Internet Access for Distance Learning Programme - Nigeria

Country

Nigeria

Region

Africa

Programme Summary

Organised by the Fantsuam Foundation to increase Nigerians' access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT), this computer-based distance-learning programme provides affordable Internet access to the Mobile Community Telecentre (MCT). Based in Kunyai, Nigeria, the MCT is a van carrying up to four computers to rural communities that lack electricity and phone lines. Five villages within a radius of 15-20km will participate; they will also have access to email services from the MCT. The programme targets women, girls, secondary school students and teachers, and rural healthcare workers.

Communication Strategies

The Internet and email access that this programme provides meets three needs: distance learning for secondary school students to supplement their formal studies, access for rural teachers who want to train for diplomas and degrees, and information for nurses in Kagoro and Community Health Workers at clinics in the other villages for training and skills updates.

Development Issues

Technology, Women, Youth, Education.

Key Points

Kunyai's population is 1,300; the nearest Internet Service Provider (ISP) is about five hours away, on difficult roads. The other participating villages in this programme are Kagoro (population: 7,000), Kamuru (population: 2,000), Chenckuk (population: 1,500), Ungwan Rimi (population: 4,000) and Sakwak (population: 2,500).

Established in 1996, Fantsuam Foundation is an NGO located in Nigeria, about 600 miles from Lagos in the north-central part of the country. Fantsuam works to alleviate poverty through participatory decision making that utilises local beliefs as a primary mechanism for setting project priorities. Thus, its primary project partners are women's clan groups, which are non-religious and non-political. These groups are located in Kaduna, Benue, Gombe and Plateau States; between them they have membership of about 3,000. Each participating community and women's group provides volunteers who undertake various activities and training relevant to their project. These volunteers work with Fantsuam's three-member Board of Trustees, made up of Nigerian professionals who determine policy matters. A five-member National Management Committee implements activities.

Fantsuam Foundation also works:

to provide collateral-free microcredits for women
to promote rural health and education
to document local languages in an effort to improve women's access to literacy and education, indigenous knowledge, and traditional medicine, as well as to protect the intellectual property rights of rural communities, and
to collaborate with government agencies, Nigerian university departments, and Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora.

Partners

Women's clan groups including Bechechet Bayinring, Fido, Mangu, Dogon Kurmi, Bayanloco, Zagun, Tula and Uwaba-Oju.

Contact

Fantsuam Foundation (Nigeria)
No.1 Fantsuam Close
P O BOX 58 Bayan Loco
Kafanchan
Kaduna State
Nigeria
Tel: +2348065302297
+2348025595924

Fantsuam Foundation (UK)
14 Chandos Avenue
Leeds
U.K. LS8 1QU
Tel: +44 113 2690978
info@fantsuam.org
Fantsuam Foundation site.