MORE THAN A SUMMIT The Role of Civil Society in Fostering Digital Opportunities in Nigeria ‘Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative Nigeria | Nigeria Preparatory WSIS Meeting. PolDeC. January Lagos, Nigeria

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.

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)

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?

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, Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Port Harcourt and many more locations Nigerian youth seek to participate 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) will launch a pan-African Youth ICT4D network in Accra

Emerging Opportunities Nigeria must have a strong representation in Accra (Access: Africa’s key to an inclusive Information Society) – with the national delegation consisting of civil society actors, youth and women along with high-level government representatives 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

THANK YOU ‘Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative Nigeria | Nigeria Preparatory WSIS Meeting. PolDeC. January Lagos, Nigeria