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By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in collaboration with Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) has sensitized community members from Karaye, Kabo, Kano Municipal Council, Nasarawa, Gaya and Rano local governments of Kano state. It could be recalled that CITAD with support from ActionAid International Nigeria began implementing the Strengthening Community Engagement in Electoral Process (SCEEP) project in eighteen communities across Kano state before the 2015 general elections in an effort to equip the communities with knowledge of being part of governance process by way of making tangible inputs in the budgetary allocation of governments at different levels which in essence will positively reflect on their livelihood.  

Unveiling the objectives of the Open Budget Forum, the Executive Director of CITAD who was represented by Training Coordinator Malam Ahmad Yakasai hinted that part of the reasons for convening the forum is to help the government by educating citizens on how they can identify their needs and forward to government for consideration in the yearly budget as well help track, monitor and supervise projects in their different communities. When people are made to feel some sense of belonging in the governance process, the government will have no or less problems, because people can assist the government in checking implementation or otherwise of projects, Malam Ahmad added.

Also giving remarks, representative of ActionAid International Nigeria at the forum, Mr. Kenneth Okoeneme observed that coming together of people to talk about governance is very important for the development of the country and in particular for the development of Kano state, Kano state has taken a lead in the process of involving citizens and different stakeholders in the budgetary process and the process needs to be strengthened and institutionalized, and ActionAid will continue to support forums like these because of the role they play in engaging citizens.

Papers presented at the One Day Open Budget Forum are: Understanding the Concept of Open and Participatory Budget by Isah Garba of CITAD, Importance of Stakeholders Collaboration in Budget Process by Yunusa Hamza of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), Role of CSOs and Community Members in Ensuring Successful Budget Implementation by Tayyib Isyaku Na’abba of Kano State Ministry of Budget and Planning and Analysis of Budgetary Allocation to SCEEP Communities by Kabiru Sa’idu Dakata of CITAD.

All the papers presented treated relevant concepts and engaged the participants in general discussion with questions, comments, observations and recommendations on the way forward which resulted in issuing a communiqué at the end of the event. Some of the participants observed that even though they have vital inputs to forward to the legislature they can’t get into its premises as policemen usually block access to the assembly, therefore the lawmakers should undertake periodic visits and consultations with their constituents on important matters such as budget preparation instead. To make the budget document easily accessible, some participants recommended that Kano State Government should upload a soft copy of its yearly budget on a publicized website and the Open Budget Forum should be held on a quarterly basis to provide a platform for continuous engagement between citizens and government institutions responsible for budgeting in the state. This would also serve as a platform to provide feedback on monitoring and tracking by citizens.

Giving a closing remark, Director, Community Development in the Ministry for Local Government Affairs Alhaji Mukhtar Isyaku Minjibir said the open budget forum has quite been a success considering the interactivity of the forum and promised to forward the proceedings of the event to the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs.

Preamble

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from ActionAid International Nigeria is implementing Strengthening Community Engagement in Electoral Process (SCEEP) project with a view to enlightening and educating communities to participate in governance processes especially the budget as a tool that defines the development agenda of government.  An open and participatory budget ensures that communities are carried along in all areas and processes while its provisions represent the needs and aspirations of the people. Such a process provides room for citizens to make input, track and monitor implementation of the budget in their respective communities and provide feedback to the relevant institutions and agencies of government for adjustment and reviews in order to suit citizens’ demands. Today’s Open Budget Forum is a continuation of the project’s series of awareness and enlightenment trainings and forums that started before the 2015 general elections in communities across Kano state.

Papers presented at the One Day Open Budget Forum are: Understanding the Concept of Open and Participatory Budget by Isah Garba of CITAD, Importance of Stakeholders Collaboration in Budget Process by Yunusa Hamza of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), Role of CSOs and Community Members in Ensuring Successful Budget Implementation by Tayyib Isyaku Na’abba of Kano State Ministry of Budget and Planning and Analysis of Budgetary Allocation to SCEEP Communities by Kabiru Sa’idu Dakata of CITAD. The forum was attended by the representatives of Appropriation Committee of Kano State House of Assembly and Ministry of Budget and Planning, religious and traditional leaders, community members from Karaye, Kabo, Kano Municipal Council, Nasarawa, Gaya and Rano local governments, CSOs, Senior Special Adviser to Kano State Governor on Intercommunity Relations, Media, etc. Some of the observations and recommendations made are as follows:

Observations:

• The yearly Public Hearing by Kano State House of Assembly needs to be extended for a longer period to allow for more inputs and broader participation. The present two days seems insufficient.
• Policemen at the entrance of Kano State House of Assembly normally deny people access to the legislature, therefore people hardly get to the assembly complex let alone give inputs.
• Most contractors operating in rural communities have no regard for the communities as such concerns raised by the communities are normally ignored even if they are important.
• Local governments should open up and let citizens participate in their planning and budgeting process.
• People Living with Disability presently do not have adequate channels to engage in most governance processes including the budget. The proposed board for PWDs should be constituted in such a way that they are made part and parcel so that their views will be projected.
• Lawmakers should undertake periodic visits and consultations with their constituents on important matters such as budget preparation.
• Assemblies normally deny citizens copies of the budget on the basis of not being passed into law while budget office also stop people from getting copies of the budget even though it may have been passed into law on the basis official confidentiality.
• Sometimes projects are designed and funds allocated but they don’t get implemented.

Recommendations:

• Kano State Government should upload a soft copy of its yearly budget on a publicized website to allow more people access to the budgetary document.
• The Open Budget Forum should be held on a quarterly basis to provide a platform for continuous engagement between citizens and government institutions responsible for budgeting in the state. This would also serve as a platform to provide feedback on monitoring and tracking by citizens.
• Community needs should be pursued by different communities and given priority by the legislature.
• Community associations should form a coalition and speak with one voice so as to make the cause they pursue easier.
• The media should widely sensitize the public on the need to pay tax when due so that they can credibly hold their representatives accountable.
• Communities should maintain pressure especially on abandoned projects.
• Budget discussions or forums like this should be translated in local languages and strategies for engagement deployed that takes into consideration the literacy level of the people in the rural areas.
• Communities should utilize social media and other means available to voice their concerns to their elected representatives.  

By Bashir Mohammed Kano

Executive Director, Centre For Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Dr. Yunusa Zakari Yau, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to treat all pending cases of sharp corrupt practices without prejudice adding that  the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Babachir Lawal, was not a scapegoat in the fight against corruption.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano yesterday, Yau said there were three issues about the secretary to the federal government “first of which was cutting grassing in the face of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons starving to death for lack of food in their possession.”

Yau said the Babachir saga was no less different from the case of the former National Security Advisor who diverted money meant for buying arms to fight the Boko Haram militias, stressing that the Babachir issue was enough for a regime of probity and commitment to show him the way out.
He said the magnitude of the money allegedly diverted by the secretary to the federal government in the name of addressing the needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was a classic case of inflating figures, stressing that the money could have saved the lives of many IDPs wallowing in misery, hunger and deprivation.

He said: “On the strength of these arguments, we had expected the President to have asked Babachir to step down and wait until investigations have cleared him of any wrongdoing.
“Failure to do this has sent a very strong signal that the President anti-corruption fight is politically motivated and not anchored on the spirit of national interest. This would be sad for someone who has made a name as a man of integrity, committed to fighting corruption wherever.”

On the humanitarian crisis rocking the Internally Displaced Persons, the CITAD boss said several credible reports had surfaced in the last couple of weeks detailing the ranging calamitous starvation the IDPs were facing and dying for, pointing out that the country was ill-prepared to handle the disaster.
He called on the President to suspend Mr. Babachir Lawal from office to enable to face thorough investigation, stressing that “by effecting such a decision, the nation can be assured that he truly belongs to all and not to some people and was committed to combating corruption wherever and by whoever.”

http://www.blueprint.ng/babachir-not-scapegoat-in-anti-graft-fight-citad/

Nigeria’s lack of a position on zero rating and which has left some mobile companies to currently improvise is an emerging digital apartheid, Mallam Yunusa Y’au, the Executive Director of the Kano based Centre for Information Technology and Development, (CITAD) has said. He is subsequently drawing the attention to the need for activists to respond to the development. Speaking as a lead facilitator at an Internet Safety and Security workshop at the centre, Mallam Y’au has equally told a set of 55 persons spanning journalists, civil society activists, teachers and leaders of student for peace clubs of CITAD in tertiary institutions of the necessity to raise awareness about internet safety and security as many people were increasingly falling prey to cybercrime through identity and personality theft

Mallam Y Z Y’au, CITAD ED

Over three sessions, three different facilitators took the workshop attendees through several rubrics, beginning with a distinction between the two key concepts of internet safety and internet security.  Facilitator Mallam Y. Z Y’au pointed out how though related and used interchangeably, the two concepts did not mean the same thing. Emphasizing why attendees must be able to navigate that various perils of the now indispensable tool called the internet, the facilitator then took the students through the various points of perils, the consequences of safety and security breach as well as the various dimensions and manifestation of insecurity online. The session also drew attention to privacy issues, including the right to forget, the possible implications of internet of Things to privacy and concluded by looking at emerging issues such as zero rating and net neutrality.

Leo Stan Eke, leading Nigerian digital businessman, to the rescue?

Abdulganiyyu Rufai and Malam Ahmad A. Yakasai, CITAD’s Programmes Associate and training coordinator respectively, addressed common threats such as viruses, spyware and their consequences; different types of attacks on networks and their countermeasures in relation to confidence, authenticity, integrity and system availability. They implored participants to implement seven regular cyber safety procedures that would protect them, their computers and other persons from many such common threats as regular update of software, running anti-virus always, taking precaution to avoid identity theft and turning on personal firewall protection systems. Engineer Kamal Umar, Technical Officer in CITAD closed the session with demonstrating tips on how to surf the internet safely via a presentation “General online Safety Tips”. Participants called on CITAD to commence a process of mainstream internet safety and security in Nigeria after doing so across its own activities.

Intervention observes that Internet Safety and Security is gradually forming part of the curriculum for professional journalism training in Nigeria. Still commoner outside the formal academic system, the frequency as well as the number of those who have benefited has been rising. The latest of such is the Internet Safety and Security workshop at CITAD.

CITAD Fears Digital Apartheid in Nigeria

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held the second round of Internet Safety and Security workshop series on Saturday, 2017.  The workshop which held at the NISTF Hall, Kano was attended by 55 people including journalists, civil society activists, teachers and leaders of student for peace clubs of CITAD in tertiary institutions. Explaining the objectives of the workshop, Abdulganiyyu Rufai, Programmes Associate, CITAD said that it had become necessary to raise awareness about internet safety and security as many people were increasingly falling prey to cybercrime through identity and personality theft while many had experienced terrible confidentiality breach.

The workshop was conducted in three sessions. In the first session, entitled University Internet Safety and Security, was facilitated by Y. Z. Ya’u, the Executive Director of CITAD. Started by noting that given that internet had become an indispensable part of our daily life, it was only logical that we insist that governments must accord it a formal recognition as a right. As a right and tool that we use daily, we must be able to navigate that various perils that could put as at risk he added. He observed that often the two are confused because they are related and some use them interchangeably but as they evolved, they are actually used differently. Internet security he said “refers to the protection of the internet as a system-its function, its data base, etc” while Internet safety on the other hand relates to the protection of the individual users from harm. He sees Insecurity itself as a threat to internet safely. He then took the participants through the various points of perils, the consequences of safety and security breach as well as the various dimensions and manifestation of insecurity online. The session also drew attention to privacy issues, including the right to forget, the possible implications of internet of Things to privacy and concluded by looking at emerging issues such as zero rating and net neutrality. He pointed out that Nigeria has no position on zero rating, which currently some mobile companies were providing and activists needed to respond to this emerging digital apartheid.

The second session was on managing cyber-security and privacy issues led by Abdulganiyu Rufai. Mr. Rufai explained some common threats and their consequences such as viruses, spyware, ect. He looked at different types of attacks on networks and their countermeasures. He said such attacks were usually aimed at affecting either one or combination of confidently, authenticity, integrity and system availability. He discussed how these attacks can occur including interruption which affects availability, interception that undermines confidentiality of transactions, modification which leads to lack of system integrity and fabrication that attacks system authenticity. He concluded by imploring participant to implement seven cyber safety procedures that will “protect yourself, others, and your computer from many common threats”. These seven safety measures include regularly update software, running anti-virus always, taking precaution to avoid identity theft, and turning on personal firewalls. The rest were avoiding spyware/adware, protecting passwords and backing up important files

In the final session, Engr Kamal Umar, Technical Officer in CITAD demonstrated various tips on how to surf the internet safely. Talking on the topic “General online Safety Tips”, Engr Umar started by drawing attention of participants to the fact that learning to browse privately, a special feature of most browsers was the foundation of safety online. He demonstrated how they can be done. He also explained the various security features of the browsers which users needed to pay attention to. He advised on installing add-ons that can steer you away from threats and took participants through steps that help in to protecting systems while downloading documents online. He discussed key safety and security assurance features that those doing online shopping should look for. For example he drew attention to the difference between the Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) and the regular Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) as something to look for. He said was also important to look at the website’s Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificate which is like a digital ID card that tells you that the website or web page is genuine. He reinforced some of the safety measures discussed earlier such as taking precautions for protecting your computer or mobile device, not conducting overly-private activities when using public Wi-Fi, not allowing other people to use your computer/mobile phone and making sure you format or delete computer/mobile phone content before selling it or giving it as gift. He also gave tips on how to stay safe on social media sites.

At the end of the questions and answers session, a participant recommended that CITAD should mainstream internet safety and security in its regular training programmes. Responding, the Training Coordinator of CITAD, Malam Ahmad A. Yakasai said that the suggestion was taken and that CITAD would look into how to implement it.

The next round of the workshop on internet safety and security will hold in April for government officials. The first workshop in the series which was meant for CITAD staff and associates was held on January 21, 2017.

By

Ali Sabo, Dutse Office, CITAD

In its efforts to carry everyone along into the digital world and empower youth through the use of ICT, the Training Department of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has trained 12 (10 males 2 females) Peace Club Advisors in Dutse, Jigawa State, two teachers from each of the schools that CITAD has established the Peace Club. The training took place from Monday 6th to Friday 10th of March, 2017 at the Training Room of CITAD, Dutse Office. The peace clubs is an initiative of CITAD, supported by MacArthur Foundation to engage school communities in the campaign for peace, and specially to counter hate speech in the country.

The essence of the training was to equip the participants with the basic knowledge of computer and how to use it, given that the computer has become paramount to our lives and the fact that we have been left behind in this area, it has become of utmost important to make sure everyone is computer literate especially our Primary and Secondary school teachers so that they can train students are expected to write computer based examinations such as the Computer Based Test (CBT) of JAMB. Such skills will also be useful for the students to engage in the social media campaign against hate speech.

The facilitator of the training, Abdulaziz Yunusa Ya’u started with fundamental of computer/windows on the first day of the training, during which he taught the participants the basic and components of computer. In the subsequent days the facilitator continued with Microsoft Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and Internet respectively.

The participants asked critical questions concerning computer; how to operate, handle and get access to some of its facilities. The facilitator of the training responded to the questions raised accordingly.

The participating schools were:  Dutse Model International School, Government Day Secondary School, Shuwarin, Government Junior Secondary School, Shuwarin, Government Girls Day Senior Secondary School, Dutse and School for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Duste.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Malam Shehu Sani of Government Day Secondary School, Shuwarin thanked the Centre for organizing this educative and enlightening training which has given them the opportunity to participate in the cyber world and also promised to make effective use of what they have learnt at the training and pass it to their students.

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

As part of efforts to enable unemployed university and polytechnics graduates acquire skills that will make them employable and competitive in a changing world, an NGO, Center for Information and Technology Development (CITAD) has organized a career development and entrepreneurship opportunities training for unemployed graduates.
Speaking, during a one day workshop on techniques and employment/entrepreneurship opportunities at CITAD conference hall, Bauchi, the Research Assistant with CITAD Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Chinade, said that the purpose of setting up Job Placement Information Services Unit (JOPIS) was for the unemployed graduates to acquire employable skills, stressing that the unit has demonstrated high prospects to unemployed graduates for job acquiring skills from Foundations, NGOs ,Government and wealthy individual.
Ibrahim Chinade disclosed that about 30 graduates were targeted to benefited from the training but over 40 turn up, graduates from ATBU Bauchi, Fedpoly Bauchi and University of Maiduguri whom we develop sound business ideas of securing jobs and skils of becoming self reliance”
“As long as number of graduates still remains unemployed, we will continue to improve the capacity of training more unemployed graduates to become employers of labour,” he said.
Chinade called on the unemployed graduates to work hard and create job for the next generation, adding that the attitude of waiting to be employed by government might result to the next generation not having any job.

NGO trains 40 unemployed graduates on entrepreneurship

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade.

The Job Placement and Information Service (JOPIS) unit of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has organized a workshop for the students of Alqalam University and Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina on how they can secure loans or grants from either governments initiatives, Bank of Industry, foundations and wealthy individuals in order start their own businesses and become self reliant, the workshop also prepared the participants on how they can pass employment interviews alongside mastering the secrets of developing a winning Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume.

Giving his welcome remarks, Huzaifa Yakubu Musa of CITAD expressed optimism with the turnout of the participants and observed that the workshop is timely considering the present situation of unemployment and a growing number of graduates emerging from various institutions that he said government alone cannot accommodate as such engaging in entrepreneurial activities will be a way out as well as make the youths realize their potentials by initiating different businesses, he urged the participants to consider the workshop as a challenge and engage in various self reliant businesses.

Three presentations were made, the first being “Developing a Winning CV and Employment Interview Techniques” by Mr. Ahmadu Adamu, the regional manager of outsourcing company Integrated Corporate Services which is based in Kano, the second “Job Scams” facilitated by Sagiru Ado Abubakar, the coordinator, Job Placement and Information Service (JOPIS) and the third “Enterpreneurship Support Sources” by Hamza Ibrahim, a research assistant with CITAD. All the presentations treated various relevant concepts.

The participants have asked many questions and made comments and suggestions, some of them appreciated CITAD for organizing the workshop while others observed that the next time a workshop like that will be organized they want business proposal writing be included as many students have sound business ideas but to carefully develop a proposal for them is a problem. The workshop ended with a vote of thanks and a group picture of the facilitators and the participants.

As part of efforts to enable unemployed university and polytechnic graduates acquire skills that will make them employable and competitive in a changing world, Center for Information and Technology Development (CITAD), a non-governmental organization(NGO)organized a career development and entrepreneurship training for unemployed graduates.

The Research Assistant with CITAD, Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Chinade,stated this at a one day workshop on techniques and employment/entrepreneurship opportunities at CITAD Conference Hall, Bauchi, last weekend.
Chinande said the purpose of setting up Job placement information services Unit (JOPIS) was for the unemployed graduates to acquire employable skills, stressing that the unit has demonstrated high prospects to unemployed graduates for job acquiring skills from Foundations, NGOs ,Government and wealthy individuals.

He disclosed that about 30 graduates were targeted to benefit from the training but over 40 turned up.
“Graduates from ATBU Bauchi, Fedpoly Bauchi and University of Maiduguri all turned up for capacity building exercise with sound business ideas of securing jobs and skills of becoming self-reliant ”

“As long as a number of graduates still remain unemployed, we will continue to improve the capacity of training more unemployed graduates to become employers of labour”, he said.

Chinade called on the unemployed graduates to work hard and create jobs for the next generation, adding that the attitude of waiting to be employed by government might result in the next generation not having any job.

He also noted that the main challenge in the country is that most Nigerian graduates lack the necessary skills that will enable them secure employment.

NGO Trains 40 Unemployed Graduates on Entrepreneurship Opportunities

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade.

After conducting Interview Techniques and Enterpreneurship Support Opportunities Workshop for graduating students of Bayero University Kano, Northwest University, Kano state Polytechnic, Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Federal University Dutse and Jigawa state Polytechnic, the Job Placement and Information Service (JOPIS) unit of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has organized another similar workshop for the students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Federal Polytechnic Bauchi.

The workshop which took place at the Bauchi office of CITAD exposes the participants into various skills that help job seekers succeed at employment interviews and entrepreneurship support opportunities in form of loans and grants for startup businesses in order for the youths to become self reliant. Earlier in his opening remarks, JOPIS Coordinator, Sagir Ado Abubakar urged the participants to feel free and ask questions where necessary as the workshop is meant to prepare towards becoming innovative entrepreneurs or succeed at employment interviews.

Facilitating a session on Interview Techniques and CV Development, Mr. Ahmadu Adamu, the regional manager of Integrated Corporate Services encouraged the participants to always take their time to develop a “Winning CV” that will sell them before their prospective employers and prepare well and adhere to ethics and skills of attending an employment interview emphasizing that it is a foundation for securing a job.

Some people use the unemployment scenario to dupe gullible and desperate youths in search of employment, said Sagiru Ado Abubakar who presented on “Job Scams”. Sagiru identified several tricks used by 419ers such as asking for payment for appointment, interviews, lacking concrete and verifiable address by the scammers, using fake identity on social networking sites, having no websites etc, he warned the participants to beware of dubious people who normally lure job seekers with fake claims.

The last session on “Enterpreneurship Support Opportunities” was facilitated by Hamza Ibrahim. The participants were presented with series of entrepreneurial support opportunities sources as well as procedures and requirements for applying. The facilitator explained in detail the thousands of untapped business ideas that can be utilized by the participants and get some grants or loans to startup their own businesses. The participants asked many questions regarding the qualification of a business to win grants or secure loans, and whether or not graduating students of Urban and Regional Planning can establish estate management service and can have a grant to startup etc. The questions and comments were clarified by the facilitator. Websites of grants and loan sources were given to the participants and many of them indicated interest in developing business ideas and applying for grants or loans in order to become self reliant.  

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) through it’s Job Placement and Information Services (JOPIS) organized a one day workshop on Job Interview Techniques, Employment and Entrepreneurship Support Opportunities to Federal University Dutse (FUD) and Jigawa State Polytechnic graduating students. JOPIS is a department initiated by the organization to help teeming unemployed youths with skills of becoming self reliant. In his welcome remarks, the coordinator of the Center in Duste, Ali Sabo welcomed the participants to the workshop and urged them to listen to the presenters with interest and also pass what they learn to others who could not attend the workshop.

In his introduction, the coordinator of the unit Sagir Ado Abubakar stated activities of the unit saying that the main objective of the unit is to gather and sensitize the job seeking youths on the entrepreneurship opportunities as well as properly train them on how to be innovative and develop business plans so that they can benefit from loans and grants opportunities meant for startup businesses. He urged the students to start thinking on how to explore new ideas and be more creative. Hamza Ibrahim who took the participants on the importance of developing a good CV and Interview techniques while advising them to be truthful and state only what they can be able to do and depend in their resumes.

Three presentations were made at the workshop, namely: JOPIS Unit of CITAD and its activities by Sagir Ado of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Interview Techniques/CV Development: How to Excel and Sale Yourself during interview by Hamza Ibrahim Chinade of the same center, Job Scams and Entrepreneurship Opportunities also by Sagir Ado. All the papers presented dealt extensively with topical issues, and they revolved around pressing areas bedeviling the teeming unemployed graduates and at the same time exposed the participants to think beyond eyeing white color jobs.

The programme ended with vote of thanks by Usman Aliyu, President of Students for Peace, Federal University Duste, he thanked the presenters and the Center for organizing the educating workshop and at the same time advised the participants to start applying what the learned at the workshop immediately and wished everyone a successful journey back to their destinations.

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade.

The training department of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has conducted a sensitization training for SS2 and SS3 students of fourteen (14) senior secondary schools in Kano state. The training is meant to prepare the students for the tertiary institution entry examination popularly known as Computer Based Test (CBT). Over one hundred and fifty (150) male and female students were trained on the necessary skills to properly and correctly attempt and answer the programmed computer examination.

There has recently been massive failure in the Computer Based Test especially among students that lacked computer literacy not only in Kano but in many states across the country, and this problem has resulted in many applicants not securing the required marks for admission into various tertiary institutions. Giving an opening remark, the Training Coordinator of CITAD, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai advised the participating students to attentively listen and benefit from the training so that they can successfully write and pass the digital examination in order to gain admission into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institution of their choice in one attempt.

Practical CBT Orientation session was facilitated by Kamilu Isah Ahmed who gradually took the participants through methods and techniques of attempting the examination. Apart from CBT coaching, the sensitization also invited Malam Muhammad Tahir Isa of Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board (KSSSSMB) to facilitate a session on “Guidance and Counseling” on choice of course of study and how to face tertiary education. The participating students asked many questions and sought clarifications on issues raised by the two facilitators after which concrete responses were made.

Members of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of four of the participating schools also attended the training alongside other teachers. The participating schools are: S.A.S Kano, GSS Kofar Nassarawa, GASS Yolawa, GSS Goron Dutse, GGC Kano, GGASS Tahir, GGASS Goron Dutse, GGSSS Dukawuya, GSS Sabuwar Kofa, GSS Salanta, GGSS Hausawa, GSS Tarauni, GGSS Shekara and GGSS Wailari.

Hamza Ibrahim Chinade.

Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) is a monthly youths mentoring and inspiring session of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),  normally successful people from different fields, backgrounds and professions are invited to come and directly interact with staff, interns and volunteers of the organization alongside other civil society activists and students of tertiary institutions so that they can learn from the experience, struggles, successes and failures of the invited guests. Every month, one or two guests are invited for the inspiring session.

This month, CITAD hosts a human rights and social justice advocate Ms. Ene Obi who is also the Governance Team Leader with ActionAid International, Arusha Tanzania. In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of the organization, Dr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u thanked Ms. Ene for honouring the invitation extended to her stressing that the forum is meant to serve an as inspiring and mentoring ground for especially young people and that is the reason guests of rich profile are brought in order to add value to the lives of the participating youths.  

In her presentation, the guest Ms. Ene Obi took the participants into her interesting profile beginning with students unionism and activism at the University of Jos where she became the President of the Students Union Government amidst series of challenges and struggles during the military government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida before advancing to labour union, human rights activism, social justice and as well as giving back to the society. Resuscitating the spirit of nationalism and determination in the youths for societal development, Ms. Ene cautioned the participants from engaging in insincere acts no matter how beautiful they may appeal. She shared her career experiences revealing strengths and weaknesses of certain actions and how they can help the participants in guiding their future to a better direction. Advising the participants on corruption and morality, Ms. Ene said “no religion preaches stealing, the face of religion is the face of morality, don’t ever take what does not belong to you, when you have wealth share with others and always use the little you have to assist those in need”.

The guest responded to questions and comments raised by the participants before Mal. Isa Garba (Senior Programme Officer, Peace and Conflict) gave a vote of thanks. The event ended with a celebration of Valentine’s Day where the Ms. Ene Obi, ED of CITAD and the participants cut and enjoyed a special cake and chocolates. Ms. Ene Obi was presented with some publications of the organization by Fatimah Ibrahim.

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade.

Job Placement and Information Service (JOPIS) of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is a unit that scouts for job and entrepreneurial grants opportunities and disseminate for the benefit of especially the teeming job-seeking youths in the society. The unit has today organized a workshop for the graduating students of Bayero University Kano, Kano state University of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil, Northwest University Kano, Federal College of Education Kano as well as Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, the participating students were selected from Peace Clubs in their various institutions.

In his welcome remarks, coordinator of the unit Sagiru Ado Abubakar noted that it is one of the objectives of JOPIS to gather and sensitize the job-seeking youths on the entrepreneurship support opportunities as well as properly train them on how to succeed at job interviews, “you may have the qualification but lack the basic knowhow to succeed at interviews, the public sector cannot offer everyone a slot for meal ticket, as such some of us have to establish their own businesses and eventually employ others too, that is why we have a session on grants opportunities in this workshop to guide you on how to initiate business ideas and access startup grants, Sagiru added.

Three sessions were facilitated during the workshop, namely: Interview Techniques: How Best to Succeed at Interviews by Adamu Muhammad of Integrated Corporate Services Kano Regional Office, Enterpreneurship Support Opportunities by Sufyan Lawal Kabo of Digital Film Base Kano and CV Development by Sagiru Ado Abubakar of CITAD. The three sessions have extensively treated essential concepts that are capable of adding value on the graduating students. Commenting, a medical student of BUK Khadija Aliyu Adam said before attending the workshop her perception was that medical students can hardly benefit from entrepreneurship support, but the workshop has completely changed her mindset, also commenting Ahmad Tijjani Zubair of Agricultural Economics and Extension (another BUK student) said the workshop really opened his eyes to start practicalizing the business ideas he has.

It could be recalled that JOPIS has organized a similar workshop on 19th January this year for interns and volunteers of the organization. A total number of sixty (60) students participated in the workshop from the five tertiary institutions, the workshop ended with a closing remark offered by Senior Programmes Officer Kabiru Saidu Dakata of the Center for Information technology and Development (CITAD).