RIPPLES from Enugu

1. RIPPLESfromEnugu …Nigerian Youth Choose to Lead Action in the Information Society ‘Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative Nigeria www.gbengasesan.com | me@gbengasesan.com WSIS Nigeria Youth Consultation (“Policy Train”). Young Initiators Nigeria, Enugu. Saturday, 26 March 2005

2. Global Summit, Local Opportunities • The United Nations designed the World Summit on the Information Society (“WSIS”) as a political process in two phases – Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005 • WSIS brings together world political, business and civil society leaders to create a shared vision for the information society, and implement an Action Plan • For Nigeria and the developing world, it has been an opportunity for us to discuss what we intend to contribute or benefit from the global Information Society • For young people, it has been an extremely rewarding opportunity to showcase the best of youth efforts • At the end of the entire WSIS, it is hoped that the digital divide will be reversed, and on the path to being bridged • The process presents unique opportunities for nation states of the UN, Civil Society and Businesses to activate a people-centred and development-focused Information Society.

3. Platforms for Participation • The Civil Society is closest to the people and has always sought opportunities for intervention – for policy processes, denied social services and fair governance • The WSIS, through its Multi-Stakeholder approach, provides dynamic opportunities for Civil Society entities (academia, media, professional organisations, special interest groups, non-governmental organisations) to decide the future of our children, youth, women, specially-abled, marginalised groups and world • Such platforms include the: • Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meetings • Regional meetings • Related, thematic and intersessional meetings • Working Groups (Task Force on Financial Mechanisms, Working Group on Internet Governance, Group of Friends of the Chair) • Families (e.g. Africa) and caucuses (e.g. youth, civil society) • Side Events (e.g. ICT4D Platform, World Summit Awards)

4. Nigeria and the Information Society • The National Policy on Information Technology states that we should be active players in the Information Society by now – this is Year 2005! • We are yet to maximise the benefits that the WSIS process provides, along with Multi-Stakeholder Partnership opportunities • We have seen efforts and have heard of diverse PLANS and PROMISES but need ACTION • Out IT Policy and related ICT policy documents (Broadcasting Code, Telecommunications Policy, etc) should help guide a National ICT Strategy that will build on the strength of the WSIS process and MSPs/PPPs • Nigerians have raised their voices through articles, mailing lists and meetings. Recommendations rising from these media should be converted into sustainable livelihoods for the “average Nigerian” • What will Nigeria do with the WSIS Plan of Action?

5. Youth in Active Service • The Policy Train is a nationwide study on the thoughts of young Nigerians with respect to the WSIS and the relevance of the Information Society to Nigeria • Building on the meetings in Kano, Port Harcourt and Lagos, the Nigerian Youth Declaration on the WSIS was drafted – and presented at the eNigeria summit in 2004 • Policy Train II is in progress and involves more youth organisations in Lagos, Abuja, Owerri, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Port Harcourt and other locations • Nigerian youth are participating in the recently announced grant program for the Rural Youth National Campaigns on the Information Society, and will partner across board to take this WSIS Gospel to the unreached parts of Nigeria. Expect us… • The Economic Commission for Africa (organisers of the WSIS Accra 2005) launched a pan-African Youth ICT4D network in Accra – www.ayinetwork.org

6. Emerging Opportunities • Nigeria must have a strong representation in Tunisia – with the national delegation consisting of civil society actors, youth and women along with high-level government representatives. This is the best time to prepare for those days ahead • The World Summit Award (WSA) is a global initiative for selecting and promoting the best in e-Content and creativity. It involves representatives from numerous countries on all five continents and sees the bridging of the digital divide and narrowing of the content gap as its overall goal • Continued youth empowerment and inclusion cannot be over-emphasized. We must commend various stakeholders for the obvious change we have seen in the last 3 years as far as youth inclusion is concerned • We must make WSIS a national, state, local government, and ward priority. All political office holders must be aware of the dangers of Nigeria being left behind

7. From Bamako to Accra • Young people are the bridge between policy and action – the proof of sustainability for any effort • During Africa’s first regional meeting for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), young people lobbied and recorded major success as the plenary threw a lot of support behind the clamour for youth empowerment and inclusion • Nigerian youth input to the WSIS Youth Caucus has been consistent, even in the face of limitations • Between Bamako and Accra, young Nigerians continued to extend the frontiers of the Information Society through the National Information Society Youth Campaigns (“Policy Train”) and other ICT4D consultations

8. Day Accra was Nigeria’s Capital • Selected from a pool of applicants, 20 young women and men were sponsored by Heinrich Boll Foundation to the second African regional meeting for the WSIS • Advocacy. Presence. Networking. Fun. Action. Dedication. Experiences… these words express what young Nigerians did in Accra between January 29 and February 4 2005. The dramatic exit is worthy of note! • Bearing national symbols around their necks and waists – and nation building on their minds – young Nigerians led discussions, facilitated meetings, produced newsletters, met with dignitaries, resolved issues, matched words with action, stayed up late… in order to help meet Africa’s Information Society needs • There’s much more that can be done by young Nigerians!

9. To Geneva with Hope • WSIS II PrepCom II discussed Internet Governance (IG), Financial Mechanisms (FM), and set the Tunis agenda… • The focus on IG and FM – with more success recorded with the latter – heightened fears that WSIS may be more of an Internet than an Information Society summit • The endorsement on the Digital Solidarity Fund (after lengthy and intense negotiations between the African countries and the European Union and supported by other countries as a compromise decision) comes as a possible plus to efforts seeking to bridge digital divides • Youth (though few) contributed to the process. We produced newsletters, blogged, and launched the Phase II National Youth Campaigns, World Summit Youth Awards and WSYA Radio

10. Global Thought… Local Action • The Accra Experience suggests what can be achieved by a group of networked and supported youth • We can create positive change from our respective locations, starting a ripple that will reach rural areas and the relevant spaces within the Information Society • There is need to establish a Nigerian Youth ICT4D Network (NYIN), led by youth and for youth (ranging from secondary school students to young professionals) • NYIN will require support from government, private sector, civil society and development partners (e.g. HBF) • Nigeria must make good use of the positive energies projected by its youth into the development space • A New Nigeria, built on ICT (and other) opportunities, will need youth energy!

27. RIPPLESfromEnugu …Nigerian Youth Choose to Lead Action in the Information Society ‘Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative Nigeria www.gbengasesan.com | me@gbengasesan.com WSIS Nigeria Youth Consultation (“Policy Train”). Young Initiators Nigeria, Enugu. Saturday, 26 March 2005