Access to ICT Infrastructure
Poverty is a major obstacle to information and education access in rural communities and for women in particular. Kafanchan today is a poorly connected area in terms of telephony – GSM just arrived in 2005 and there is no fixed telephony available - and Internet connectivity. Fantsuam Foundation is the only Internet Service Provider, using a VSAT facility provided through a grant from the United States Embassy, Nigeria. A significant discount on cost of the hardware was also granted by the vendor, Emperion West Africa.
In its attempt to bridge the digital divide for rural communities in Nigeria, Fantsuam Foundation strives to provide affordable access to ICT infrastructure. FF established the first rural-based ICT education facility in Nigeria in 2001, which offers basic- and to advanced-level computer skills training. That year, FF was awarded the first Hafkin Africa Prize for its innovative use of ICT. Part of the prize money was set aside to provide scholarships for 10 women to attend basic computer literacy courses at the school.
This effort to enhance gender parity in ICT access was also supported by an OSIWA grant and by 2004, enrolment levels were nearly equal: 37 females to 40 males. We continue to study the relationship between women and ICT through our participation in the GRACE project.
In 2003, Fantsuam Foundation became the first rural-based CISCO networking
Academy in Nigeria with the help of USAID and the global CISCO Academy.
The Foundation also provides full computer services (refurbished computers;
training on software and hardware; reliable,
affordable internet service; networking and troubleshooting service and
support) to civil society organizations, health and educational
institutions with the support of IDRC, and thus giving the ICT alumni and
volunteers an opportunity for practical,
on-the-job training.
Click here to read more about our ICT PROJECTS
