ICT youth, HBF team up on ‘Nigeria Rock’

Nigerian youth for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) led by the nation’s first Information Technology (IT) Youth Ambassador, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, has concluded plans in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF) office in the country to launch the ‘Nigeria Rock" project on Wednesday, February 22.

The project encompassing a book, "Global Process, Local Reality: Nigerian Youth Lead Action in the Information Society," and Nigeria Rocks’ documentary.

According to Mr. Sesan, the Nigeria Rocks document is a progress report of Nigerian Youth and ICTs, mostly during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) processes.

He also disclosed that the current IT youth envoy, Mr. Edward Popoola would deliver the report at the event scheduled for Wednesday at HBF office in Ikoyi-Lagos.

Equally on the project’s agenda is the launch of the Nigerian Youth ICT4D Network Portal.

The launch, Mr. Sesan who also is the Project Manager, Lagos Digital Village, noted that these series of events have been lined up to lend credence to the process of youth inclusion and participation in the nation’s ICT for development sphere, as well as they plan to work on the sustainability of these contributions by the youth.

Recalling that WSIS ended in Tunis last December, but it would result to what he described as "Obvious waste of resources, including time and travel money, if any nation or people fail to maximize the opportunities that the process provided and still provides".

He stressed that with the follow-up meetings and continued consultation globally, "it is important for Nigeria to also consider these opportunities".

He underscored the point that as part of their contribution, Nigerian youth on ICT with the support of HBF came up with a book and a 20-minute documentary of their involvement in the WSIS processes, chronicling the efforts of their activities on ICT development in the country.