Computer Aid lifts Nigeria with 11,000 PCs

UNITED Kingdom-based charity organization and provider of refurbished computers, the Computer Aid International (CAI) has jacked up Nigeria’s share of its refurbished computer programme by 3,000, thus bringing the total figure to 11,000 as at January 2009.

ITRealms Online recalls that as at June, last year, CAI total distributed PCs in the country was 9,000.

The Programme Officer, CAI West African office, Ms. Anne Musyoki, made this disclosure in Lagos, while on a just concluded working visit to Nigeria.

CAI, she said, shipped over 135,000 personal computers, to where the organization thinks they were most needed in over 105 countries worldwide.

She outlined that Nigeria’s bulk of the PCs have been jacked up by additional 3,000.
“The latest is that we have added about 3,000 PCs to Nigeria,” she said.

Further, she said, that the non-government organization (NGO) is known as the largest supplier of not-for-profit computers to the developing world.

“CAI provides only the highest-quality, professionally refurbished computer for reuse in education, health and not-for profit organizations in developing countries,” she said.

As said by her, CAI presence in over 105 countries globally makes the organization the world largest and most experienced not-for-profit supplier of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) equipment.

Pointing out that the PC deal was part of efforts geared toward assisting developing nations in bridging the digital divide through making inexpensive PCs available.

“CAI has made donations to the Cooperative Information Network (COPINE/NITDA/FMST) at Obafemi Awolowo University, the Distance Learning Centre in the University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso,” Musyoki said.

In addition, she enumerated CAI partnering organization to include COPINE Ile-Ife, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Kano, as well as the Ecumenical Centre for Justice and Peace (ECJP) Makurdi.

The above named organization, Musyoki said, are the authorized distribution partners in the country.

While urging support and collaboration from local NGOs, education institutions and students interested in acquiring computer through CAI to feel free to contact these partners, she said, the essence of her recent ended visit to the country was to increase discussions on expanding the activities of CAI in Nigeria.

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