant skills on the use of social media for accountability and the areas of deploying various platforms for networking, political participation, holding leaders accountable, content creation, entrepreneurship, and a host of others.

During the training, the Centre’s Campaigns and Communications Officer, Mal. Ali Sabo who doubled as the resource person took the participants with lessons on social media best practices within the purview of global digital trends.

The participants also gained knowledge and learned the basic rudiments on the best practices on building and maintaining an online presence for monetary gain with an emphasis on YouTube. Mal. Ali has also taught the participants how to create powerful and captivating written and visual content, which according to him, enhances effective communication, particularly for businesses with their target audience.

The participants were also equipped and exposed to the various features of social media platforms and their usage, techniques of social media engagement, and how to lend a voice on governance by leveraging the technology and its trends.

In his remarks, the CITAD’s Admin and Documentation Officer, Mal. Buhari Abba, who is also the Project Officer, Journalists for Accountability said the Centre organized the 2-days training to educate the youth on the effective use of social media to seek accountability as well as for the improvement of personal and professional development.

A participant at the training, Mukhtar Lawal Abdullahi Rano commended the Centre for organizing the training which, according to him, has exposed them to the use of social media Instrumentalities to hold leaders accountable and improve their lives.

Another Participant, Binta Wada Abubakar acknowledged the giant stride of the organizers. She said the training has positively impacted her life with first-hand knowledge on how to use social media to demand accountability from leaders and participate actively in any issue of national importance on social media.

Center for information technology and development (CITAD) organised its first sensitization programme in Kano at Nigeria security and civil defence corps zonal headquarter.

The programme welcomed stakeholders from different organizations, includes Idris Adamu the commandant of civil service, A.A Haruna the assistant commandant, Barrister Asma’u Suleiman a social secretary in Nigeria bar Association and also a lecturer in law school, Kawu Adam Sule, a lecturer in the department of sociology, Bayero university kano.

Commandant Idris Adamu, commended CITAD on their effort towards enlightening the officers on gender-based violence.

He stressed that “gender-based violence has become a worldwide problem and assured the public that they are civil defence who defend the defenseless”.

Kawu Adamu Sule buttressed on the concepts of gender-based violence and how the public can curtail the menace of gender-based violence.

“We are in a patriarchal society which makes women vulnerable, calling on people to make personal and collective efforts to end impunity, change harmful social norms and report issues to relevant authorities”.

Barrister Asma’u Suleiman, also advised the civil defence officers to do their homework properly by using wisdom not the power of their uniform.

Zainab Aminu gender officer CITAD, expressed reasons why they choose civil defence out of all security agencies, discloses that NSCDC are the top security personnels Nigerians trust.

Preamble
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from
MacArthur Foundation organized a two-day training workshop for eighteen COVID-19 Vaccine
Champions selected from Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Kogi, Kaduna and Kano states. The training
was held on 13 th and 14 th of December, 2021 in Kano state. The training was organized to prepare
the participants to enlighten the public on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and counter fake
narratives and misconceptions around the virus and its vaccine. Some of the areas the
participants were trained on included the following: Understanding COVID-19 Pandemic:
National and Global Perspectives, Understanding Fake Narratives around COVID-19,
Understanding Social Media-Based Campaign: Deploying the Right Tools, Understanding the
Functions and Variations of the Vaccines, Crafting the Message, Understanding Vaccine Safety
and Efficacy, Monitoring and Countering Misinformation, Disinformation and Fake News
around Vaccines, How Best to Counter Misconceptions around COVID: Leveraging the Medical
Justifications, etc.
During the workshop, numerous hindrances to COVID-19 vaccine administration in northern
Nigeria were generated and deliberated upon. Prominent among the hindrances and challenges
highlighted as stated as follows:
1. Low of awareness on the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and safety
2. Lack of information on COVID-19 vaccine accessibility
3. Misconception on fear of adverse effects related to the vaccine
4. Circulation of fake narratives around COVID-19 and the vaccine
5. Lack of trust between the Government and the citizenry
6. Limited information on the different types of vaccine and their functions
7. People’s negative perception on the COVID-19 vaccine
In order to address the challenges and hindrances to COVID-19 administration in northern
Nigeria and ensure uptake of the virus, the umbrella of the COVID-19 Vaccine Champions
recommends the following:
1. Mass public enlightenment on the vaccine
2. Provision of sufficient information on vaccine administration spots
3. Use of local language in enlightening the public on the vaccine
4. Door to door campaigns to sensitize individuals at grassroot levels

5. Public awareness campaign through all forms of media
6. Educating the public on fake narratives about the vaccine
7. Countering social media-based misconceptions on COIVD and the vaccine
8. Engaging stakeholders on sensitization at various levels using different approaches
Conclusion:
COVID-19 vaccine is real. Doubts and fake news being circulated on the vaccine can only
increase infections and worsen situation. We therefore want to end by kindly advising people
who are yet to take vaccine to go and get vaccinated as getting vaccinated is a step towards
staying safe.
Signed:
Hamza Ibrahim-Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
Hauwa Kabir Lawal-Plateau State
Jamila Musa-Kano State
Abdullahi Barau Azare-Bauchi
Bishop Joseph Aturu-Kogi State
Abdulkadir Ashafa-Kaduna State
Kwaplki Peter Uba Borno State

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the area of procurement in order to promote transparency and accountability as well as improve basic education.

The expression was made by a Senior Programme Manager of CITAD, Isa Garba when he led his team on advocacy to the Chairman of SUBEB and his management, Dr Surumbai Dahiru Usman.

Isa Garba said that CITAD has been working in the education sector of the state for a few years in the area of engaging some secondary schools for the conduction of the state-level inter-secondary schools ICTS Quiz and also at the national ICTs quiz where the then Government Technical College, Gadau won second position and government Arabic College, Jamaáre won the second position.

Training of SBMC on the roles to play for effective service delivery and monitoring of schools in the state;
Training of media on Participating in the activities of UNICEF educational activities in the state.

It is also to improve their ability to plan and budget, raise revenues, increase civil society participation, and oversee service delivery in the health; education; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors.

The State2State works primarily at the state level, but also supports federal institutions and local government areas.
State2State specifically recognizes the role of the state governors and commissioners in driving forward reforms in Nigeria, but, importantly, gives equal weight to the essential role that national fiscal and development policy, citizen demand, and local innovation, collaboration, and learning across and among states play in solving governance, financing, and service delivery challenges.

He said that, “Sir, 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”.

“The goal of the project is to strengthen citizens’ participation in governance through active participation in the budgetary and procurement processes of the state”, he added.

According to him, “While the objectives of the project are: Enhance the capacity of 40 CSOs to engage both government and citizens in the budget process as means of improving citizens’ participation in budget processes; Enhance the skills of 40 government officials on the interface with citizens to collect, collate and use citizens input in the budget process and Facilitate the monitoring of procurement processes in the focal areas of education, health, youth and women development”

He said that, “In the implementation process on this project, CITAD will be working with SUBEB as a key area of our interest. Specifically, our engagement in the SUBEB will focus on building the capacity of the procurement unit of the board and also on how citizens can actively participate in the development of the education sector of the state”.

It will especially engage the legislators in increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector, help the agency in monitoring projects using an Android Application that will be developed and utilize as an interface avenue between the communities, their representatives at the house of assembly and the board to ensure that contracts are executed base on the contract agreements and specifications, as at when due and follow up with the Ministry of finance and the house of the assembly when there is a delay in the release of funds and any other engagement that will promote effective service delivery of the sector.

“Therefore, we are soliciting the support of your office to work with us in achieving the objectives of the project as well as contributing our quota in transforming the education sector of the state which is the major deliverables of the board”, he concluded.

In his response, Permanent Commissioner 1, Alh Idris Ahmed Hardawa said that the Board has in place a procurement office that is working in line with all procurement and financial regulations.

He said that, “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”.

The Permanent Commissioner 1 added that, “everything we do here is opened and transparent in line with financial and procurement regulations, we ensure that due process is followed in procurement transactions”.

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers…  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education  CITAD partners Bauchi SUBEB to promote transparency in procurement processes, improve basic education

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.

The program was hosted by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with 50 participants from different communities within and outside Kano state.
Opening Statements
The meeting was opened by Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai on behalf of the Executive Director of CITAD. In his statements, he hinted the importance of the program, orientating the applicants on the project’s expectations while congratulating them as successful applicants. He emphasized that the issue of women’s participation in ICT and digital entrepreneurships in Northern states continued to be of serious concern. However, due recognition needed to be given to the progress that has been made on the new project, where 50 successful applicants out of 596 applicants is a clear example that the women and girls need to tighten up their belt in order to become self-sustainable.
Yakasai added that, being a project supported by EU/ACT, it doesn’t mean we empower women and girls by giving the money, but only empower them with skills and mentorship on how to promote their businesses off and online and to become relevant in digital entrepreneurship. For emphasis to women participation, this gives a clear impression that there is need of participation of young women and girls and people with disabilities in our localities to have a democratic society free of hunger which is achievable through initiatives like this. Said Ahmad.
He finally urged that the applicants should be punctual, avoid irregularities or inconsistency in attending the training, avoid inclusion of uninvited applicants and must have a sound character and be focused. He pointed out that women’s movements should also be seen as having a representational role to play; both in terms of substantive and descriptive representation.

Malam Ibrahim Nuhu, the Program Officer of the project, thanked the EU/ACT British council for collaboration with CITAD to support the training. In his statement, after presenting the concept of the project, the courses to be offered and the duration, he identified major achievements and challenges in promoting women’s equal participation in processes at all levels. He finally explained three (3) major project expectations at the end of the training in context of the project, the participants should have the necessary required skills in order to be able to impact on other women and girls in the society at any time and any moment.
Should have a relative knowledge on ICT and entrepreneurship skills
Should register their business names with Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) and other concerned regulatory agencies related to their businesses to have a legal back up and;
The participants should be participating in e-mentoring and be meeting from time to time for mentoring to discuss on how to expand their businesses, and search for other job opportunities.
Malama Zainab Aminu, the Gender Officer, presented on some factors that hinders northern women in acquiring skills based on experiences are bigotry, extreme poverty, lack of education, lack of parental and husband supports due to culture and tradition that exposed them to gender discrimination and the necessity of the mechanisms is for promoting women in entrepreneurship skills even in their homes. The Digital Livelihood Training will be an one of the effective agents for this transformation. She also mentioned some mechanisms for increasing women’s participation in ICTs and entrepreneurships acquisition skills;
Mindset and zeal: When we change our negative thinking to positive, it increases attention and social movements.
Timing is an important consideration, is a sign of gaining momentum
Training and skill development: Training and mentoring will increase efficiency and ensure sustainability.
The training arrangements was briefed by the Training Officer of CITAD, Kamilu Isa on how it is commencing and the rules behind the training to ensure safety and avoid any irregularities that may hinder the objective to be achieved.
The Project finance officer, Kamal Alhassan Garba explained on how to go along with the logistics in order to adopt clear and transparent rules to ensure effective training by paying them transport fare weekly.
On the part of visitors, Hajiya Hauwa Ibrahim Gashash, from EU/ACT gave some encouraging advises to the participants around putting their best to learn what is the skills and become changed at the end of the program from local business owners and idle women to an established modern entrepreneurs. She sighted some examples of some few achieved women and encouraged these set to emulate the passion and become one of them. A session for question and answers was provided, the beneficiaries asked some questions and made comments of appreciations and their questions were cleared by the CITAD officials. They also contributed in encouraging themselves to increase the era of enterprise.

Challenges:
Some of the issues that occurred during the meeting were absence of invited concerned guest and government officials, which also leads to late commencement.

Recommendations:
Use ICT training as a tool in education and training efforts, in particular to overcome the digital divide between men and women in the use of new technologies and to provide women with equal access to information.
The beneficiaries should ensure that they have equal opportunities during training, such as providing access to the ICT facilities, spending weekly transport fare wisely and ensure punctuality and regularity.

The session closed at 2:47pm, refreshments served and transport fare to be paid via banks.

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

CITAD SENSITIZES TUNGAN ASHERE COMMUNITY IN FCT ON NETWORK CONNECTION BASED ON LOCAL ENTITY AND THE MARCH OF BARRICADING GAP OF NETWORK CONNECTION TODAY 20th AUGUST, 2021.

On its continued efforts to link communities with networks and have access to affordable networks, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) had today 20th August 2021 sensitized the Tungan Ashere community on community network connection based.

The sensitization campaign is part of a larger activity of the Centre on Supporting Community-led Approaches to Addressing the Digital Divide Nigeria which is being 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).

As network problem is becoming rampant in Nigeria, in accessing services such as voice call, text message, and Internet access as a result of the lack of community networks in Nigeria.

The community networks project sensitization program has already been implemented in other communities in the country; Jama’are and Itas in Bauchi, Dakwa in Abuja all are among the communities that are benefiting from the program.

This sensitization program was held at Tugan Ashere Community FCT.

The program started with a definition of community network and its benefits to the communities; these are some of the major contents that were discussed during the by CITAD technical officer Engineer Suhail Sani
among other topics that were discussed include service render by community network, regulatory conditions of the project, and sustainability issues for the community networks.

Also, part of the discussions was the linkages of the communities to open access to networks.

Religious leaders, youth representatives, and traditional rulers were among the participants that attended the sensitization. In the end, participants asked questions and offered contributions.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development had on the 29th of June, 2021 held a commencement lecture for its Social Media for Accountability (SM4A) Training which is being supported by the Macarthur Foundation at its Social Media Lab. The lecture was organized to sensitize the first thirty selected participants out of the hundreds applications received who will benefit from the program. At the commencement lecture, Dr. Nura Ibrahim, Head of Department, Information and Media Studies, Bayero University, Kano presented a paper title Youth, Social Media and Making of Accountability Governance in Nigeria while Professor Ismail A. Zango, Director Mambayya served as the chairman of the occasion.

In his opening remarks at the commencement lecture, the Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Engineer Yunusa Zakari Ya’u who was represented by the organization’s Training Coordinator, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai said the reason behind coming up with idea of the Social Media for Accountability Training is to equip and train Youth on how best to use the social media for accountability and to see to the creation of New Nigeria where justice and accountability will prevail. He continued to say 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. He urged the selected beneficiaries to utilize the resources that will be provided during the training in order advocate for a better society using their different social media platforms.  

Remarking at the event, the chairman of the event, Professor Zango mentioned that some social media users, influencers and self-styled warriors are using their social media platforms and fringe websites to proliferate misinformation and fake news, for just growing their online followership. Zango also added that youth can use social media to bring about positive changes and reforms in the country. Also social media can be used to hold government officials accountable for their action which in normal circumstances cannot be done. The chairman urged the beneficiating youth to verify any information or news before posting it on social media and post genuine and accurate information on their social media platforms in order to draw the attention of our leaders for accountability. At the end, he cautioned the youth against using the social media for blackmail and sharing of fake news.

Presenting his paper at the commencement lecture, Dr. Nura charged the youth to be good ambassadors of their communities. While presenting, Dr. Nura said technology can serve as a powerful tool for public opinion that could compel leaders to be accountable saying that if there is an issue with national interest, youth should take it to the social media, make an issue of it, and demand accountability from the parties concerned.

However, Dr. Nura cautioned social media users to discern between credible information from malicious posts, adding that if one stands on the path of truth, he can’t do anything against the truth but for the truth. Giving example with power of social media, Dr. Nura said apart from organising protests, the social media has been used to also hasten the speed of activities relating to governance in different spheres. In 2021, there was a case of crisis in Wukari of Taraba state, with people getting injured and killed. Internet users quickly uploaded the information on Twitter, calling on the Police to come to the community’s aid. Shortly afterwards, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) responded via Twitter that officers had been deployed, and the issue addressed. 

At the end, Dr. Ibrahim said Social media have revolutionized the way people communicate. In Nigeria, youths, who have higher levels of affinity with the social media, are using it to achieve different ends. It holds lots of potential for news, information, entertainment, mobilization, interaction and expression.

Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) is an initiative of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) aimed at `enriching the lives of young people through mentorship and inspiration. Accomplished personalities from different backgrounds and professions are invited on monthly basis to speak to the participating youth about their lives, challenges, obstacles, successes, careers, etc with a view to unpacking some hints for the participating youth to copy and apply in order for them to also succeed in their endeavours and careers.

CITAD believed that bringing successful people to mentor and inspire young people is a good way to help positively support the young people’s lives. The initiative started in 2016 and so far featured numerous successful individuals comprising male and female. Previous speakers included Prof. Attahiru Jega former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Muhammad Tabiu (former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Jigawa state and lecturer, Department of Islamic Law, Bayero University Kano), Ene Obi, Country Director, Action Aid International Nigeria, Haj. Saudatu Mahdi, Secretary General, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA),  Bala Muhammad (Saturday Columnist of Daily Trust Newspaper, lecturer, Mass Communications Department, BUK), Dr. Kole Shettima (Africa Director, MacArthur Foundation), Alh. Murtala Bala Maisallah, CEO, Maisallah General Enterprises, Alh. Muhammad Maharaz, District Head of Rogo and Bauran Kano, Prof. Binta Tijjani Jibril, Director, International Institute if Islamic Banking and Finance, Bayero University Kano, Prof. Aisha Ismail, Director, Center for Gender Studies, Bayero University Kano, etc.