Nigeria

CITAD has just launched the first Nigerian School of Community Networks, where members of rural communities will learn how to create and manage community networks as a means of bridging the connectivity gaps in the areas where they live.

Internet connectivity is becoming part and parcel of humans’ lives all over the globe, but the story in underdeveloped countries is different and not encouraging. With persistent engagement and advocacy visits by CITAD, progress on setting up community networks in Nigeria has been made.

The meeting, attended by over 40 organisations from different parts of the country, aimed to highlight the importance of community networks as a tool for addressing the digital divide and explore the possibility of joint advocacy for the government to develop an enabling policy framework.

As the Nigerian telecoms regulator is reviewing its licensing processes, CITAD is calling for the inclusion of community networks as a special category of licences to help reach the more than 50% of Nigerians who still have no access to the internet, which has become more vital than ever.

In a partnership with APC and Rhizomatica's LocNet initiative, 48percent.org is supporting five organisations, in Argentina, India, Mexico, Nigeria and Uganda, in their efforts to strengthen community networks and respond to the challenges in the face of COVID-19.

The initiative is being implemented by APC in partnership with Rhizomatica and aims to develop the models, capacities and sustainability of community networks.

The workshop is the second in a series of regional internet governance capacity development events that ITU is organising in collaboration with other stakeholders.