Youth Agenda 2006

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Youth Agenda 2006 ICT for Development in
Rural Nigeria
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Model of ICT for Rural Development in
NigeriaBy David MutuaProjects
ManagerFantsuam Foundation (FF)National
CoordinatorCharity for African Welfare and
Development (CAWD)
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Rural Nigeria

• Nigerias rural communities comprise over 70 or
  about 3/4 of the total population but they remain
  largely excluded from the information age due to
  lack of electricity and connectivity.
• The IT Policy document (being developed) has
  clearly identified the consequences of the poor
  information infrastructure and expertise Nigeria
  lags being even some African nations and the
  increasing rural digital divide etc

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Nigerian Youths

• Nigerian youths face major challenges today
• About 15 million are unemployed and have limited
  skills
• They need vocational education that will help
  them start their own businesses or get employed
  in SMEs
• Most of the existing options are simply too
  expensive and have limited reach
• Their vision determines OUR tomorrow!

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Challenges/root of the problems

• Cost of connectivity
• Power
• Limited training beyond Small Medium
  Enterprises (SMEs) or business development
  skills
• Limited financial resources
• Non - existence of quality education/skills
  offering institutions - Concentration in Urban
  areas - Cause Brain drain
• Few Local ICT champions in rural areas
• HIV/AIDS

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FF Model at a Glance
Microfinance Bank
(Community Bank)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Micro-Loans
Social Services
6,000 Clients
Education / Training
Social
HIV/AIDS
GAIYA
Health
Entepreneur- Ship projects

Services
Sickle Cell
- Solo Computer
- Eye care
- Support group
- Community Learning Centre
- Community Wireless Connectivity
- HB Immunization
- Treatment
- Fantsuam Cisco Academy
- Computer Maintenance
- Nutrition Support
- Teachers Talking
- First Cyber Cafe
- Data Collection
- Open and Distance Learning
- Fish Farm
- Kakka Support
- Franchise
- Vocational Training
- Video Skills
- Awareness Prevention
- Rural Telephoning
- Testing
- Pocket Solar
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Rural ICTs Application

• Information, Education Training
• Social Entrepreneurships

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Information, Education Training through Rural
ICT Resource Centers
Sharing and Building Information and Knowledge
for rural Development in Nigeria
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Community Learning/Information Centre (CLC)

• The CLC Programme develops community learning,
  communication and information link between the
  information poor rural communities and the
  connected community with basic Information and
  Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and
  capacity that contributes to communitys learning
  through links to internet and other information
  resources to enable self help initiatives.

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CLC Approaches

• 1. Community information Access point
• (a) Community Help Desk
• (b) Community Library
• (c) Information Notice Boards
• (d) Multi-media Presentation

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CLC
2. ICT training and online course
FF CISCO Academy
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Teachers Online ICT training link with London
University at Fantsuam Academy
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Cont

• 3. Local Content Development and Localization
• Local information from the communities is
  collected, digitalized and archived by developing
  community websites/ pages, blogs and wikis.
  Communities are mobilized to contribute
  information (local content) collection voluntary
  to be uploaded.

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Solo Computer

• ?Solo is an ultra low powered computer that
  takes 8.5w of power, including the LCD screen, as
  compared to 300-600w of mains electricity
  required by many modern Pentium-powered systems.
  Moreover the Solo computers can use a variety of
  power sources, and are not tied to solar energy.

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Solo Computer Prototype
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Solo.

• This Solo project will facilitate implementation
  of those aspects of the policy that will bring in
  new skills and open up marketing opportunities
  for rural-based ICT enterprises in Nigeria and
  Africa.
• The Solo Project is a catalyst project that will
  generate high technology investment employments
  in rural communities.
• The Solo is designed so that its assembly,
  transfer of training, and maintenance can be done
  locally.

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Connectivity for under-served areas

• ? Wireless technology for last mile connectivity
• ? FOSS resources for education and microfinance
• ? Bandwidth sharing with rural partners and
  engagement at policy level for rural access to
  backbone infrastructure
• ? Local Content Development and Localization

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FF Internet Connection
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Video Skills
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Pocket Solar (Do It Yourself)

• The DIY Solar technology transfer process
• The DIY Solar approach is an alternative way of
  producing low-cost solar technologies that
  enables enterprising individuals or organisations
  in sun-rich Less Developed Countries (LDCs) to
  design, assemble and market low-cost, small and
  simple PV solar technologies in order to satisfy
  various local demands for affordable electricity.

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Specific DIY Solar applications

• Solar Radio
• The cheapest and most basic DIY Solar application
  is the Solar Radio, which involves plugging a
  small solar panel directly into a radio
  providing instant power for as long as the sun
  shines.
• The widespread use of Solar Radio would
  facilitate the greater use of this, the most
  common of all African Information Communication
  Technology (ICT) for a variety of applications
  amongst widely dispersed African populations
  such as distance learning, heath education,
  dissemination of agricultural practices and
  market information, disaster and disease
  mitigation, conflict resolution, community
  development, along with so many other valuable
  and worthwhile applications.

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Cont..

• 2. Solar powered lights (torches and lanterns)
• They have a variety of similarly high impact
  applications through their promise of extending
  peoples productive day into the evening by
  providing bright and clean electric light.
  Students can be provided with light that unlike,
  flame based alternatives, encourages homework and
  study by not straining or clouding eyes due to
  dim or smoky light.

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cont.

• 3. Mobile phone charging.
• Telecommunication services in rural areas of
  Africa where land line telephones are either more
  expensive or unavailable.
• The combination of mobile phone and solar power
  offers previously unconnected and unelectrified
  rural areas a reliable telecommunications network
  that could extend the benefits from communication
  channels, that are currently only available in
  urban areas, out to the bush.
• This could facilitate the maintenance of valuable
  social relations ease the operation of
  businesses/small enterprises enable calls for
  emergency assistance and generally through
  helping people get connected offers a
  communications revolution to characteristically
  isolated rural areas.

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Charging Mobile phone
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Example of some of the rural Achievements

• First rural CISCO network academy in West Africa
• Among the first rural internet connectivity in
  Nigeria
• One of the first rural cyber café in Nigeria
• Farmers Support desk and information center
• Scholarships for women in ICT - Hafkin
• First rural assembly of a Solo computer in Africa
• First rural research and assembly center for
  Pocket Solar system
• Rural wireless connectivity extending to 30
  kilometers radius

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Conclusion/ Recommendations -

• Need for quality skill acquisition.
• Job creating opportunity.
• Financing for enterprises.
• Ongoing partnerships encouraged.

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• Join us!
• Lets together make a change.