Dakwa community internet hub opens new opportunities for residents
Kola Oyelere Kano
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The District Head of Dakwa in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Alhaji Shuaibu Samu, has said the establishment of a community internet hub has expanded digital access and created new opportunities for residents, particularly youths and women.
“Before the establishment of this facility, access to reliable and affordable internet was a major challenge for our people.
“Now, our youths can access information, learn new skills and explore opportunities online without having to travel far from the community,” he said.
Samu stated this when participants of the Nigeria Community-Centred Connectivity Initiative Capacity Building Bootcamp visited the Dakwa Community Network Hub to assess its impact and explore strategies for sustaining the facility
He described the initiative as a “life-changing opportunity” for residents who previously faced difficulties accessing reliable and affordable internet services.
The traditional ruler commended the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Hello World and 48 Percent for establishing the facility.
Samu urged residents to take ownership of the facility and support efforts to ensure its continued operation.
A Community Champion at the hub, Ismail Shuaibu, said the facility was being managed through a community-driven model designed to promote sustainability.
He explained that users pay a small fee, which is used to maintain the equipment and keep the service operational.
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“The idea is for the community to see this as its own facility. The small amount paid by users helps us maintain the equipment and provide the service continuously.
“Many young people now come here to study, search for jobs, access online opportunities and communicate with others,” he said.
Shuaibu added that the facility had also improved residents’ familiarity with digital tools and online services.
The CITAD Community Networks Coordinator, Haruna Adamu Hadejia, said the initiative was designed to bridge the digital divide and ensure underserved communities were not excluded from the digital economy.
According to him, CITAD and its partners have established similar community-centred connectivity initiatives in Jama’are, Itas and Hanafari in Bauchi State, as well as Tungan Ashere, Leleyin Gwari and Pesefa in the Federal Capital Territory.
Hadejia stressed that the success of such initiatives depended not only on providing internet infrastructure but also on how communities used and managed the facilities.
“Connectivity is only the beginning. What is important is how communities use the internet to improve education, access employment opportunities, obtain information, communicate and support local development.
“We want communities to have ownership of these networks so that they can continue to benefit from them even after the initial intervention,” he said.
He said the experience from Dakwa demonstrated the importance of involving residents in the management of community networks to ensure their sustainability.
The visit formed part of the Nigeria Community-Centred Connectivity Initiative Capacity Building Bootcamp, which brings together stakeholders to strengthen community-led approaches to expanding meaningful and sustainable internet access.
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The bootcamp is convened by Local Access Networks, a joint initiative of the Association for Progressive Communications and Rhizomatica, and hosted by CITAD, with participation from MAJI, Fantsuam Foundation and Hello World.
It is supported by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Digital Access Programme, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the World Association for Christian
Communication and 48percent.org.