Computer Aid lifts KASU with 1,500 PCs

The United Kingdom (UK)-based non-profit organization, Computer Aid International (CAI), has lifted the Kaduna State University (KASU) in the northern part of the country, by providing over 1,500 personal computers (PCs) to the institution.

Chief Executive Officer, Computer Aid International, Mr. Tony Robert, made this disclosure recently while on official visit to Nigeria.

Mr. Robert, accompanied by the Programme Officer for West Africa at CAI, Ms. Anne Musyoki, said that his organization has provided over 1,500 Personal Computers (PCs), some which, have been distributed by KASU to neighboring institutions of higher learning in the northern part of the country.

“Computer Aid has provided over 1,500 PCs some which have been distributed by KASU to neighboring institutions of higher learning,” he declared.

According to him, the Kaduna State University as one of the beneficiaries of Computer Aid International has benefited directly with over 100 of such computers in the past two years.

He maintained that the aim of the Computer Aid International is essentially to provide practical experience for people and ultimately build their capacity.

And in furtherance of this relationship, Mr. Robert noted that occasionally, CAI officials pay visit to some of the partnering organizations, especially the receipt institutions.

This, he said, is to ensure proper utilization of the computers received and that was why recently his team visited the country, which was also an interactive one with the partner’s principal officers and core end users.

Mr. Robert pointed out that Computer Air International is determined to reduce poverty through practical provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions.

At the Computer Aid’s London workshop, he said, they data-wipe, test and professionally refurbish donated computers and laptops from UK organisations and individuals.

Computer Aid, Robert further said, has provided over 150,000 PCs worldwide.
Meanwhile in its 2008 Annual Report, CAI said it has shipped over 100,000th PCs as at February 2008.

As said by its immediate past chief executive, Ms Louise Richards, the year 2008 saw some landmarks in the organization, including the sending of its 225 container to the Ethiopian partners, the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA), who provided it to a young disabled man who is using it in his road-side business, as part of his not-for-profit activities to assist other disabled people.

In September 2008, Richards recalled that CAI launched a campaign against the dumping of electronic waste (e-waste) in the developing countries of the world.
Stressing that CAI called on UK government to tighten up legislation by ensuring that UK’s e-waste are not export to developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana and China.

“A petition was set up on the Downing Street website and received over 200 signatures,” Richard pointed out.

While reiterating the Computer Air International commitment, Richards said it’s determined to providing a high quality and professionally decommissioning service to its UK computer donors and to delivering the highest quality refurbished computers to its recipients overseas.

Founded in 1998, Computer Aid is a UK registered charity organization that has shipped over 150,000 PCs to where were they are mostly needed in over 100 countries.


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