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Visualizing
critical data that informs Arewa leaders and organizations of the region's
unique characteristics.
Why Citizen
Engagement is a game changer for Arewa
History has shown that engaging
citizens has led to more sustainable, open and just governance.
Whether formally integrated in documents such as the Magna Carta
and the Code Napoleon, or informally presented at local levels,
the concept of citizen engagement is widely global. Going back
in history, the first Islamic State has based its “Medina
compact” on a social contract whereby it
clearly
explains the nature of collaboration and accord between the
citizens and the state, shaping the relationship governing them.
World Bank also draws on a long history of advancing governance
reforms, on multi-stakeholder engagement, citizen participation,
social accountability, and government transparency. An important
development was the establishment in 2012 of the Global
Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA), to enable civil
society organizations to worktogether with their governments to
solve difficult governance problems using citizen engagement and
social accountability mechanisms. The 2017 World Bank World
Development Report, on Governance and the Law, also highlights
the importance of creating the space for citizens to affect
government policies. The Report focuses on the determinants of
policy effectiveness, exploring how policies for security,
growth and equity can more effectively achieve their goals by
taking the underlying drivers that influence governance into
account.
Given
the complex landscape of citizen feedback with so many
experiments underway around the world, the time is ripe now for
northern Nigeria; and indeed Nigerian Government to look at
citizen engagement holistically as a game changer for national
development and very critical for maintaining national security.
A key element of democracy is
active citizenship, and together with that is a responsive,
accountable, fair and corrupt-free government. It is important
to listen to the citizens and make sure that their concerns,
their problems are actually attended to in a process where they
are engaged in an empowering problem solving process. ...Read
more>>
ICT has become the
catalyst that enhances development process of a nation...READ
ON
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AREWA INFORMATION &
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
More
than ever, the advent of the knowledge economy and global
economic competition
compel governments to priorities
educational quality, lifelong learning and the provision of
educational opportunities for all. Policymakers widely accept
that access to information and communication technology (ICT) in
education can help individuals to compete in a global economy by
creating a skilled work force and facilitating social mobility.
They
emphasize that
ICT in education has a multiplier effect
throughout the education system, by enhancing learning and
providing students with new sets of skills; by reaching students
with poor or no access (especially those in rural and remote
regions); by facilitating and improving the training of
teachers; and by minimizing costs associated with the delivery
of traditional instruction
At the international level, policy for integrating ICT for
development was first formulated in the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs)
Target 8.F, which states that “in cooperation with
the private sector, make available the benefits of new
technologies, especially information and communications” (United
Nations, 2000; 2012). Moreover, while not mentioned explicitly
in the Education for All goals, it is arguable that ICT plays a
pivotal role in achieving these goals, including broadening
access, eliminating exclusion, and improving quality (UNESCO,
2000). That is why, more than ever, there is the need for a
comparative analysis of ICT integration and e-readiness in
schools across the Arewa region in order to meet the UN SDGs.
The
global economy is changing and affecting the way Region needs to
plan its economic and social growth in that new economy. The
shift in the economy from manufacturing to services places
‘knowledge work’ and the human resource as key factors of
production in sustainable development. Global statistics show
productivity gains in all sectors resulting from use of ICT, and
further evidence shows the relationship between productivity and
broadband availability.
In this regard, ICT infrastructure
underpins the knowledge economy of the so-called ‘Information
Society’. Several issues i n the global environment have impacted
and will continue to shape the regional environment, therefore
for a sustainable economic development of Arewa region, the
States within the region must come together in a concerted way
to formulate the Arewa Regional Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) for Development Strategy.
Blockchain Ecosystem for Business Partners
- The most transformative era in
business is happening right now. Innovators,
entrepreneurs and forward-thinking
enterprises are embracing Blockchain
solutions ... |
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Restructuring
may not be a bad idea for the North because
the North has so many Potentials of
Solid Mineral Exploration, so great
that by the time the northern
Governors realize it they will
almost forget about allocation funds
coming from Federal Government and
too much Taxes on its citizens to
generate more internally generated
revenue (IGR). The potential is
great and better than crude oil of
the south. Gold, Uranium, Iron Ore,
Gemstones, Columbite, Tantalite,
Kaolin, Goshenite and other precious
minerals are everywhere across the
north, but also High-Grade Lithium
ore in Brine Rocks,
lithium-bearing pegmatite and spodumene, a critical component for
making electric car batteries. By
2030, oil will no longer be that
important as electric cars will take
over, lithium batteries will also be
used for powerhouses and so much
more. The potentials for export of
these natural minerals and local use
in manufacturing from the north are
unparalleled.
The
northern demographic shifts will
fuel the growth of new sectors,
markets and service lines. They will
begin to innovate and with
creativity build viable businesses
in areas of the business supply
chain, and in agriculture, livestock
mainstreaming, no more transporting
live animals to the south but
slaughtered and freight in
refrigerated trucks, renewable
energy like solar farming, ICT,
Business Processing Outsourcing and
in healthcare, manufacturing and
revitalizing Kannywood
entertainment industry in
partnership with Indian Bollywood. The
unity of northern diversity is the
power that will propel the business
communities and consequently, the
northern upcoming industries into
new dimensions of performance. Soon
there will be on the horizon, more
northern banks, northern media and
corporations; and northern
intelligentsia that will meet every
contemporary challenge; build
capacity and human capital
knowledge-pool; and the end of
youths banditry, kidnappings,
communal crises, terrorism and
religious violence because everyone
will have work and meaningful things
to do under strong, compassionate
leadership, propelling the country
to a Greater Height as a whole. ICT-enabled
solutions in healthcare,
agriculture, education, financial
services and States-public services
will drive socio-economic inclusion
of everyone in the region and the
country faster, cheaper and more
efficient than traditional methods.
Indeed, the North; and Nigeria will
be Great Again...
READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW |
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