By Abdallah el-Kurebe

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read part of the communique below:

The meeting featured four presentations as follows:

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

Observations

Participants observed that:

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

Recommendations

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

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

Resolution

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

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

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has awarded the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) a grant to promote access of vaccines for marginalized groups in northern regions in Nigeria.

The grant is part of the roughly $80 million in awards MacArthur Foundation announced yesterday in support of the foundation’s Equitable Recovery initiative, centered on advancing racial and ethnic justice which is funded by its social bonds, issued in response to the crises of the pandemic and racial inequity.

Announcing the grant, the foundation’s President, John Palfrey said ‘as we emerge from this moment of crisis, we have an opportunity to improve the critical systems that people and places need to thrive. Our systems and structures must be rebuilt.

‘We are committed to ensuring that our response to the pandemic is focused on supporting the reimagining of systems that create a more just, equitable, and resilient world.’

The $80 million grant reflect MacArthur Foundation’s global reach: 45 percent of the new funding supports work outside of the U.S., including 12 percent in India, and 14 percent in Nigeria, where it has offices.

It is meant ‘to advance Public Health Equity and COVID-19 Mitigation and Recovery supports improving access to resources for immediate health challenges while advancing new policies, models, and structures to support a more equitable and resilient public health sector in the future, MacArthur is supporting work in that focus, as well as three other areas:

• Racial Justice Field Support, with a focus on combatting anti-Blackness, supports building Black power by supporting Black-led and -focused philanthropic organizations. MacArthur also will take a leadership role in positioning reparations and racial healing as issues that philanthropy helps to meaningfully address.

• Self-determination of Indigenous Peoples supports uplifting Indigenous communities to enable autonomous pursuit of a recovery guided by their priorities, cultures, and practices.

• An Equitable Housing Demonstration Project supports restoring communities and reducing incarceration and housing instability by generating an array of housing solutions that can help to permanently end the use of jails and prisons as housing of last resort.’

Almost two-thirds of the awards represent new grantee relationships and most of the organizations are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led or -serving.

CITAD is one of the organizations receiving grants advancing the Public Health Equity and COVID-19 Mitigation and Recovery focus area of the foundation’s initiative.

In the fall of 2020, MacArthur established a $125 million Equitable Recovery Initiative.

The Foundation deployed $40 million of bond proceeds through 24 grants. Initial grants focused on strengthening voter mobilization and election protection, addressing anti-Black racism, and supporting Native Americans impacted by COVID-19.

The grants also supported Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts organizations in Chicago, technology and justice, and a fund for social entrepreneurs advancing racial equity.

Cibiyar bunƙasa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma CITAD, ta koka akan yadda gwamnatin tarayyar Najeriya ta gaza haɗa wani adadi mai yawa na al’ummar ƙasar nan da fasahar intanet, wanda hakan zai ba su damar da za a dinga damawa da su a harkokin al’amuran ƙasar nan da ma abin da ya shafi duniya.

Haka kuma CITAD ta ce samar da fasahar intanet ɗin ga ɗimbin al’ummar musamman mazauna yankunan karkara zai taimaka ƙwarai da gaske wajen magance matsalolin da al’ummomin ke fuskanta tare da ba su dama wajen amfana da cigaban zamani a harkar fasahar sadarwa.

Jawabin hakan na ƙunshe ne cikin wata sanarwar bayan taron yini ɗaya na masu ruwa da tsaki na kungiyoyin fararen hula wanda cibiyar ta CITAD ta shirya.

Taron wanda ya gudana a fasahar sadarwa ta Zoom ya mayar da hankali kan yadda za a fahimtar tare da faɗakar da jama’ar ƙasar nan yadda za a samarwa da al’ummar yankunan karkara fasahar zamani domin su amfana da sauyin zamani, wanda hakan ɗaya ne daga cikin manyan ayyukan da cibiyar ta CITAD ta himmatu ƙarƙashin ƙungiyar Association for Progressive Communications (APC), tare da tallafin ofishin ƙasar Birtaniya mai lura da cigaban ƙasashe rainon ƙasar wato United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), ta cikin shirinsu na Digital Access Programme (DAP).

Hakazalika sanarwar bayan taron ta ce adadin mutanen da su ke shafukan intanet sun kai 298,823,195, yayin da mutane 297,536,702 ne kawai su ke amfani da intanet a harkokin su na yau da kullum, wanda hakan ke nuna cewa kaso 40 ne kacal na Æ´an Najeriya ke amfani da intanet.

Sanarwar ta ƙara da cewa mafi yawan al’ummar da su ke zaune a yankunan karkara ba su da damar samun fasahar intanet ɗin sakamakon yadda manyan kamfanunnukan sadarwa ke ƙauracewa sanya turakunansu a yankunan saboda tsammanin rashin samun riba.

A ƙarshe cibiyar ta CITAD ta yi kira da gwamnatin tarayya da sauran ƙungiyoyin fararen hula da su haɗa hannu waje guda domin samar da dokokin da za su tilasta samarwa da yankunan karkara hanyoyin sadarwa domin su ma a dinga damawa da su a ɓangaren cigaban zamani musamman abubuwan da su ka shafi cigaba da magance dukkanin wani ƙalubale.

By Hannatu Sulaiman Abba

The Centre for Information technology and development (CITAD) as part of its project on Supporting Community-led Approaches to Addressing the Digital Divide in Nigeria which is part of larger project on community networks coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme (DAP), convened a once day consultative meeting of Civil Society Organizations on Community Networks.

This is contained in a communique issued to newsmen at the end of a one day civil society consultative meeting on community network convened by CITAD.

Community networks is a telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by a local group to meet their own communication needs and also a communications infrastructure, designed and erected to be managed for use by local communities. This communication needs can be voice, data, etc. and can be point of convergence for community to come together to address their common community problems.

According to, Y. Z. Yaú Executive Director, CITAD,The meeting, attended by over 40 CSOs from different parts of the country was held online using zoom on July 27 was meant to sensitize them on the importance of community networks as a tool for addressing the digital divide.

By Hannatu Sulaiman Abba

The Centre for Information technology and development (CITAD) as part of its project on Supporting Community-led Approaches to Addressing the Digital Divide in Nigeria which is part of larger project on community networks coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme (DAP), convened a once day consultative meeting of Civil Society Organizations on Community Networks.

This is contained in a communique issued to newsmen at the end of a one day civil society consultative meeting on community network convened by CITAD.

Community networks is a telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by a local group to meet their own communication needs and also a communications infrastructure, designed and erected to be managed for use by local communities. This communication needs can be voice, data, etc. and can be point of convergence for community to come together to address their common community problems.

According to, Y. Z. Yaú Executive Director, CITAD,The meeting, attended by over 40 CSOs from different parts of the country was held online using zoom on July 27 was meant to sensitize them on the importance of community networks as a tool for addressing the digital divide.

Additionally, it was meant to explore the possibility of a joint advocacy for the government to develop a policy framework for the community networks, noting that at the present, the country does not have a policy for community networks t, a situation that has hampered their evolution and growth.
The meeting featured four presentations as follows:

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

Observations

Participants observed that:

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

Recommendations

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

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

Resolution

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

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

Digital Divide: Internet Penetration Covers Only 40% of the Nigeria’s Population, Says CITAD

By Rabiu Musa

News Tunnel – The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) decried neglegence of Nigeria’s government to connect the larger portion of it’s population to Internet which will enable them to take part not only in the country’s decision making process and sustainable development but connect them to the global digital terrain to enable them participate and solve problem (s) peculiar to their communities.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of a one day Civil Society Consultative Meeting on Community Networks organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) as part of its project on supporting community-led approaches to addressing the Digital Divide in Nigeria which is part of larger project on community networks coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme (DAP).

The statement said that “Although there are over 298,823,195 connected lines out of which 297,536,702 were said to be active in the country, only about 40% of these are connected to the internet, meaning that internet penetration in the country covers only about 40% of the population”

The statement further added that “Most of the blind areas are in either hard to reach, rural communities or poor communities where affordability is a problem, hence the market mechanism is not able to provide connectivity to them since it would be unprofitable”

CITAD further calls for a joint advocacy with the government to develop a policy framework for the community networks, noting that at the present, the country does not have a policy for community networks, a situation that has hampered their evolution and growth.

Community networks will bring opportunities for direct access to education and health care for rural residents.

Read the full statement below:

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A ONE-DAY CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON COMMUNITY NETWORKS CONVENED BY CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD)

The Centre for Information technology and development (CITAD) as part of its project on Supporting Community-led Approaches to Addressing the Digital Divide in Nigeria which is part of larger project on community networks coordinated globally by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme (DAP), convened a once day consultative meeting of Civil Society Organizations on Community Networks. Community networks is a telecommunications infrastructure deployed and operated by a local group to meet their own communication needs and also a communications infrastructure, designed and erected to be managed for use by local communities. This communication needs can be voice, data, etc. and can be point of convergence for community to come together to address their common community problems.

The meeting, attended by over 40 CSOs from different parts of the country was held online using zoom on July 27 was meant to sensitize them on the importance of community networks as a tool for addressing the digital divide. Additionally, it was meant to explore the possibility of a joint advocacy for the government to develop a policy framework for the community networks, noting that at the present, the country does not have a policy for community networks t, a situation that has hampered their evolution and growth.

The meeting featured four presentations as follows:

1. Concept and Benefits of Community Network

2. Community Network in Practice: Experience from of Fauntsuam Foundation

3. Community Networks in Africa

4. The Policy Vacuum with Respect to Community Networks in Nigeria

Observations

Participants observed that:

1. There is no policy or regulation to recognize community networks as distinct operators with appropriate conditions for their operations

2. That at the moment there are over 100 unserved or underserved communities who are digitally excluded in the country

3. That although there are over 298,823,195 connected lines out of which 297,536,702 were said to be active in the country, only about 40% of these are connected to the internet, meaning that internet penetration in the country covers only about 40% of the population.

4. That most of the blind areas are in either hard to reach, rural communities or poor communities where affordability is a problem, hence the market mechanism is not able to provide connectivity to them since it would be unprofitable.

5. That although the Nigerian Communication Commission is favourably disposed to midwifing the policy framework for community networks, there are still many challenges that have to be addressed for community networks to flourish and be sustainable in the country

6. Community network will bring opportunities for direct access to education and health care for rural residents

Recommendations

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

1. The national regulator should hasten the processes of articulating a National Community Networks Policy for the country

2. That NCC should formal regulations allowing the use of TVWS technologies to address access challenges have yet to be issued

3. That community networks should be categorized as a different layer of operators and be given license exempt

4. That community networks should be considered as start –ups and be eligible to national support systems for start ups

5. Efforts should be made in expanding high speed network and network infrastructure to underserved rural communities

6. Government through USPF, NCC and NITDA should facilitate the setting up of community networks centres at rural and hard to reach areas

7. That government should support an initiative that offers free or subsidized spectrums to local communities

Resolution

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

1. Popularize community networks as catalyst tool for addressing digital divide and promoting digital inclusion in the country

2. Sensitizing their community members about the importance and benefit of community network

3. To conduct sustained advocacy for the national telecommunications regulator to come up with a national policy framework for community networks in the country

4. Support effort by all stakeholders to address the multifarious dimensions of the digital divide in Nigeria.

Signed

Y. Z. Yaú

Executive Director

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has hosted Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria towards strengthening community networks in the country.

This program which is part of a larger program on community networks coordinated globally by Association for Progressive Communications with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Digital Access Programme had over 40 CSOs in attendance.

According to the organizers, the programwas meant explore possibility of a joint advocacy for the government to develop policy framework for community networks as the country does not at present have a framework for community networks. At the event, it was revealed that there are over 100 unserved or underserved communities who are digitally excluded in the country.

It was also revealed that there are over 298,823,195 connected lines out of which 297,536,702 were said to be active in the country with the country having only about 40% internet penetration.

While expressing gladness at the positivity of the Nigerian Communications Commission over Community networks, the CSOs worry that there are lots more to do to ensure sustainability of community healthcare. At the event, it was recommended that the regulator should ‘hasten the process of articulating a National Community Networks Policy for the country’, it was also recommended that community networks should be seen as startups and be eligible to national support system for Start-ups.

The participants also charged the government through USPF,NCC and NITDA to facilitate the setting up of community network centres at rural and hard to reach areas.

The CITAD and other CSOs also resolved to embark on massive sensitization program on importance of community networks while supporting stakeholders to address the multifarious dimensions of digital divide in Nigeria.

A CSO Coalition on community networks was also formed at the event.

By Ismail Auwal

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has said that they are over 100 digitally underserved communities in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a communique issued by the center after it hosted a network of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria towards strengthening community systems in the country.

This program which is part of a larger program on community networks coordinated globally by Association for Progressive Communications with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Digital Access Programme had over 40 CSOs in attendance.

According to the CITAD, the program was meant explore possibility of a joint advocacy for the government to develop policy framework for community networks as the country does not at present have a framework for community networks. At the event, it was revealed that there are over 100 unserved or underserved communities who are digitally excluded in the country.

It was also revealed that there are over 298,823,195 connected lines out of which 297,536,702 were said to be active in the country with the country having only about 40% internet penetration.

It also noted that, there is no policy or regulation to recognize community networks as distinct operators with appropriate conditions for their operations.

While expressing gladness at the positivity of the Nigerian Communications Commission over Community networks, the CSOs worry that there are lots more to do to ensure the sustainability of community healthcare. At the event, it was recommended that the regulator should ‘hasten the process of articulating a National Community Networks Policy for the country’, it was also recommended that community networks should be seen as startups and be eligible for national support system for Start-ups.

The participants also charged the government through USPF, NCC and NITDA to facilitate the setting up of community network centers at rural and hard to reach areas.

The CITAD and other CSOs also resolved to embark on massive sensitization program on importance of community networks while supporting stakeholders to address the multifarious dimensions of digital divide in Nigeria.

A CSO Coalition on community networks was also formed at the event.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) says more than half of Nigerian people are unconnected to Internet.

CITAD’s observation is coming as the nation’s telecommunication regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) begins to review its licensing processes and conditions after nearly 20 years.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Mr Y. Z. Yau in a statement made available to ASHENEWS on Tuesday, said the telecommunication sector is highly dynamic such that its regulatory framework has to be equally dynamic, to respond to changes in technological development.

“At the beginning of this year, only about 43% of Nigerians were using the internet. This means more than half of Nigerians are still unconnected, creating an unwanted digital divide in the country.

“Since that review, a lot of major technological developments have occurred, making some of the provision obsolete and thrusting new issues that there hitherto not anticipate.

“Among the technological progress for instance, we have moved from 2G through 3G and now heading for the deployment of 5G. We are witnessing the update of artificial intelligence and internet of all things (IoT) both of which are major users of bandwidth.

“Within the period, internet has moved from a fringe luxury of the rich to an indispensable tool for all.  One of the lessons that the COVID lockdown has taught the world is that the future is increasing dependent on online interactions. This is why the United Nations has declared access to the internet a right that no one should be left behind,” Yau stated.

According to him, “Although Nigeria has made tremendous progress over the years, there are still many millions of people who are unconnected and are not using the internet. At the beginning of this year, only about 43% of Nigerians were using the internet. This means more than half of Nigerians are still unconnected, creating an unwanted digital divide in the country.

“Cost and infrastructure of access rollout limitations are among the key factors for the persistence of the digital divide in the country. Of course, there are other peculiarities such as the relatively poorer access to the internet by women and people living with disabilities. Infrastructure of access rollout is conditioned by regulations and policy provisions as well as licensing conditions. To accelerate that and lower the cost of access and use and expand affordability for the many, the NCC is called upon to embrace innovative licensing frameworks that could catalyse speedy roll out with cost crushing down.

“One of the innovative approach is the inclusion of community networks as a special category of licenses, available to communities and non-profits to rollout community level networks that could provide access to internet for communities and provide sites for technical experimentation and promotion of digital literacy. This is being used successfully in many countries globally, including in Africa in such countries as Kenya, South Africa Malawi, etc,” CITAD further stressed.

The Centre called on the NCC “to use the occasion of the review to mainstream community networks licenses within its licensing framework. We would also like to call on the regulator to review the Framework for the deployment of TV white space (TVWS) to enable its utilization for community networks,” while also cautioning that “this review should not engage with the issues of licensing and regulating of over the top (OTT) platforms, which is being clamored for by some within government as part of the fallout of the misunderstanding between the government and Twitter.

“We urge that it should be left out of the healthy growth of the telecommunication sector which is necessary for bringing the digital divide and for the nurturing the digital economy in Nigeria,” it said.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) says more than half of Nigerian people are not connected to Internet.

CITAD’s observation is coming as the nation’s telecommunication regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) begins to review its licensing processes and conditions after nearly 20 years. The Executive Director of the Centre, Mr Y. Z. Yau in a statement said the telecommunication sector is highly dynamic such that its regulatory framework has to be equally dynamic, to respond to changes in technological development. “At the beginning of this year, only about 43% of Nigerians were using the internet.

This means more than half of Nigerians are still unconnected, creating an unwanted digital divide in the country. “Since that review, a lot of major technological developments have occurred, making some of the provision obsolete and thrusting new issues that there hitherto not anticipate. “Among the technological progress for instance, we have moved from 2G through 3G and now heading for the deployment of 5G. We are witnessing the update of artificial intelligence and internet of all things (IoT) both of which are major users of bandwidth. “Within the period, internet has moved from a fringe luxury of the rich to an indispensable tool for all. One of the lessons that the COVID lockdown has taught the world is that the future is increasing dependent on online interactions.

This is why the United Nations has declared access to the internet a right that no one should be left behind,” Yau stated. According to him, “Although Nigeria has made tremendous progress over the years, there are still many millions of people who are unconnected and are not using the internet. At the beginning of this year, only about 43% of Nigerians were using the internet. This means more than half of Nigerians are still unconnected, creating an unwanted digital divide in the country. “Cost and infrastructure of access rollout limitations are among the key factors for the persistence of the digital divide in the country.

Of course, there are other peculiarities such as the relatively poorer access to the internet by women and people living with disabilities. Infrastructure of access rollout is conditioned by regulations and policy provisions as well as licensing conditions. To accelerate that and lower the cost of access and use and expand affordability for the many, the NCC is called upon to embrace innovative licensing frameworks that could catalyse speedy roll out with cost crushing down. “One of the innovative approach is the inclusion of community networks as a special category of licenses, available to communities and non-profits to rollout community level networks that could provide access to internet for communities and provide sites for technical experimentation and promotion of digital literacy.

This is being used successfully in many countries globally, including in Africa in such countries as Kenya, South Africa Malawi, etc,” CITAD further stressed. The Centre called on the NCC “to use the occasion of the review to mainstream community networks licenses within its licensing framework. We would also like to call on the regulator to review the Framework for the deployment of TV white space (TVWS) to enable its utilization for community networks,” while also cautioning that “this review should not engage with the issues of licensing and regulating of over the top (OTT) platforms, which is being clamored for by some within government as part of the fallout of the misunderstanding between the government and Twitter.

“We urge that it should be left out of the healthy growth of the telecommunication sector which is necessary for bringing the digital divide and for the nurturing the digital economy in Nigeria,” it said.

On its continued efforts to link communities with network and have access to affordable network, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) had on the 9th of July, 2021 sensitized Laileyi community on community network connection based.

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

The network community project 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 Laileyi Community. The program started with definition of community network and its benefits to the communities; these are some of the major contents that were discussed during the event by Suhail Sani Abdullahi, Technical Officer of CITAD. Other topics that were discussed include service render by community network, regulatory conditions of project among others.

Also, the Technical Officer of CITAD discussed on the linkages of the communities to open access to network.

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

By Ismail Auwal

The Centre for Information and Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the establishment of  local content bill in Nigeria.

The bill which was for the first meant for the oil and gas sector, is meant to ensure that local players are not completely lost out to foreign firms through competitive bidding because of the strength of the international players, and to serve as a mechanism for technology transfer and to promote the grown of local industry

A Bill to provides legal institutionalizing of the policy is currently in the Senate.  This bill, in addition to incorporating ICT has also added start-ups as potential beneficiaries of the proposed Local content development fund.

CITAD in a stakeholder’s engagement on the bill argued that it will boost the development of ICT in the country.

The Executive Director of CITAD Malam Y.Z Yau, said CITAD has engaged many concerned ICT stakeholders to work on the bill that will provide legal institutionalization of the policy which is currently in the Senate, addition to incorporating ICT that has also added with start-ups as potential beneficiaries of the proposed local content development fund. he added.

Furthermore, CITAD in a document list  the objective of the bill which include “the encouragement of the application of Nigerian Local Content to any transaction in which public fund belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its arms and/or agencies is used in any sector of the Nigerian economy, in donor or loan funded projects and in activities carried out by any entity in possession of an investment agreement with any arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies;

(2) the promotion of Nigerian Local Content to transactions in all sectors of the Nigerian economy where regulated activities are carried out especially in the petroleum, solid minerals mining, construction, power, information and communication technology, manufacturing and health sectors of the Nigerian economy;

(3) the giving of preference to goods and services produced in Nigeria so as to encourage the growth of local industries, services and technologies;

(4) the granting of preference to Nigerian citizens, indigenous Nigerian companies in the procurement of goods and services in all sectors of the Nigerian economy;

(5) the prioritization of Nigerian citizens in employment in all activities where public money belonging to any arm or agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria is used, in any sector of the Nigerian economy, in donor or loan funded projects and in activities carried out by any entity in possession of an investment agreement with any arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies;

(6) the transfer of skills and technology to Nigerians during execution of activities where public funds belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its arms or agencies are used, in any sector of the Nigerian economy, in donor or loan funded projects and in activities carried out by an entity in possession of an investment agreement;

(8) the maximization of value-addition and job creation through the use of local expertise, goods and services, businesses and financing in the value chain of the Nigerian economy and their retention in Nigeria;

(9) the development of the local capacities in the value chain of the Nigerian economy through education, skills transfer and expertise development, transfer of technology and know-how and active research and development programmes;Relevant Sections for the ICT Industry and Startups The four critical sections of the bill.

CITAD added that the Establishment of the local content bill in Nigeria will serve as promoting research and development in order to bridge the knowledge gap in relation to any area in the sector. taxable annual profit of the entity which sum shall be collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and be paid into the Fund, for Research and Development activities of the entity give first Consideration to indigenous Nigerian companies and firms Support in the development and promotion of startup and incubation activities of the participants and incubators also Ensuring, startups and incubators that have quick and seamless access to benefits and incentives provided under any scheme or programmes by the Federal Government of Nigeria where such startup or incubator is qualified for the benefit or incentive Support from the participation of startups in local and international events including but not limited to international competitions and conferences.

Moreover, capable of providing opportunities for startups and incubators to be linked up to potential investors, mentors, collaborators, and customers

CITAD added that, Nigerian Local Content Startup Seed Fund source for funds to assist joint venture programmes by indigenous Nigerian companies, collaborating to produce import substitution ICT products Original Equipment Manufacturers of ICT hardware shall assemble such hardware in Nigeria and maintain fully.

CITAD stated that, Nigerian staffed facilities for that purpose and providing maintenance and other ancillary services Telecommunication and network service companies will host all subscribers and consumer data in Establishment of e- market place Produced.

By Hannatu Sulaiman Abba

Centre for Information and Technology and Development (CITAD) organized a stakeholders meeting on local content bill in order to boost the development of ICT In the country.

CITAD introduced the local content policy as it was meant for the oil and gas sector, ensuring capability of competating with the foreign firms which will serve as a mechanism for technology transfer in promoting the grown of local industries with the recent policy which was extended to include the ICT sector.

The Executive Director of CITAD Malam Y.Z Yau, said CITAD has engaged many concerned ICT stakeholders to work on the bill that will provide legal institutionalization of the policy which is currently in the Senate, addition to incorporating ICT that has also added with start-ups as potential beneficiaries of the proposed local content development fund. he added.

Furthermore, CITAD showcased the objective of the bill which include “the encouragement of the application of Nigerian Local Content to any transaction in which public fund belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its arms and/or agencies is used in any sector of the Nigerian economy, in donor or loan funded projects and in activities carried out by any entity in possession of an investment agreement with any arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies;

(2) the promotion of Nigerian Local Content to transactions in all sectors of the Nigerian economy where regulated activities are carried out especially in the petroleum, solid minerals mining, construction, power, information and communication technology, manufacturing and health sectors of the Nigerian economy;

(4) the granting of preference to Nigerian citizens, indigenous Nigerian companies in the procurement of goods and services in all sectors of the Nigerian economy;

(5) the prioritization of Nigerian citizens in employment in all activities where public money belonging to any arm or agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria is used, in any sector of the Nigerian economy, in donor or loan funded projects and in activities carried out by any entity in possession of an investment agreement with any arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies;

(6) the transfer of skills and technology to Nigerians during execution of activities where public funds belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its arms or agencies are used, in any sector of the Nigerian economy, in donor or loan funded projects and in activities carried out by an entity in possession of an investment agreement;

(8) the maximization of value-addition and job creation through the use of local expertise, goods and services, businesses and financing in the value chain of the Nigerian economy and their retention in Nigeria;

(9) the development of the local capacities in the value chain of the Nigerian economy through education, skills transfer and expertise development, transfer of technology and know-how and active research and development programmes;Relevant Sections for the ICT Industry and Startups The four critical sections of the bill.

CITAD added that the Establishment of the local content bill in Nigeria will serve as promoting research and development in order to bridge the knowledge gap in relation to any area in the sector. taxable annual profit of the entity which sum shall be collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and be paid into the Fund, for Research and Development activities of the entity give first Consideration to indigenous Nigerian companies and firms Support in the development and promotion of startup and incubation activities of the participants and incubators also Ensuring, startups and incubators that have quick and seamless access to benefits and incentives provided under any scheme or programmes by the Federal Government of Nigeria where such startup or incubator is qualified for the benefit or incentive Support from the participation of startups in local and international events including but not limited to international competitions and conferences.

Moreover, capable of providing opportunities for startups and incubators to be linked up to potential investors, mentors, collaborators, and customers

CITAD added that, Nigerian Local Content Startup Seed Fund source for funds to assist joint venture programmes by indigenous Nigerian companies, collaborating to produce import substitution ICT products Original Equipment Manufacturers of ICT hardware shall assemble such hardware in Nigeria and maintain fully.

CITAD stated that, Nigerian staffed facilities for that purpose and providing maintenance and other ancillary services Telecommunication and network service companies will host all subscribers and consumer data in Establishment of e- market place Produced.

Cibiyar bunƙasa fasahar sadarwa da cigaban al’umma CITAD, ta koka akan yadda ake samun ƙarancin mata a harkokin mulki da ma siyasar Najeriya baki ɗaya.

Cibiyar ta CITAD ta bayyana takaicin na ta ne a yayin taron wata lakca da ta CITAD din ta shirya a dandalin intanet mai take ƙarancin mata a harkokin siyasar Najeriya, ina mafita? Wanda taron ya samu tallafin gidauniyar Rosa Luxembourg.

Malami a shashen nazarin halayyar ɗan adam a jami’ar Bayero da ke Kano, Dakta Aminu Ali ya ce akwai ƙarancin mata a harkokin siyasar kasar nan duk da irin ƙoƙarin da kungiyoyin fararen hula da na sa kai ke yi wajen ganin matan sun shiga an dama da su a harkokin siyasar.

Dakta Aminu Ali ya ce sakamakon tasirin al’ada da addini ya sanya mata su ke da ƙaranci a da’irar siyasar Najeriya, haka kuma ba a cika ganinsu ba a harkokin jama’a ko kuma ba su ragamar shugabancin al’umma ba.

A nata ɓangaren Uwargida Hamman Obels daga Cibiyar IRIAD cewa ta yi ya kamata a ɗauki wani mataki musamman idan aka zo batun rawar da mata za su iya takawa a harkokin siyasar Najeriya, domin tuni an bar mu a baya idan aka yi la’akari da sauran ƙasashen Afrika kamar su Rwanda da Tanzania da Senegal da kuma ƙasar Afrika ta Kudu.

Ta ƙara da cewa akwai abubuwa masu yawa da su ne su ka sabbaba rashin ganin matam a kujerun mulki, waɗanda su ka haɗa da al’ada da addini wanda ya haɗa da aure da kuma al’adar nan da wasu mutane ke kallon babu wani abu da mace za ta yi sai dai bauta a kasan Namiji da sunan aure.

Uwargida Hamman Obels, ta ƙara da cewa duk da cewa mata a Najeriya sun taka rawa sosai a ɓangaren tattalin arziki da kuma cigaba rayuwar al’umma amma har yanzu akwai masu daƙile cigaban matan tare da dankwafar da su a waje guda.

Haka kuma Hamman Obels din ta ce akwai buƙatar a samar da daidaito a tsakanin mata da maza musamman a harkokin mulki da siyasa domin hakan ne zai ƙara tabbatar da adalci.

A ƙarshe ta ce babu abin da zai samar da hakan sai an samu waɗanda za su rike hannun matan a harkokin siyasar kasar tare da wayar da kan al’umma akan siyasa ba mugun abu ba ce. Domin siyasa wani abu ce da ta ke da tasiri tare da taɓa rayuwar dukkanin al’umma.

The All Poets Network (APN), in collaboration with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) and Akweya Radio, organise one-day poetry writing workshop at the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano. Dr Ola Ifatimehin, the head of the Department, will facilitate the workshop.

Engausa, a hybridised English-Hausa language, is used by many Hausa speakers in northern Nigeria. The language is gaining momentum, especially on social media. However, writing poetry in the same language is usually unconventional or even unwelcomed.

Announcing the workshop, Khalid Imam, the curator of APN, describes Engausa poetry as “a type of poetry which combines English and Hausa words in its expressions. It borrows from the vocabulary and cultural expressions of both languages to create imagery and tonality that colours and beautifies poetry in fresh modes.”

Dr Ifatimehin said that when he began writing such poetry, he was surprised to see that “so many people found it quite fascinating and some started writing as well.” He added that although there had been debates around it, it is catching on. Dr Ifatimehin disclosed to this reporter that “we have recently gotten funding to do an anthology”.

The Daily Reality is the first online news medium in Nigeria with a dedicated section on Engausa. Therefore, the company has promised to support this avant-garde movement and other creative writings in Engausa. The event will take place on 10th July 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.