1. 14 July 2009 Enhancing Civil Society Use of ICTs in Nigeria Abuja, Nigeria

2. Centre for Policy and Development info@poldec.org www.poldec.org

3. The gender digital divide Differential access on account of: 1.Women ’ s low literacy levels 2.Language barrier 3.Culture 4.Media literacy 5.Poverty, Ownership and usage

4. About 4 billion mobile phones in use globally – 52 million in Nigeria increased teledensity in countries with less wired infrastructure increasingly imposing ICT tool for civic engagement - (www.mobileactive.org; mobiles.tacticaltech.org;www.mobileactive.org; mobiles.tacticaltech.org www.kiwanja.net, www.newtactics.orgwww.kiwanja.net, www.newtactics.org /SendingOutanSMS Bottom line is Access - relevant, locally appropriate and timely information in deep rural and peri-urban communities % of women with such access % of gender specific mobile enabled telephony projects

5. Poverty Culture Ownership and usage Low literacy levels Media Literacy Urban bias in connectivity – creeks, very deep rural communities

6. Text message infolines- Learning for Living, Interactive digital development information services, Network for Good Governance, the Nigerian Human Rights Hub. The Speak Out, Stand Out, and Commit to preventing Violence against Women SMS-based campaign by WOUGNET, in collaboration with Womensnet, South Africa and APC-Africa- Womenwww.wougnet.orgwww.wougnet.or "The phone has transformed the women farmers' lives completely - they are able to market their produce, access information on prices, and it has made them so confident,". Irin News, 18 March 2009, www.irinnews.org Helplines - HIV/AIDS Mobile banking and all its related cousins As many others that can be generated here to ensure gendered digitopia

7. An online platform that facilitates timely human rights violations monitoring through; reports, responses and human rights information dissemination on who and where to go to for assistance. Part of an on-going project by PolDeC - awareness, capacity building as well as best practices sharing on innovative uses of mobiles for civic engagement Generously supported by OSIWA TTC ‘ s partnership through toolkits donation and continuous training http//tacticaltech.org Human rights organisations and campaigners in Nigeria Every victim of human rights violations

8. A national toll free helpline for reporting and responding promptly to gender violence mobile telephony mediated access and capacity building points Strategic gendered capacitating mobile telephony enabled projects /activities with women ’ s organizations dissemination of life changing development information through mobile phones

9. Thank You for your attention and commitment to closing the gap.