The Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Engr. Y. Z Ya’u, has urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to adequately safeguard Nigerian data.

He also urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to set the pace in ensuring data privacy and protection in the country.

Engr. Y. Z Ya’u, who stated this during a working visit to the corporate headquarters of NIMC, noted that this responsibility falls on NIMC due to its position as the leading data controller in the country.

“The commission, which is the highest data controller in Nigeria, should be a model for other data controllers since data are the foundation of everything in the country’s digital economy.”

According to him, “there is nothing you would want to do in the digital economy without proper identity, and you can’t achieve that without adequate privacy and protection of data.”

On his part, the NIMC Director General, Engr. Abdulaziz Abubakar, said the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Nigeria has been established to protect the personal data of Nigerian citizens, and is responsible for the creation, management, and administration of a national identity database that will contain the personal information on all Nigerian citizens and legal residents.

He added that NIMC is committed to protecting the personal data of Nigerian citizens and legal residents and has implemented several measures to ensure that this data is secure. And assured the CITAD of the Commission’s support in ensuring data privacy and protection in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.

Engr. Abubakar also assures the public that NIMC will continue to uphold the highest ethical standards in data security on behalf of the Federal Government and ensure compliance with data protection and privacy regulations.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Association of
Progressive Communication (APC) organized a 1-Day sensitization for women on digital inclusion and
2-Day training for women on online safety which is part of practice of care under the community
network project. The training aims to provide mental and health safety at Dakwa, Leleyi Gwari,
Pasepa and Tungan Ashere communities of the FCT where CITAD operates. The project emerged
during the COVID-19 period as a measure to ensure that, partner’s lives and health are given
priority.
The sensitization and training took place on 31 st Mar, 1 st and 3 rd April 2023 in the four communities of
the FCT and had in attendance 30 participants in each of the community to make a total of 120
women (15-29yrs = 70, 30+ = 50 PLWD = 2). The facilitators include: Yesmin Salako, Usman Isah,
Mathias Ojoma and Ibrahim Suliaman Jama’are.
The objective of the sensitization and training are to: Understand ICT and how it is transforming
society, problems of gender digital divide, Why ICT are important for women and girls, how to
address the digital divide: the role of community, understanding of internet security and safety &
Gender Violence Online, Digital health and safety clinic, Understand feminist internet principles.
The training was inclusive, participatory and engaging as participants shared experiences on digital
inclusion and how important it is in today’s world. At Pasepa and Leleyi Gwari it was an outdoor
training facilitated under a tree shade while at Dakwa and Tungan Ashere it held in the ICT centre.
The training held for four hours each day with a break of 30 minutes.
The facilitators began the training with an opening remark to which the objective of the activity was
widely explained to the participants, and why CITAD had continued to create awareness and build
women’s expertise especially around digital inclusion. Topics around ICT and how it is transforming
society, problems of gender digital divide, Why ICT are important for women and girls, how to
address the digital divide: the role of community, understanding of internet security and safety &
Gender Violence Online, Digital health and safety clinic, understand feminist internet principles were
discussed during the cause of the training.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
Ummusalma M Sabiu a participant at Tungan Ashere community had commended the efforts of
CITAD to bridge the digital gap, however she raised the concerns of the community members to take
advantage of the internet but the digital devices are too expensive to purchase.
Adama Abubakar also a participant at Leleyi Gwari community is also concerned that despite their
interest to harness the oppurtunities the digital space possess as has been learnt during the training,
they lack the digital skills to operate the devices and also the network is very poor in their
community and as such lack connectivity to the internet.
Safiya Idris a participant from Pasepa community has emphasized that the women trained would put
a lot of effort to ensure their children are digitally literate.
Maryam Isma’il a participant at Dakwa community had inquired about how ICT can help in gaining
good healthcare. Yesmin Salako who facilitated the training at the community expatiated that
through ICT hospitals are exposed to so many modern facilities which would increase and aid the

practices of the health practitioners, also as an individual one could easily assess information about
one’s health from the internet to avoid unnecessary self-medication.
RECOMMENDATION
After the training the women recognized the training as an eye opener and had decided to utilize the
opportunity to enroll themselves at the ICT centre in their community in order to be equipped with
the necessary ICT skills. At Tungan Ashere community Ummusalma Ibrahim and Habiba Muhammad
at Dakwa Community were appointed by the participants to coordinate the women (who had agreed
to contribute N50 each to fuel the generator) to fix a date every week to learn the digital skills. The
community champion Bashir at Tungan Ashere and Ismai’il at Dakwa communities would equip the
women with the necessary skills and also sought for technical assistance from CITAD when the need
arises.
At Dakwa community, the community had decided to transition the ICT centre to a Digital training
centre, where people come to learn digital skills, pay some fees and also receive a certificate after
undergoing some training for a fixed period of time.
EVALUATION
After the training about 75% of the participants were able to understand ICT and how it is
transforming society; Why ICT are important for women and girls; Understand feminist internet
principles. Only 25% were able to understand online gender violence as few of the women are on
the digital space.
At the end of the 3-day activity group photographs were taken.
ACTIVITY COMMUNITY FACILITATOR
Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women

Dakwa Yesmin Salako

Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women

Leleyi Gwari Mathias Ojoma

Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women

Pasepa Usman Isah

Sensitization on digital inclusion and
training on online safety for women

Tungan Ashere Ibrahim Sulaiman
Jama’are

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has charged radio stations in Kano state and Nigeria at large to abstain from disseminating fake news, inciting comments and ensuring that only credible and factual information is aired through their mediums.

The Executive Director CITAD, Engr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u gave the order while speaking with journalists in Kano on the commemoration of 2023 World Radio Day.

Represented by the Centre’s Programs Officer, Buhari Abba said, despite the proliferation of social media and other mass communication platforms, radio remains one of the most trusted and accessible mediums in the world.

Speaking on the theme of the day, “Radio and Peace” the Executive Director urged Journalists in Radio stations to work towards promoting peace among the citizenry while discharging their duties.

Engr. Yunusa Ya’u noted that the theme is apt and timely as the nation moves closer to the 2023 general elections.

He urged all radio broadcasters to leverage the trust listeners have in their mediums to educate and sensitize the citizenry on their roles and responsibilities in electing the right persons to serve at various levels of government.

World Radio Day is an International Day which is celebrated on Feb.13th of every year as decided by member states of UNESCO and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012.

By Khadija Aliyu

Three students Aliyu Musa from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Hauwa’u Abdullahi Kano state university of science and technology Wudil, and Auwal Ibrahim Adamu, Bayero university kano, have emerged winners of CITAD’S report a project competition.

The Centre said, the winners of the 7th edition of the competition, were honoured to encourage them to continue contributing their quota, for the sustainable growth and development of the country.

Report a Project is a program, supported by MacArthur Foundation, aimed at encouraging students in Nigerian Universities and tertiary institutions to contribute to their bid, to eradicate the scourge of corruption in Nigeria for sustainable development.

In his remarks, the deputy executive director of the center, Malam Ahmed Abdullahi Yakasai explained that, abandonment of projects paved way for backwardness of many societies.

He stressed that, the report a project competition mobilizes youths and encourage them to report,so that the center would use legal procedures to call the attention of stakeholders, on the need to complete the projects.

” CITAD is a non partisan organization that does not segregate”

Malam Ahmed Abdullahi, charged youths to continue strategizing, as the center would not relent in it’s efforts towards the fight against corruption, and ensuring good governance.

In their remarks,winners of the 7th edition of report a project competition, Aliyu Musa, Hauwa’u Abdullahi and Auwal Ibrahim Adamu highlighted that, the handsets and laptop given to them, would go a long way in assisting their research and other academic endeavors.

They advised students to rededicate themselves to their studies, and provide any meaningful information to relevant stakeholders, such as uncompleted abandoned projects to mitigate corruption.

Radio Nigeria reports that, the report a project competition is organized by CITAD with support from MacArthur foundation, which is targeted at encouraging students from tertiary institutions, to report abandoned uncompleted or poorly executed projects in their respective communities.

Digital Rights: CITAD Condemns Unlawful Detention of Citizens

CITAD Demands Citizens’ Digital Right Be Respected, Calls For An End To ‘Continued Unlawful Detention’Of Citizens https://arewaagenda.com/citad-demands-citizens/

CITAD demands release of detained journalist by Sen. Elisha Ishiaku Abbo 

NGO Demands Respect Of Digital Right For Nigerians https://nigeriantracker.com/2023/01/06/ngo-demands-respect-of-digital-right-for-nigeri

CITAD Wants Nigerian Police to End Unlawful Detention of Citizens 

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on Security Agencies to respect the right of the citizens and unlawful detentions.

This was made known in a press release which was signed by Ali Sabo, Program Officer, obtained by TechMirror. The statement reads parts; “Our attention is been drawn to the Nigerian security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police force for its continued arbitrary arrest and detention of the citizens for exercising their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

It is important to state here clearly that section (IV) sub section (c) of the Nigerian constitutions has prohibits any security agency from unlawful arrest, incarceration or detention of the citizens without following due process” “What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is clearly contrary to what the Nigerian constitution has provided and these acts by the Nigerian security agencies if not checked and addressed will flung the country into anarchy and will negate the principles of democracy which is being practiced in Nigeria enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended” “We will remember that in the months of November and December we did organize similar press conferences during which we drew the attention of the Nigerian authority about the negative implications of these arbitrary arrests and detentions of the citizens to the country’s image in the comity of nations and to our young democracy.

It is a well-known fact that criticism is part and parcel of any democracy and it is one of the cardinal pillars through which democracy is being build, but this government in many occasions has displayed arrogance, impunity and lack of tolerance where at any slight instances has ordered the arrest of the citizens for excising their fundamental human rights” “It should be recalled that in the month of November, 2022, the Nigeria Police on the orders of the wife of the president arrested and detained a 500 level student of Federal University, Dutse, Aminu Adamu for merely excising his rights online.

He was held for days without being allowed access to his family or his lawyers. Also on the 11th of December, 2022, a minor named Umar Garba was arrested in Nguru Local Government Area, Yobe State over an alleged defamation of character of the Yobe State Governor, Maimala Buni.

The boy was held captive by the Nigeria Police for more than two weeks without a court order or any arrest warrant. Similarly, the boy was not taken to court” “These impunity being excised by the Nigerian politicians has transformed to another level to the extent that citizens are being deprived their fundamental human rights to speak about things that concern them and their country and interrogate their representatives without being harassed by the security agencies.

These cases have continued to grow spontaneously as many cases are being reported every day and in every corner of the country which is worrisome and threat to our democracy” “Another and more recent case we have received is the arrest and detention of Yau Saeed, a Freelance Journalist and founder of Y2S Online Television based in Yola that was arrested by the Nigeria Police, FCT Command by the order of Senator Elisha Ishiaku Abbo, Senator representing Adamawa North for excising his rights as citizen and journalist since 27th of December, 2022. The most unfortunate thing is that the Nigeria Police has refused the detained journalist access to his wife, lawyers and family” These arbitrary arrests of the citizens are against the Nigerian constitution and international covenant of human and people’s rights. Section IV of the Nigerian Constitution has clearly stated that: i.

Any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with section (1) (C) of this section shall be brought before a court of law within reasonable time.

The expression of reasonable time under this section means:

a. In case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is court of competent jurisdiction within a radius of 40 kilometres, a period of one day; and

b. In any other case, a period of two days or such longer period as in the circumstances may be considered by the court to be reasonable It is significant to know that allowing citizens to express themselves and constructively criticize leaders are cardinal to democracy and no democracy can grow where those at the helm of the affairs of the country are using the country’s security agencies to clamp down on dissents and activists.

“The collusion between security agencies and politicians to harass and intimidate citizens against freely expressing their opinions is a serious attack to our democracy. Democracy strives by the maintenance of a free market of opinions and availability of information that allow citizens to make informed choices in exercising their civic responsibility. When journalists are seized, detained, and tortured because they have exposed their dirty underbelly of some politicians, we are trampling on the foundation on which our democratic experiment is sitting”

We must also not forget that it was the brazen police brutality that led to the EndSars protest with all its attendance consequences to the nation. We cannot afford to continue to repeat this sad experience. Such illegal and unconstitutional acts and conduct by police and security agencies bread the ground and context for anarchy to set in which is of not good to anybody. It is based on these that we are calling on the:

1. Nigeria Police and its sisters’ security agencies to be neural in conducting their duties and should not allow themselves to be used as rent-organizations by politicians to shield their despicable acts and conduct.

2. The security agencies should respect the Digital Right of the citizens as they are the logical and legitimate extension of our fundamental human rights which are protected in our constitution and all the international instruments on human to which Nigeria is a signatory and the country is duty bound to accord the same respect to rights online as rights offline.

3. The Nigeria Police should desist from arbitrary arrest of the citizens and ensure they are following due process in the arrest and detention of the citizens

4. The Nigeria Police should avoid the unlawful detention of the citizens and ensure every arrest made is with an order of a competent court

5. Anybody arrested for any offence shall be taken to court within specified period of time as in the Nigeria constitution

6. Civil Society Organizations should join hands to call on the Nigeria security agencies to stop the arbitrary arrest of the citizens without due process

7. CSOs should collaboratively work together for a sustained advocacy to ensure the bill is to be passed and assented by the president “However we demand that the Nigeria Police should allow the detained journalist access to his family and lawyers and also his release together with all those arrested unlawfully” the statement states

CITAD urges FG to end violation of citizens’ digital rights 

CITAD worries over continuous arrest of citizens online by Gov’t authorities 

CITAD Decries Alleged Harassment, Detention Of Citizens Online By Government Authority https://arewaagenda.com/citad-decries-alleged/

CITAD Laments Alleged Harassment Of Citizen By One Of Nigerian Governors https://nigeriantracker.com/2022/12/29/citad-laments-alleged-harassment-of-citizen-by-one-of-nigerian-governors/

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

A young enterprise and aspiring digital photographer said she actualized her lifelong dream of becoming a refined photographer through the auspices of Digital Livelihood training.

The training, organized by the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is aimed at facelifting the lives of young girls in contemporary digital innovation for sustainable development.

The beneficiary, identified as Hussaina Ibrahim Hamma made the revelation in Jama’are local government at the closing ceremony of Digital Livelihood training in Bauchi state.

Hamma said, “I have always had a passion for photography which was actualized by CITAD through the digital innovation program”.

“I gained suitable experience during the training which drastically changed my life. I developed an interest in photography after completing the digital livelihood training”.

“Now I don’t have any ambition other than to become a professional digital photographer in my life”.

She further said that “The skills acquired during the training will significantly assist in establishing and sustaining a business enterprise, particularly in areas of digital technology for self-reliance”.

She promised to leverage the knowledge obtained during the training and promote her chosen career.

The Digital Livelihood is a four-monthly program that took place in Jama’are and Itas Local Governments of Bauchi State and focused on training women on digital technology and digital entrepreneurship in northern Nigeria.

The program equips young girls and women with the basic knowledge of technology, skills acquisition, and information and communication technology (ICT) to make them self-reliant, and useful to themselves and employers of labor.

By Mustapha Salisu

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has been commended by a dozen young girls and women in Jama’are and Itas Local Government Area of Bauchi State for empowering them with Digital Livelihood skills.

Speaking to newsmen CITAD’s Technical Officer Engr. Suhail Sani Abdullahi said with the world becoming a global village in the face of modern technological innovations women should make the best use of digital innovations.

“It is a program that introduces them to basic and advanced knowledge on computer usage, business incubation and idea development designed to run for a year” He added.

According to him, technology/IT is important, considering that the world has advanced beyond the stage of doing things manually which makes technology-driven businesses more faster and successful.

Engr. Suhail further charged the participants to make good use of the opportunities provided to them by CITAD to establish their entrepreneurship empires.

The Technical Officer said the young women and girls trained on Graphics Design,  Audio, Video Editing and Photography among others. He said women and girls need to be empowered especially through the utilization of digital knowledge so that they can be self-reliant through different business areas.

Hussaina Ibrahim Hamma, an aspiring professional photographer who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, explained that they were equipped with knowledge on how to utilize ICT towards running a successful business enterprise as well as to bridge the gap between the genders.

“Adding that young women and girls need to be empowered especially through the utilization of digital knowledge so that they can achieve self-reliance in different business areas.

She also expressed her gratitude to the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) of the laudable programme and promised to make good use of the knowledge.

NEWS

GBV: Kano records 800 cases of rape, domestic violence in 11 months 

As Stakeholders task Kano Govt on speedy passage of VAPP, Child protection bills 

Dec 7, 2022 – 19:41

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Over 800 cases of rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse, online harassment from have been recorded in Kano State from January to November, 2022. 

The disclosure was made by the Gender Officer, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),  Hajiya Zainab Aminu, who decried the ever rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kano state. 

She spoke after a road walk to commemorate the 2022 16 Days Activism against GBV from National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Perrsons (NAPTIP), Kano office, to Kano state House of Assembly.

She called on the Kano State House of Assembly to, as a matter of necessity, pass into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) and the Kano state  child protection bills, to enhance the fight against sexual and gender based violence. 

Hajiya Zainab Aminu explained that the aim of the road walk was to create awareness on GBV and advocate for the speedy domestication of the  bills by relevant stakeholders.

She noted  that, if passed into law, the laws would go a long way in curbing the menace, where  perpetrators would be prosecuted in order to have a safer society.

Hajiya Aminu, therefore,  expressed concern over the delay by Kano State House of Assembly, in passing  the Child Protection bill, saying  that domestication and implementation of the act would help to curb gender-based violence in the state.

According to her, “Gender-based violence must be put to a stop because it is an evil act. It ranges from rape, battery and child molestation, among others.”

Also speaking, Head of Department, sexual and gender based violence, NAPTIP Kano zonal command, Hajiya Rasheda Aminu Ibrahim, highlighted that lack of VAP act in Kano limits the prosecution of SGBV offenders.

She said, NAPTIP zonal command which compromises of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna and Bauchi states, was committed to eradicating sexual and gender based violence, child labour and molestation, human trafficking, among others.

In a related development, the CITAD Program Officer, Digital Rights, Alhaji Ali Sabo, has said that “due to the refusal of the president to assent to this bill, Nigerians have been witnessing an increase in the violation of their digital rights by the Nigerian government and its security agencies.”

He said that it is imperative to know that assenting to this bill would pave the way for more development in the country and drive the country’s digital space to a better level.

According to him, the bill when assented to, will strengthen the citizens’ right to the internet and its free use without undue monitoring

 He said that it would help in identification of true owners of personal data which are the owners themselves and the  bill will also encourage the stipulation of due process that should be followed before access is granted to government agencies and others to personal data of citizens

He also noted that there were rampant cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) because president Muhammadu Buhari has not assented  to the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill in Nigeria which was passed by the National Assembly since 2018.

https://www.thecampuswatch.com/2022/12/08/naptip-citad-others-calls-for-domestication-of-child-rights-act-vapp/

https://stateflash.com/gbv-kano-records-800-cases-of-rape-domestic-violence-in-11-months

https://pyramidfm.com.ng/gbv-citad-naptip-nscdc-others-raise-awareness-campaign/

https://tribuneonlineng.com/stakeholders-task-kano-govt-on-speedy-passage-of-vapp-child-protection-bill/

https://saheliantimes.com/16-days-of-activism-citad-naptip-others-take-campaign-to-kano-streets/

https://justicewatchnews.com/kano-citad-naptip-others-call-for-domestication-of-vapp-child-rights-laws/

https://youtu.be/DzG8fDjkfWg

https://primetimenews.ng/gbv-activism-citad-urges-kano-state-house-of-assembly-to-domestic-implement-child-protection-law/

https://www.radionigeriakaduna.gov.ng/blog/2022/12/06/sgbv-stakeholders-advocate-domestication-

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has joined 163 organizations to call on the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and EU Member States to ensure that the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) protects the rights of all people including migrants.

This was contained in a draft jointly signed statement by CITAD, 163 global organizations and 29 individuals and was made available to newsmen by the Centre’s Executive Director, Engineer Yunusa Zakari Ya’u in Kano.

“The EU AI Act which was recently amended does not adequately address and prevent the harms stemming from the use of AI in the migration context.

“States and institutions are focused on promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in terms of benefits for wider society, marginalised communities and people on the move particularly migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

“But the states and institutions have failed to understand that the AI technologies fit into wider systems of over-surveillance, criminalisation, structural discrimination and violence,” the statement reads.

The statement added that solutions include to prohibit unacceptable uses of AI system in the context of migration and ensure that all AI systems used in migration are regulated.

http://www.newskeeper.com.ng/2022/12/eu-citad-160-other-organizations.html

2. https://www.theskuup.com/protect-rights-of-people-include-migrants-citad-urges-eu-others/
3. https://newsdiaryonline.com/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-globally-advocate-
   migrants-protection-by-european-union/
4. https://stalliontimes.com/2022/12/08/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-globally-
   advocate-migrants-protection/
5. https://independentpost.ng/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-globally-advocates-
   migrants-protection-by-european-union/
6. https://arewaagenda.com/act-citad-over-organizations/
7. https://www.thecampuswatch.com/2022/12/08/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-
   globally-advocates-migrants-protection-by-european-union/
8. https://citadradio.com.ng/2022/12/08/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-globally-
   advocates-migrants-protection-by-european-union/
9. https://primetimenews.ng/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-globally-advocates-migrants-
   protection-by-european-union/
10. https://newsdiaryonline.com/eu-ai-act-citad-over-160-organizations-globally-advocate-
    migrants-protection-by-european-union/