Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Mobiles and Civic Engagement

The Berkman Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard University, the Digital Bridge Institute and Georgia Tech are hosting a symposium on "Enhancing Civil Society Use of ICTs in Nigeria at the Digital Bridge Institute in Abuja, Nigeria. The symposium will run through 14 to 16 July 2009.

With over 50 participants drawn from different segments of civil society organisations, the private sector and academia already in attendance, the symposium has been an eye opening event for some members of civil society.

Of particular interest to this blog is the very significant role of mobile phones as a critical support information communication tool for enhancing civil society effectiveness in Nigeria.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Mobiles 4 Socio-Economic Change in Nigeria

Mobiles for Socio-Economic Change in Nigeria

The advent of Mobile Activism in Nigeria can be traced to Friday 19 September 2001 when mobile phone subscribers in Nigeria switched off their mobile phones in protest over high tariffs and other complaints.

Out Of The Box Mobile Solutions Monitor Elections In NigeriaBy Justin Oberman, 04/23/2007 - 2:42pm

The Nigerian Elections have come and gone. Thats the frontline news of the election. And while the usual claims of vote rigging and fraud are being claimed a story that is also being heralded is how mobile phones where being used to help monitor the elections. Apparently, The Network of Mobile Election Monitors of Nigeria (NMEM) set up a mobile monitoring system via Kiwanja.nets out of the box FrontlineSMS solution, first talked about on Personal Democracy here. FronlineSMS was developed by mobile non-profit mastermind Ken Banks.
The purpose of this project is to involve over 30million Nigeria armed with mobile phones in the all important process of electing the next president of Nigeria and to offer them a platform to ensure impartial elections. Volunteer observers will text their observations into the FrontlineSMS hub where the election process will be monitored. kiwanja has provided free technical support and advice, as well as use of the software, to the Nigerian NGO.
[via textually]
http://www.personaldemocracy.com/node/1390