CITAD to Host Nigeria’s First Community Connectivity Bootcamp in Abuja

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is set to host Nigeria’s first Community-Centred Connectivity (CCC) capacity-building bootcamp as part of efforts to expand locally driven digital inclusion across the country.

The five-day bootcamp, scheduled for September 28 to October 2 in Abuja, will bring together 20 representatives of existing and emerging community-centred connectivity initiatives from across Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by Haruna Adamu Hadejia of CITAD, the programme is designed to strengthen locally led efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide by equipping participants with practical skills for deploying, operating and sustaining community connectivity initiatives.

Participants will include community network practitioners, technical experts, civil society organisations, researchers and other stakeholders working on digital inclusion and locally driven connectivity.

The organisers said only 19 per cent of Nigerians living in rural areas currently have access to the internet, leaving at least 82 million rural residents offline.

“The bootcamp supports these ongoing efforts by bringing together local, regional and global actors to build practical skills for the deployment, operation and sustainability of CCCIs,” the statement said.

The programme is also expected to support the implementation of the National Strategy for Community-Centred Connectivity Initiatives in Nigeria (2025–2027).

Focus on practical connectivity skills

According to CITAD, participants will gain practical knowledge required to deploy, manage and sustain community connectivity initiatives while contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s local community-centred connectivity ecosystem.

The organisers said Nigeria’s digital divide was influenced by both demand- and supply-side challenges.

These include the high cost of internet-enabled devices and connectivity, limited digital literacy, inadequate network coverage and infrastructure, as well as gaps in policy support.

Gender disparities also continue to affect equal access to and meaningful use of the internet, the statement added.

The organisers noted that several grassroots and institutional initiatives have contributed to the development of community-centred connectivity in Nigeria. They include the Fantsuam Foundation, Internet Society Nigeria, CITAD, Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) and Hello World.

CITAD’s Nigerian School of Community Networks (NSCN), which operated between 2021 and 2025, also helped rural communities and local organisations develop the skills required to establish, manage and own community networks.

Bootcamp to include community network visit

The bootcamp will be held at Bon Hotel Elvis in Abuja, with sessions covering Nigeria’s connectivity ecosystem and regulatory environment, technical resources, sustainability, community ownership, gender and inclusion.

Participants will also visit the Dakwa Community Network, where they will gain practical experience and learn from an operating community connectivity initiative.

Before the bootcamp, participants attended a pre-session on September 9 with community-led connectivity expert Steve Song. The session examined connectivity options and internet infrastructure across national and regional backhaul, first-mile, middle-mile and last-mile levels.

The bootcamp is convened by Local Access Networks (LocNet), a joint initiative of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Rhizomatica, and hosted by CITAD.

MAJI, Fantsuam Foundation and Hello World are also participating in the programme.

The initiative is supported by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and 48percent.org.