[http://www.h-network.org/peace/news.php]

Taraba Hosts Human Network Workshop On Role of ICTs In Conflict Situations

10 April 2005, Taraba, Nigeria – The Human Network PEACE Project has has kicked
off in Africa with a workshop taking place in Taraba in north-eastern Nigeria.
Bringing together high-level policy makers, peace workers and ICT enthusiasts,
the Taraba State workshop marks the commencement of the efforts of Human
Network's young researchers in Africa. The Taraba State workshop included four
prominent speakers including 'Gbenga Sesan, one of the twelve young researchers
leading the Human Network PEACE and ICT research initiative.


Speakers at the event included the state's Chief of Staff, Mallam Aminu Jika -
representing Chairman, Hon. Charles Maijankai, Special Adviser to the Governor,
Taraba State on Security, and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Tahiru
T. Nyawo. They helped highlight the role of government in the pursuit of
peaceful co-existence in the state while recognising the need to employ the
opportunities provided by new Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs). Rev. Dr. Innocent Solomon, chairman of the Community Peace Mission and
Development Centre, member of the Taraba State council for inter-religious
affairs, also addressed the seminar. Author of "Peace in Nigeria: The Starting
Point" among several books, Rev. Solomon, spoke about his findings from his
work within the state since 1992. He established a link between poverty and
conflict, and workshop delegates agreed that if ICTs can contribute to possible
wealth creation and better livelihoods, it can extend its contributions to
peaceful co-existence by one more virtue.

'Gbenga Sesan, who was Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador,
also addressed the seminar as part of his visit to Taraba State from April
8-10, 2005. In his presentation titled, "ICT for Peace", Sesan highlighted the
possible influences that ICTs can hold in conflict situations and led workshop
participants through the completion of a questionnaire that asked questions
about their knowledge of ICT and the digital divide, their opinion on the role
of new ICTs in conflict situations and their impresion of the present state of
their communities (and Nigeria itself) in relation to peace.

Taraba State in north-eastern Nigeria had an unfair share of conflicts in 1992,
a few months after the state was carved out of the then Gongola State. During
the coflict, the capital city (Jalingo) was literally razed in what many agree
was a religion-induced conflict but various efforts have helped restore calm in
the state.

The Human Network PEACE and ICT research initiative is set to continue in Africa
with a call for essays from young people on this topic among other research
efforts within Nigeria and other African countries.

--
'Gbenga Sesan
Program Manager | Lagos Digital Village | www.lagosdigitalvillage.org.ng
Team Leader | Paradigm Initiative Nigeria | www.pin.org.ng
"Why? Why not?" | www.gbengasesan.org.ng | www.gbengasesan.com





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