Journalists,CSOs cautions Against Sensational Posting on Social Media- Group

By Ahmed Jada.

Journalists and the Civil Society Organizations have been cautioned against sensational posting on social media platforms.

The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of 2-days capacity building workshop on Thursday for Media, CSOs and in Gombe.

“The journalists and CSOs should avoid posting anything sensational on social media platforms, that would cause problems in the society.

“That will make them loose the integrity and respect earned from the society ,” the communique said

The communique was signed by the chairman Hassan Shallpella and the secretary Abdulkareem Haruna.

The Communique also quoted “that journalists and CSO actors should be cautious of what they post on their various social media platforms to avoid being perceived as biased or taking sides,”

It called on journalists to objectively and constructively report the issues that have direct bearing with the citizens and government.

According to the communique, there is need for a better collaboration between the media and the civil society organizations to achieve social accountability in education sector in the Northeast Nigeria.

It said the synergy between state and non-state actors in education is key to achieving social accountability.

“That collaboration among media, CSOs and Schools Based Management Committee (SBMC) will enhance social accountability and quality service delivery in the education sector,” the communique said

It also called for more periodic capacity building for the media and the CSOs to enhance better working relationship.

“That members of the various clusters should imbibe the culture of networking for effective collaboration in order to achieve the set target,” it said

The Communique said that the media plays a vital role through its various functions in improving accountability in the education sector.

It said the SBMC should be effectively utilized by both the CSOs and the Media in achieving social accountability in public schools.

It also called on journalists to create innovative ways in producing reports and programmes that will promote social accountability.

“To also collaborate with the SBMCs and CSOs in order to get credible and reliable information that will improve quality education in the Northeast,” it said.

It added that the Media and CSOs should create a platform for easy sharing of information and further collaboration.

Our correspondent report that the workshop was organised by Northeast Social Accountability in Education Cluster with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) as Anchor, with Support from USAID through SACE project. Participants were drawn from various media organisations and CSOs in the Northeast states.

CITAD Sensitized Students of Higher Institutions in Jigawa State on #Hatespeech and #Fakenews

By Ali Sabo.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation had on the 14th and 17th of August, 2018 conducted a sensitization on Hate Speech and Fake News to the students of College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Ringim and Jigawa State Polytechnic at the ICT/Computer Hall and Computer Science Library Hall of the institutions respectively.

As we are all aware that the issue of spreading Hate Speech and Fake News have become so rampant in our society most especially in social media platforms. It is in this view that CITAD as an organization that is implementing a project on peace and curbing Hate and Dangerous Speeches and Fake News both online and offline, found it very paramount to engage students of tertiary institutions and sensitize them about the negative impact of spreading such kind of information in the society due to the significant number of youth on social media and the role they can play in stopping this menace.

The sensitization which started last week had interacted with students of Bayero University, Kano, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Federal College of Education all in Kano state. And this week the team moves to Jigawa state. The essence of the sensitization is to equip the students with all the necessary technical knowhow and tools on how to address the menace of HATE Speech and Fake News which is spreading like a wildfire in our society and to also mould them to be the agents of peace in their institutions, communities and associations.

At the sensitization one Lead Paper was presented: Understanding Hate and Dangerous Speeches and Three Breakout Sessions: Using Technology to Combat Hate Speech i.e Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which were facilitated by Hamza Ibrahim, Coordinator Hate Speech Project and Shazali Sabo, Programmes Assistant, Peace.

After the presentations, the participants were given chance to ask questions and make comments. One of the participants Bashir Usman, a student with Department of Law, College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Ringim confessed that he was among the Hate Speech promoters especially on Facebook but after the sensitization he assured the organizers that he will never engage on it again. While Hussaini Lawal of the Department of Computer Science, Jigawa State Polytechnic mentioned that this is the first time he attended this kind of sensitization and said if other organizations will emulate CITAD things will be different in the country. It was also discovered that most of the participants lack the technical knowledge on how to report Hate Speech on either Facebook or Twitter. At the end they promised to use the knowledge they acquired at the sensitization properly and also extend it to their colleagues, friends and families.

In his vote of thanks, the chairman Civil Society Forum, Jigawa State, Comrade Musbahu Basirka commended CITAD for organizing this wonderful and enlightening program especially at this critical time referring to the forth coming general elections and he also appeals to the participants to stay away from any political violence and anything that will hamper the peace of the country during the election.

Infotech Centre Harps on Youth Entrepreneurship

By Eileen Ihenmadu.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development(CITAD), on Tuesday held a business facilitation clinic themed “ Creating space for the development of young entrepreneurs”.
The clinic was in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria. The program was aimed to offer a face to face engagement with key government agencies, stakeholders and accomplished young entrepreneurs.
The Executive Director of Centre for Information Technology and Development, Mr. Y Z. Yau, in his remark said the business facilitation clinic seeks to empower young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address their economic and development challenges.
“The idea behind this business clinic is to continually support digital rural startups in Nigeria in the area of providing education, training and information that will enhance their business management skills.
“CITAD and Action Aid Nigeria considers young people in the rural communities as central to economic and social advancement through sustained inclusive growth. Part of investing in the future youth to give them the tools to drive inclusive economic growth, social justice and ending poverty in the long run”.
The Executive Director CITAD in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria decided that this year’s event should coincide with the International Youth Day 2018 theme “Safe Spaces for Youths” because the event will facilitate a dialogue on safe spaces between governments, UN agencies,academia, civil society, and most importantly youth groups. With the goal of offering practical solutions to the challenges of creating youth-friendly spaces.
Mr Y.Z. Yau, disclosed that CITAD with the support of Action Aid Nigeria established five modern ICT centres in fifteen communities under the four selected area councils. The programme was under the project on “Digitalisation for Equitable Development in establishment of ICT centres in FCT-Abuja”, which ensured that two hundred and ten youths received training in digital skills, digital entrepreneurship skills, business management skills and business support clinic which held yesterday.
The representative of the Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Hamid M. Nagogo, said the Minister is really impressed with the initiative which seeks to empower youths, he also lauded the project by saying youths have a role to play in the world today.
He advised youths not to see capital as the major problem but look around for what is in need thereby trying to create it. He also encouraged youths to think of ways to develop themselves.
The Executive Director of CITAD, said that by saying the world’s young people who make up the largest generation in history can lead to a global drive to break the patterns of the past and set the world
On course for a more sustainable future adding that young people are traditionally at the cutting edge and today have more information than any previous generation.

CITAD Trains 210 Youths and Women On ICT in 15 Communities Across FCT

By Sarauniya G Usman.

No fewer than 210 Youths & Women in 15 Rural Communities has been trained by Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),Spread across four area councils in FCT.

The programme, was aimed to offer face -to-face engagement with key government agencies, stakeholders and accomplished young entrepreneurs on the key functions of relevant government agencies and modern business management strategies.

In his remarks,The Executive Director,CITAD, Yau, who was represented by Program Officer, Ahmad Muhammad,CITAD,said, the business facilitation clinic seeks to empower young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring,and access to financing to develop startup solutions that can address the economic and development challenges”

The director said, the idea behind the business is to continually support digital rural startup in Nigeria in the area of providing education, training and Information that would enhance business management skills.

“Assemble of this nature can create a platform where business regulatory bodies, business development service providers and businesses can interact and provide solutions to challenges inhibiting the startup and growth of startup”.

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The Executive Director,CITAD, Yau, said on the side-lines of the closing ceremony that the training was geared toward empowering the participants in various ICT businesses.
“It was basically tailored toward producing new generations of entrepreneurs among the nation’s teeming youths and women population using ICT as a veritable yard-stick.

The program which is under the project on ” Digitisation for Equitable development in establishment of ICT centres in FCT- Abuja was organised by Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Action Aid Nigeria in implementing project on Digital Skills
which include: To combine wining the mind campaign with entrepreneurship development to transform idle women/youth into job creators, creating wealth for themselves, their children and the country using digital skills they acquired

The training programme which was tagged: BUSINESS FACILITATION CLINIC “CREATIING SPACE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ENTERPRENEURS”, attracted youth and women participants from 15 Rural Communities in FCT.

Kano Digital Summer Institute (KDSI) 23rd-28th July, 2018

By Maryam Ado Haruna.

As part of CITAD strategy to empower women and close the huge gender gap in the digital sphere that exists especially in the northern Nigeria, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in partnership with United States Institute for Advanced Studies, John Hopkins University, and Everett, organized a 6-day digital training for young women in Kano state titled “2nd Kano Digital Summer Institute 2018 (KDSI).”

The Digital Summer Institute was first established in the year 2017 with two workshops in Abuja and Kano respectively.

On the first day of the training during the opening ceremony, the coordinator of the institute, Dr. Aminu Aliyu Muhammad explained that just like the previous 2017 1st Institute, the 2018 Digital Summer Institute also has two workshops in the FCT for young women in Abuja and Kano.

He added that women in the northern Nigeria are faced with numerous challenges. The poverty indices has also proved women to be the poorest and most dependent. This disadvantage has prevailed to the digital spheres. Thus, part of the main objectives of the training is to empower women with digital skills to enable them become self-reliant.

Hajiya Sa’a Ibrahim, Managing Director, Abubakar Rimi Television Kano, who chaired the ceremony, expressed that it is a beautiful chance for the selected beneficiaries to utilize in order to explore business opportunities available for them. She urged them to consider the sacrifice made by the three facilitators who travelled all the way from California, USA, to train them with the digital skills. And therefore, they need to give their best to the training.

The KDSI went on for six days from Monday 23rd to 28th Saturday July, 2018 with 21 participants, including one person with special needs. Part of the skills and tools that were taught during the institute include:

  1. Monday 23rd July: Google Apps and their various functions. These include:
  • Google Scholar,
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Drive
  • Google Photos
  • Google docs
  • Chrome

 

  1. Tuesday 24th July: Photography and its Uses
  • Concepts of creativity
  • Learning the technique
  • Rule of thoughts
  • Photo etiquette check list
  • Post shoot process
  • Photo distribution
  • Print sharing

 

  1. Wednesday 25th July: Graphic Design and its Uses
  • Culture of graphic design
  • What to ask b4 graphic design
  • Infographics
  • Elements and principles of design
  • Typography basics
  • Canva App
  • Creating flyer, IV, business cards etc using Canva

 

  1. Thursday 26th July: Filming and Uses
  • Video Production
  • Importance of film
  • Storyboarding
  • Uses of storyboards
  • Directing and cinematography
  • Sound and lighting

 

  1. Friday 27th July: Social Media Marketing
  • Social media marketing
  • Used d app logo pit plus
  • Made logos
  • Rules b4 posting
  • Benefits of social media for biz
  • How u use social media to make money
  • Privacy
  • Email marketing

 

  1. Saturday 28th July: Video Editing 
  • Video editing
  • Video importing
  • Video exporting
  • Editing
  • Cropping and placement
  • Transition
  • Audio
  • Filters
  • Video editing apps
  • FilmoraGo App
  • Quick
  • Adobe premiere clip

During the closing ceremony of the KDSI on Saturday 28th July, 2018, prof. Paul Lubeck (Malam Ibrahim) from the USAIS John Hopkins University, who chaired the ceremony presented certificates to the 21 beneficiaries of the KDSI including the person with special needs.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Malam Yunusa Ya’u, explained that CITAD would feel honoured and repaid if the women utilize the skills they have acquired and venture into different businesses; online or offline they found suitable. CITAD also expects the women to become self –reliant in the nearest future and also provide job opportunities to others. He urged them to step-down the skills they have learnt to other women as CITAD would not have the resources to train all women in Kano state. He later commended a participant, Elisha Shallom who travelled all the way from Bauchi state to acquire the skills.

The team of the U.S co-facilitators comprising of Ruby, Tamara and Ayde, advised the young women to keep practicing the skills that they have learnt and make effort to explore countless opportunities available in the skills they have learnt. They explained that their motivation was the passion to make effort to close the existing gender gap in both physical and digital world.

A participant explained that the KDSI did not only provided her with digital skills, it has also improved her skills in public speaking. Another participant added that she had now gain confidence and courage in herself and feels capable of excelling in her endeavour. One of the participants who also expressed her gratitude for the training explained that she had cancelled a contract of Logo and flyers she had given earlier for her brand because she could now do it with the skills she had acquired from the KDSI. At the end of the ceremony, a participant who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all beneficiaries, appreciated CITAD and other  partners, Everett and USAIS John Hopkins University and the co-facilitators, for their invaluable efforts of providing them with the digital skills.

 

CITAD Governing Board Members Hold a Meeting

By Hamza Ibrahim.

In line with it’s quest for efficiency towards realizing the set objectives of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), the governing board under the leadership of Malam Yakubu Aliyu has met and deliberated on numerous issues. The meeting which took place in Abuja is part of the policy and principles of the organization which demands the governing board members to periodically meet and deliberate in order to re-strategize and offer concrete inputs on the overall activities of the ICT-focused nongovernmental organization.

The meeting which lasted for hours has among other things discussed the state of programmes and projects the organization run, new initiatives as well as the sustainability plans. With headquarters in Kano, CITAD has other five offices in Abuja, Dutse, Jigawa state, Bauch, Jama’are and Azare in Bauchi state. CITAD sees technology as a tool to promote sustainable development, good governance and peaceful coexistence. It uses ICT to empower youth and women through access to information, skills and online mentoring opportunities. Present at the meeting were: Malam Yakubu Aliyu, Dr. Y.Z. Ya’u, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai, Ms. Ene Obi, Prof. Amina Kaidal, Dr. Asabe Sadiya Mohammed, Malam Isyaku Garba and Engr. Kamal Umar who are on the board of the organization.

Farmer/Herder Crises: Experts Fault Poor Awareness

Poor awareness on the pastoral system fit for the multiplicity of the Nigerian society is said to be at the core of the lingering conflicts between farmers and herders in the country.

This is largely due to widespread compromise in the nation’s news media, said experts at a workshop on fake news and insecurity in Nigeria, held at Starview hotel, Abuja.

A former Research Scientist at the International Livestock Centre for Africa and one-time Chairman, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Junaidu Maina said different livestock models exist but remain unknown or widely misunderstood.

This, according to the Chief Executive Officer, JM Global Associates Ltd, Abuja has caused governments to make arbitrary choices, often confusing one model for the other, thus prolonging the crisis.

He particularly faulted the Nigerian government’s concept of ranching, saying Nigeria lacks the land and technological resources to drive it.

He highlighted other causes of conflict between farmers and herders in the country to include scarcity of land resulting from population growth, encroachment of existing grazing reserves and among others, climate change.

Dr. Maina however tasked journalists to always scrutinize government legislations against pastoralism to set the pace for positive change in the agricultural sector.
Journalists in Nigeria equally have the task of changing existing narratives on the farmer/herder conflict to focus on the real issues underlying the conflict for a more thorough solution, said Dr. Saleh Momaleh of the Kaduna Peace Commission.

Creating ‘appropriate’ awareness, building confidence and community relations as well as minimise fear, Dr. Momaleh said is one task journalists in Nigeria must pursue.

In doing this, the Publisher of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi said journalists must be accountable, independent, transparent, community-based reporters and minimize harm in their practice.

The workshop tagged, “Understanding and Responding to Fake News Exacerbating Fears and Insecurity in the Country,” organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) from 13th to 14th July, 2018 centered on the dangers of fake news and hate speech on national growth, security and development in Nigeria.

Farmer/Herder Crises: Experts Fault Poor Awareness

Poor information on the pastoral system fit for the multiplicity of the Nigerian society is said to be at the core of the lingering conflicts between farmers and herders in the country.

This is largely due to widespread compromise in the nation’s news media, said experts at a workshop on fake news and insecurity in Nigeria, held at Starview hotel, Abuja.

A former Research Scientist at the International Livestock Centre for Africa and one-time Chairman, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Junaidu Maina said different livestock models exist but remain unknown or widely misunderstood.

This, according to the Chief Executive Officer, JM Global Associates Ltd, Abuja has caused governments to make arbitrary choices, often confusing one model for the other, thus prolonging the crisis.

He particularly faulted the Nigerian government’s concept of ranching, saying Nigeria lacks the land and technological resources to drive it.

He highlighted other causes of conflict between farmers and herders in the country to include scarcity of land resulting from population growth, encroachment of existing grazing reserves and among others, climate change.

Dr. Maina however tasked journalists to always scrutinize government legislations against pastoralism to set the pace for positive change in the agricultural sector.

Journalists in Nigeria equally have the task of changing existing narratives on the farmer/herder conflict to focus on the real issues underlying the conflict for a more thorough solution, said Dr. Saleh Momaleh of the Kaduna Peace Commission.

Creating ‘appropriate’ awareness, building confidence and community relations as well as minimise fear, Dr. Momaleh said is one task journalists in Nigeria must pursue.

In doing this, the Publisher of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi said journalists must be accountable, independent, transparent, community-based reporters and minimize harm in their practice.

The workshop tagged, “Understanding and Responding to Fake News Exacerbating Fears and Insecurity in the Country,” organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) from 13th to 14th July, 2018 centered on the dangers of fake news and hate speech on national growth, security and development in Nigeria.

Farmer Herders Crisis: CITAD Identify Causes, Proffer Solutions

By Jerry Emmanson.

Towards identifying issues underlying the growing conflicts in Nigeria, particularly the farmer-herders conflict, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) over the weekend organised a 2days workshop in Abuja tagged: “Understanding and Responding to Fake News Exacerbating Fears and Insecurity in the Country,” to assess the dangers of fake news and hate speech on national growth, security and development in Nigeria.

Participants at the workshop were youths from across the country, media, academia and civil society amongst others, which featured paper presentations from highly revered professionals and authorities from different spheres of life. In a communiqué jointly signed by Hamza Ibrahim (CITAD), Ibrahim Sulaiman (ALCIDA), Uza Doshima, Food Technology and Research, Yadoma Bukar Mandara and Usman Masara Kim, said fake news does not exist in a vacuum, it rather thrives in a gullible environment where human populations are less enlightened to access quality, objective, balanced and fair information.

“People who propagate hate speech have platforms they tend to use to manipulate public opinion and emotions for the purpose of mischief and/or selfish economic or political gains. The workshop in part of its resolution said: “Lack of transparency and sincerity on the part of government, which reflects in the operations of public/state owned media organizations, has greatly reduced public confidence in official sources of information.

Therefore, citizens are compelled to explore alternative sources of information, thereby falling victims of fake news media and agents. On the area of farmers-herders conflicts it stated that: “Existing legislations affecting pastoralism especially anti-open grazing laws have not holistically addressed the issue of farmer-herder clashes as they seldom reflect the sociocultural and environmental diversities of Nigeria.” It advised the government to consider the multiplicity of the sociocultural, geographical and other related landscape of the country, and design agric-related programmes to favour such.

“Communities should be allowed to explore specific livestock production options suitable to their sociocultural and/or environmental peculiarities rather than ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches that have over the years proved a failure in addressing the lingering crisis between farmers and herders.” Also in a presentation by Dr. Junaidu A. Maina on “Understanding the Crisis of Pastoralism in Nigeria,” he listed the major drivers of conflict between farmers and herders to be population growth, Livestock feed resource base, Encroachment of grazing reserves and Stock routes, Cattle Rustling, Breakdown of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, weak criminal justice system allowed and one sided report by media etc. He maintained that adaptation of intensive/enclosed production system will create a structured modern cattle production system with a national spread.

“This will for sometime co-exist with pastoralism which will persist in some states. Just like the modern commercial poultry which co-exists with larger rural poultry,” he said. Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, online publisher of PremiumTimes in his address on “Fake news and the challenge of security in Nigeria,” said that there is a fundamental crisis in global journalism today and while a vigorous debate is currently apace we pretend that is not the case in Nigeria.

“Digital transition has complicated the whole crises and one of the challenge of news at the current moment is the fact that at no other time in history do we have such a deluge, such a tsunami of information to contend with. “Because of the speed and volumes through which information and news reaches us, the capacity to blur the boundaries of journalism and non-journalism has narrowed, and the capacity to disinform and misinform has also grown out of bounds.” He however, advised journalists to maintain balance and fairness in their reports as the twin concepts which are central to journalistic ethics.

CITAD Media Workshop: Hate Speech And Fake News Has Cause More Damage Than Good In Our Society

Text of the Communiqu issued at the end of two-day Stakeholders

Workshop on Hate Speech and Media in Nigeria held at Grand Pela Hotel and Suites, Abuja, July 10-11, 2018.
Preamble

For two days, academics, journalists, broadcasters and civil society activists with diverse backgrounds met to discuss issues relating to hate speech and assorted media genres and professionals.

Four papers were presented in addition to two different panels as well as a robust general house discussion on issues that arose as the workshop progressed.

The workshop observed as follows:

1) Hate speech could emanate readily from the various divides in the society ranging from ethnic, religious, social to economic differences of individuals and groups. This could even deepen with subdivisions into smaller units implying that it is difficult to predict its end.

2) Hate speech can provoke negative reactions almost instantaneously as it fuels ethnic, religious and some other conflicts in the society and this could degenerate to violence.

3) Media related challenges that fuel conflict range from media’s disregard for diversity, undue commercialization, poor knowledge of relevant laws, history and culture as well as current affairs, ownership influence to provincialisation of education of relevant academics.

4) Paucity of logistics and undue internal pressure constitute another set of problems to good performance of the media.

5) Broadcast media in Nigeria, especially those owned by state governments, often run foul of cautionary measures especially during elections, thus presenting rather bad examples to their counterparts in the private sector.

6) Media genres of the print and broadcast are hardly different again with the inception of the internet as the conventional media ceaselessly seek to extend their operations and influence to the realms of social media.

7) The Cybercrime Advisory Council provided for by the Cybercrime Act of 2015 is rather exclusive particularly of the youths in spite of the reckoning enjoyed by the youths with the UN in relation to Internet issues as manifest in the annual rituals of the Internet Governance Forum, IGF.

The workshop subsequently recommended as follows:

1) Different ethnic groups should seek to tolerate their respective cultural differences to enable all to cohabit peacefully.

2) It is important that civil society groups begin to recognize the need to popularize the knowledge of the concept of hate speech for the benefit of the members of the general public.

3) Professionalism in the mainstream media is important hence the need for training and retraining of media personnel as, for instance, may be initiated by CITAD in conjunction with other stakeholders.

4) It is important to accord proper attention to the welfare of media personnel so that their work could be more factual and evidence based

5) The Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, and other similar bodies that used to have reasonable influence on media organizations need to liberalise to accommodate emerging players like members of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, and Online Publishers of Nigeria, OPAN.

6) Develop a voluntary code of conduct for bloggers and encourage widespread dissemination

7) Government should consider the repealing of the Cybercrime Act of 2015 to reform the Cybercrime Advisory Council to accommodate youths in line with the vision of the UN.

8) Journalism training institutions need to introduce courses on conflict sensitive reporting, and universities and other tertiary institutions offering journalism training should introduce the course right from 100 level.

9) The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should be made autonomous and independent agency

10) Media organizations and bodies should punish and sanction their staff and members who engage in promoting hate speech.

11) Public awareness need to be enhanced to educate people on getting and sharing information on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhastApp, Instagram, etc.

12) Civil society organizations should monitor hate speech and put pressure on media regulatory agencies to punish media houses that allow hate speech in their contents.

13) Journalists should prioritize write-ups that promote national unity, cohesion and tolerance and must not give room for hate speech

Signed:

i. Hamza Ibrahim-Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).

ii. Dr. Tunde Musbahu Akanni-Lagos State University (LASU)

iii. Chinedu Christopher Gbulie-Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)

iv. Onyekachi Eke-Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC)

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES FROM THE WORKSHOP.

CITAD Laments North East’s Low Adult Literacy Rate

By Balarabe Alkassim, Bauchi.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has lamented the low adult literacy rate in the north east region.

CITAD North East Social Accountability in Education Cluster team made the disclosure ‎when it paid an advocacy visit to Bauchi State House of Assembly committee on Education.

Speaking, the team leader, Isah Garba said the north east region has the least education statistics in the country with Yobe and Borno states having the lowest rates with 31.9 percent and 35.1 percent respectively.

“The corresponding figures for female adult literacy are 14.9 and 18.0 percent respectively for the two states. The performance of the states in both NECO and WAEC has been the lowest of the country.

“A survey showed that percentage of children between 6 and 16 who have never attended school has high prevalence in Borno (72 percent), Yobe (58 percent) and Bauchi (52 percent). Only 20 percent of all school age girls get to attend school,” he said.

In his response, the chairman Bauchi state House of Assembly committee on education Honourable Yusuf Inuwa Dadiye promised that the committee would look at the recommendations for necessary action.

Fake News Fuels Killings in Nigeria

By Richard P. Ngbokai.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed concern over the proliferation of fake news platforms on the internet, saying that the information purveyed on such platforms are fueling killings across the country.

Addressing a press conference in Kano, the centre’s Project Coordinator on hate speech, Malam Hamza Ibrahim blamed the social unrest characterizing the polity on careless handling of fake news and bogus news releases, as well as images emanating from social media.

“Amidst recurring loss of lives and properties in many parts of Nigeria, another serious danger is brewing with wildfire effect; this danger is the circulation of fake press statements that are widely circulated online.  An example of this is the purported release by a non-existent group ‘Fulani National Movement (FUNAM)’ justifying the recent massacre in Plateau state on the basis of some missing cows.

“We have over the last one year monitored how the use of fake news and fake images especially on the social media impacted on mutual co-existence and respect among people of different religious and tribal backgrounds. It is sad that many people are falling into the traps of these publications whose aim is to divide the country along ethnic and religious lines.

He therefore urged the public to scrutinize any news content accessed online to verify its source credibility before they could form any opinion base on the story.

Kungiyar CITAD Ta Ce Jita-jita Na Rura Wutar Fitina A Najeriya

Wata kungiyar dake bada shawara akan yada sahihan labaru a cikin jama’a ta ce jita jita ce makamashin rura wutar rikici a cikin al’umma.Da yake magana akan rikicin manoma da makiyaya, shugaban kungiyar Zakari Yau ya ce watsi da labaran jita jita shi zai taimaka wajen samun zaman lafiya saboda a yanar gizo wasu kan aika sakonni ko hotunan karya domin tada fitina.

Mallam Zakari Yau yace, idan an dubi yanar gizo za’a ga ana yada jita jita. Akan kuma dauko hotunan rikicin da aka yi a wasu wuraren ko kuma da ya faru da dadewa a sake sasu kamar yanzu suka faru. Wanda bai sani ba zai dauka ya yi amfani dasu, mutane kuma su yi kokarin daukan fansa. Ya ce suna gargadin mutane kada su dauki wani mataki akan abun da suka gani a yanar gizo ba tare da tantancewa ba.

Tsohon shugaban Miyetti Allah Dodo Oroji na Abuja ya amince da nazarin Zakari Yau. Yana cewa bala’i ake son kawowa kasar inda ake kawo hoto daga wata kasa a ce abun dake faruwa cikin kasar ke nan. Duk wanda aka kashe masa danuwa ko aka lalata masa dukiya zai dauki fansa. Idan aka taba Bafillatani zai kai kara kotu ya nemi hakkinsa. Saboda haka bai kamata mutane suna daukan doka a hannunsu ba.

Haka shi ma shugaban kananan kabilun kudancin Kaduna Mark Amani ya goyi bayan kaucewa yada jita jita. Ya yi ga kira kamfanonin waya da su dinga daukan mataki akan duk wani labarin bogi da wani ke yadawa domin tabbatar da zaman lafiya.

An Hori Yan Jarida Kan Rahotonnin Da Zasu iya Haifar DaTashin Hankali

Cibiyar Fasahar Sadarwa Da Ci Gaban Jama’a wato Centre For Information Technology and Debelopment (CITAD) ta jinjina wa hukumar gudanarwa na kafar sadarwar Premium Times a bisa daukan matakin gaggawa kan dan rahotoninsu da ya wallafa labarin karya marar tushe a jihar Filato. Jami’in CITAD a jihar Bauchi Mohammed Chiroma Hassan shine ya bayya hakan a jiya Talata sa’ilin da yake bayani wa ‘yan jarida dangane da illar yada rahotonin karya da kalaman batanci da wasu kafafen sadarwa ke yi, inda cibiyar ta bayyana cewar da bukatar ‘yan jarida su hada hanu domin dakile irin wannan lamarin da ke kawo wa kasar nan ci baya. Mohammed Chiroma Hassan ya ce; “Guje wa yada kalaman batanci da karerayi hadi da hotunan da suke hargiza jama’a abu ne wanda ya hau kan ‘yan jarida da al’umma domin kawar da su. “Yada labaran karya a cikin al’umma musamman wanda kafafen sadarwa suke yi na matukar jefa wa jama’an kasa firgici da tashin hankali, don haka da bukatar a hada hanu waje guda domin kawar da irin wannan dabi’ar,”

In ji CITAD. Jami’in Cibiyar fasahar sadarwa da ci gaban, ya kuma bayyana cewar wajibi ne a tashi tsaye domin nusar da jama’a illolin da kafafen sadarwar zamani ke haifarwa a kasar nan, inda ya bayar da misali da tashin hankalin da aka samu a Jos kwanakin nan, “Abun da ya jawo hankalinmu kan hakan, shine yadda wasu ‘yan jaridu ke yada kalaman batanci da labarai marasa sahihanci da nagarta, ku dubi yadda rahoton karya ya jawo tashin hankali a jihar Filato,” In ji shi. Chiroma ya bayyana cewar akwai hanyoyin sadarwar zamani da ake iya bi domin tantance sahihancin hoto ko labarin da ka iya kawo rudani a tsakanin jama’a, “Dukkanin kafafen sadarwar nan, akwai yadda ake tura musu bayani kan labari kaza ko hoto kaza baida sahihanci, za su dauki matakin sharewa cikin kasa da awa 24, muna kokarin koyar da jama’a hanyoyin da za su bi wajen yin hakan,” in ji Muhammad Hassan.

Ya kara da cewa; “Labarin kwanan nan da jaridar Premium Times ta wallafa; shi wannan labarin da dan rahotonsu ya basu labarin karya ne ya shirya, bai yi hira da kowa ba ya harhada labarinsa wai kisan da aka samu a jihar Filato na zuwa ne a sakamakon kashe-kashen shano da aka yi; alhali wannan da ya yi amfani da sunansa wai Mr. Chiroma na kungiyar Miyetti Allah, ya ce wai kisan an yi ne a matsayin ramuwar gayya, alhali karya ne muraran. “Ita gidan jaridar ta Premium Times ta binciko labarin inda ta fahimci dan rahotonta ya sharara karya, don haka ta dauki matakin baiwa jama’a hakuri da kuma hukunta wakilinnata. A dunkule muna jinjinawa matakin da gidan jaridar ta dauka, muna kuma kira ga sauran gidajen jaridu su dauki irin wannan matakin idan hakan ta faru domin kawo karshen shigar wa jama’a da rahotonin karya da kuma kage wanda ka iya haifar da tashin-tashina a cikin al’umma,” In ji CITAID.

Cibiyar ta kuma shaida cewar kafafen sadarwar zamani suna da karfin da suke isar da sako wa jama’a cikin kankanin lokaci; inda cibiyar ta bayyana cewar wannan damarce take baiwa kafafen sadarwar zamani damar yada shirme da karerayi domin cimma muradin wasu marasa kishin kasa. Ya ce, ya kamata jama’a suke yarda da sahihancin labara kadai in suka gani a jarida mai nagarta ba wai kafafen da ka iya kawo tashin hankali kai tsaye ba. Muhammad Ciroma ya bayyana cewar sun fito da hanyoyin da suke bi wajen rage kaifin makamancin wannan lamarin, inda ke bayani da cewa, “Abubuwan da muke yi wajen dakile irin wadannan labaran karyan suna da yawa, mukan bibiyi irin kamalan bantanci da ake yi a yanar gizo-zizo da kuma gidajen jaridu, domin muna da jami’an da suke sanya ido kan irin wannan.

A kowace karshen wata muka zauna mu tattaro labaran mu fadakar da ‘yan jaridan da kuma gwamnati, hade da al’umma, su al’umma muna nusar da su yadda za su yi wajen yakar irin wannan labaran batancin,” In ji Ciroma. Cibiyar ta kuma yi amfani da taron manema labaru wajen yin kira ga ‘yan jarida da a kowani lokaci suke bin ka’idojin da dokokin aikinsu, hadi da cire son zuciya wajen bayar da rahoton abun da suke son yadawa, sun nemi gwamnatin kuma ta tashi tsaye wajen kawo karshen kalaman bantanci hadi da rahotonin da za su haifar da kiyayya a tsakanin al’umma.

CITAD bata kuma tsaya haka nan ba; ta nemi jama’a da suke kaurace wa dukkanin wani rahoton da basu gamsu da sahihancinsa ba, kana suke amfani da hakan wajen kauda kansu kan kowace irin labarin da suke gani da ka iya kawo tashin hankali a tsakanin al’umma domin ci gaban kasar Nijeriya da jama’an kasa.

Killings: CITAD Decries Use of Social Media To Fuel Ethnic-Religious Crisis

A non-governmental organization, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has cautioned against fueling ethnic-religious conflict and killings through the use of social media.

Addressing a press conference at NUJ Secretariat in Bauchi on Tuesday, Mohammed Chiroma Hassan, the programme officer of CITAD, lamented that the circulation of fake news has been behind series of violence recorded in the country.

He said, “It’s unfortunate that communication issue has been stocking the fire of violence in the country. This is the circulation of fake news, especially in the social media which in a recent report by BBC shown, has been fueling ethno-religious conflict and killings in the country.

“Amid recurring loss of lives and properties in many parts of Nigeria, another serious or rather unnoticed danger is brewing itself with a wildfire effect. This danger is nothing but circulation of fake press statements /releases that are widely circulated online. An example of this is the purported release by a non-existent group, ‘Fulani National Movement (FUNAM)’ claiming to justify reprisal killings because the cows of herders had been killed. We have researched into the so called movement and it is clear that someone with an interest in stocking the fire of violence is behind the fake association,” he said.

Chiroma Hassan stated: “Sentiment and selfish agenda have given people the momentum to become information givers while recklessness has encouraged same people to use technology for bad, yes for bad because they manufacture lies and disseminate on websites, groups and pages on Facebook. The effect of these fake updates is that when people read them, they become emotional and sometimes react violently.

“Any careful reader might have noticed various press statements on Jos crisis in circulation. They carry strange names of signatories and associations of certain people, making provocative remarks on the crisis and setting conditions. Rather calm the situation, the statement aggravates it by reinforcing the desire for vengeance.”

The programme officer noted that emerging websites such as http:247ureporters, www.bloggers.com, www.branfit.com.ng and many more, tag themselves as online newspapers whose ultimate goal is to bring collision of one ethnic or religious group against one another through uploads of violence sparking informations.

He called on the federal government to address the key drivers of hate speech in the country and commended the management and editorial board of Premium Times Newspaper for taking action against the reporter who fabricated an interview with a member of Miyetti Allah, justifying the Plateau killings as reprisal.