By Ozumi Abdul

TECHDIGEST –  The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Thursday empowered the first batch of the participants of its Lenovo Digital Creativity Training with the sum of over two million naira.

The training which had its theme as “Digital Creativity and Innovation for Young Women (DICI-YOW)” drew 26 participants from various states across the northern region, such Bauchi state in its first batch.

Some of the participants received the cheques of 75, 000 naira and 150, 000 respectively according to the business plans they submitted to CITAD.

The cheques and certificates were presented to them by the CITAD’s Executive Director, Engr. Y.Z Ya’u, who was represented by the centre’s Campaign and Communication Officer, Ali Sabo.

According to Sabo, the program is aimed at empowering young girls with digital skills, entrepreneurship knowledge, and gadget operation, adding that more than 380 participants were received, while 110 proposal were selected, with 27 of them excelling with their submissions.

“More than 380 applications were received, and 110 proposals were selected, with 27 excelling in their submissions. The proposal could be written in either technical format or any other area they deemed fit”.

He also noted that the Centre provided funds to beneficiaries based on the category of their proposals, as technological proposals received 150, 000 naira, while other businesses receivers 75, 000 naira.

“Technological proposals received 150 thousand naira, while other business areas received 75 thousand naira to launch their businesses”

He then urged beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously and develop the project they presented, becoming employers of labor.

The Centre’s Technical Assistant, Zainab Aminu, advised the beneficiaries to use the funds creatively and innovatively since the essence of the training is Digital Creativity and Innovation.

Also speaking at the event was Aisha Abdullahi Na’Yawo, speaking on behalf of the participants

She noted that they were trained in Basic Information Technology, Microsoft Excel, Graphic Designing, Digital Marketing, etc.

Aisha applauded CITAD for the training empowerment, while also pledging to use the funds wisely, to be self reliant and as well becomes employers of labour.

She also promised that the participants will extend the knowledge and skills gained from the training to their immediate communities.

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TECH DIGEST – The TechMirror Magazine is set to host the sixth edition of the annual Social media Summit in Abuja.

According to the publicity secretary of the Local organizing committee, Olugbenga Toki, the summit will host top personalities across different divides.

It would also be an avenue to discuss various issues bothering on Socio-economic development, corporate governance, media advancement, Digital Economy, Security and Accountability leveraging on social media.

The summit will also have panel discussions, keynote speeches and a dialogue session.

Speaking on the Information Technology and Social Media awards, Toki noted that it would be an opportunity to celebrate those who have leveraged on Information Technology and Social Media towards Africa development with Nigeria at the Centre.

The event Chairman is CITAD’S Executive Director, YZ Yau, while the program is billed for August 21, 2021 in Abuja.

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TECH DIGEST – Experts have spoken on how Africa can leverage the social media for development while tackling issues such as Fake News, propaganda among others.

This is as the Pan-African Social Media Summit which is the Fifth edition of the annual Nigerian Social Media Summit held on November 12 and 13 via Zoom.

According to the Chairman of the event who is also the Executive Director of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), YZ Yau, the event came at a critical time in the continent especially taking a look at recent events in Nigeria.

He advocated that there should be a more robust discussion around leveraging the social media for Africa’s development other than gagging the platform.

Speaking at the summit, the Image Merchant Promotions Limited Chief Executive Officer, Yushau Shuaib, emphasized the need for regulations to ensure that the social media is properly managed. While acknowledging the power of the social media, he noted that there is a need to fight fake news and propaganda which has become fast spread through the social media.

Yushau noted that the Social media has become manipulative giving an instance of the EndSARS protest which he said became violent due to poor management of information on the social media.

The African Union CyberSecurity Committee Experts Chairman, Abdul-hakeem Ajijola, while commenting on the theme noted that there is a need to create a workable framework for management of the social media on the continent.

He however said regulating the platform will lead to many Africans going under-ground which can be dangerous.

“Managing the social media should be an international effort not an effort from a local community because if you regulate the social media in Nigeria, how do you regulate contents coming from the United States for instance” he noted. He harped on need for training and retraining Africans on broader user of the social media.

The Executive Director of Media Career Development Services Network, Lekan Otufodunrin, stressed the need for journalists to have a voice towards reporting the truth. He also frowned against fake news and propaganda which he noted is bring spread even by state actors.

Lekan condemned the clampdown on EndSARS promoters which according to him is ill-informed.

He advocated that the government should invest in training about use of social media for better benefits. According to him, this will lead to more results, he noted that this should be where the government efforts should be geared at.

The Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development on ICT and Corporate Relations, Kemi Areola, while commenting on the theme acknowledged the growing roles of the social media in today’s society called for self-awareness and self-regulation on how to verify information before sharing.

She also noted that the social media is an opportunity for job creation which the Nigerian Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has been leveraging on.

While advocating for a whistle blowers policy to tackle fake news on social media, she noted that if actualized this will go a long way.

Other speakers like Gidado Shuaib (Executive Director YouthsDigest); Vincent Adeoba (Author I am Employeable); Alabidun Abdulrahman shuaib(Executive Director, Centre for Hunger and Poverty Alleviation and Research); Sam Adegbola (West African Coordinator, Pan-African Development Initiative), noted that it has become important for the social media to be seen as a platform for youth engagement and participatory governance.  Gidado while commenting noted that Youths need to rise up to the occasion of fighting fake news which has become rampant on the social media.

Adeoba condemned the plan to regulate the social media, noting that that voice of the people cannot be regulated.

Alabidun stressed the need to use the Social media to fight hunger and poverty.

Sam Adegbola who is an International Relations expert and represented by Olowniwa Temitope who is equally an international relations expert said Africa must begin to build relationships through the social media, advocating the platform as a force of change.

While delivering a Closing remark, Ali Sabo of CITAD noted that the event has come at a timely period and the discussions have become pivotal for governance promotion. He reteirated CITAD’s commitment to development and Information Technology development.

The event was supported by Centre for Information Technology and Development; National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Media Career Development Services Network, PRNigeira, Economic Confidential, YouthsDIgest, Active Youth Advocacy Network, YBTCNews, Academy of Communications among others.

The Pan-African Social Media Summit is organized by TechMirror Magazine.

By PRNigeria

The post How Africa Can Manage The Social Media Effectively- Experts appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – Pan African Social Media Summit Set For November The Fifth edition of the annual Nigerian Social Media Summit, which has now evolved into the Pan-African Social media summit will hold on November 12 and 13.

This position was revealed by the organizing Committee Local Organizing Chairman, Olanrewaju Oyedeji, while addressing pressmen in Abuja. Olanrewaju noted that the event which started as the Nigerian Social Media Summit in 2016 will hold on November 12 and 13 virtually.

The chairman of the event is billed to be the Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Yz Yau.

According to the organizers,  the event which will discuss leveraging on Social Media for issues such as Accountability and Anti-corruption, Youth Development,  Corporate Development, governance, Human Rights/Security and International Diplomacy, will have top guests spread across Africa as participants. This is as the continent grapples with the aftermath of Covid-19 in the Post-Covid19 era.

The Pan-African Social Media Summit will hold with sponsorship of notable organizations such as National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA), Centre for Information Technology and Development(CITAD); Media Career Development Services Network. The summit also has partnership of different organizations such as PRNigeria, YouthsDigest, YBTCNews, Active Youths Advocacy Initiative, Economic Confidential, Academy of Communications among many other top organizations.

The summit is coming at a time where the social media has continued to shape discussions around Africa’s Development and Socio-economic growth.

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