Imagine a world where everyone has access to the internet, regardless of where they live. That's the vision driving the School of Community Networks, and after five successful years, they've just graduated 25 new experts ready to make it a reality. This initiative, spearheaded by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), is tackling a critical issue: digital exclusion in underserved areas of Nigeria.
The program's core mission? To equip young Nigerians with the skills to build and maintain their own community-driven connectivity solutions. Think of it as a grassroots movement to bridge the digital divide. The intensive training covers everything from designing and installing network infrastructure to ongoing maintenance.
At the closing ceremony, CITAD's Executive Director, Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, explained that the school was born out of necessity. Commercial telecommunications companies often overlook rural and marginalized communities due to low profit margins. This is where community networks step in, offering a vital alternative. He highlighted that while countries like Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana have already embraced national policies supporting community networks, Nigeria is still in the process of establishing its own framework. But here's a positive note: Ya'u expressed optimism about government support, citing ongoing engagement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This suggests a growing recognition of the importance of community-driven connectivity models.
Graduates are expected to return to their communities as ambassadors of change, deploying connectivity solutions and advocating for policies that support locally-owned communication infrastructure. Adamu Hadejia, the Coordinator of the Urban Community Network Project, emphasized the challenges faced by remote areas, often referred to as the “last mile.” He highlighted that many of these communities struggle with weak or nonexistent network coverage. The School of Community Networks empowers young people from these areas with practical skills in community engagement, advocacy, resource mobilization, and infrastructure deployment. And this is the part most people miss... Hadejia stressed that true change requires collective effort from the people, service providers, regulators, and government institutions. The initiative targets vulnerable groups, particularly communities with extremely poor-quality network coverage. Digital hubs established under the program have already boosted digital literacy among young people. The graduates themselves are incredibly enthusiastic, expressing gratitude for the life-changing opportunity and promising to apply their newfound knowledge in their communities. They gained valuable knowledge on network deployment and artificial intelligence.
With the continued expansion of the School of Community Networks, stakeholders believe they are building a new generation of local connectivity champions.
What are your thoughts? Do you think community-driven initiatives are the key to bridging the digital divide in Nigeria? What role should the government and telecommunications companies play? Share your perspective in the comments below!
