Arewa group targets northern population for digital ecosystem in Hausa language

By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA: The Arewa Rising has flagged off innovation aimed to create Hausa language digital ecosystem in order to showcase potentials of the Hausa-speaking population in the northern part of Nigeria.

The move meant to accelerate digital inclusion within the states in the northern part of the country, seeks to create a sustainable digital ecosystem exclusively designed in Hausa language

Speaking at the unveiling of the initiation in Abuja, the Senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan commended the move focusing on addressing linguistic and cultural barriers to digital access

While applauding the creation of Hausa language digital ecosystem, she noted that, ” You can never be more British than the British. We are Nigerians, and it’s up to us to develop our country.”

She said Arewa Rising has started with the mandate to create a digital ecosystem in the Hausa language.

“When Ibrahim Mohammed ran this idea through me a few weeks back, I thought that’s interesting and that’s necessary”, she said.

According to her, “To a large extent, we in Nigeria, because we are colonized by the British, so we tend to think that education should be limited only in the English language. And that actually has caused, well to a large extent some good, but also some limitations. Because we must appreciate our diversity in Nigeria.

“We must appreciate that if we really want to build some skills, they are best taught in the language of the larger populace in a particular community. And I’m just going to narrow this down to a personal story.

“I have an 18-year-old son.
He is studying mechanical engineering at one of the universities. But he initially wanted to study that same course or something along the line of robotics engineering in Japan. He always said, Mom, you know, Japan is so fascinated with AI and robotics.

“And I said, Japan is even better than the world when it comes to innovation in that area. But when we were searching for admissions from the University of Kyoto and the University of Japan, we saw that all the undergraduate courses in AI and engineering were all taught in the Japanese language. That it’s only at the master’s level that a few of the selected languages are taught in English.

“So what that means is, you know, the whole world is not running around one language. It’s the fact that learning is indigenous, learning is local.

“And learning is best served in the language that people are most comfortable with. And if we also appreciate that the world is actually a digital space now, there is pretty much nothing and no career that can alienate itself from the digital world.

“Whether it’s medicine right now, and believe me, sometimes I watch some of these clips online and I see that doctors and some diagnostics actually have been entitled by robots.

“And when I talk about robots, the flying cars now that Japan is also leading as well. Law, online in UK, you can actually resolve most of your cases online. You don’t need to meet at their digital ports.

“So even agriculture, everything, every aspect of human engagement and survival is now built around the digital space. And the good side of it is, well, let’s talk about the downside. The downside is actually creating some unemployment, basically, because people will be unemployed.

“You just have to keep abreast with the trend of job creation. You have to learn, even others are trying also, you need to learn one or two digital skills, otherwise you’ll be left behind. Jobs, careers are evolving.”

She stressed further that, “Considering the fact that I have mentioned a few limitations to learning. In the north, we have the largest population of Nigerian youths.

“We talk about unemployment. And the truth is not everybody, not everybody is inclined to the traditional education. But you see, with coding and skills in digital world, you don’t have to be in a traditional school.

“Now, with due respect, I hope you understand what I mean. There are traditional schools like in the regular primary, secondary, and university. What I’m trying to say is you can actually be equipped in digital learning skills without going through formal education.

“So just in case you find that a child that suffers from autism or any of these sickness that, or challenges that will prevent a child from attending the regular school in Nigeria, that child can actually be educated in the digital skills world.

“And imagine Mr. Ibrahim picking up some almajaris and incorporating them into his class. And in a few months or years running down, they are skilled in developing applications that will be useful in many of the industries around our sectors.

“Don’t you think that would be a great value addition? You know, if that is where it was all the years I’ve known him, he also mentioned that he’s picked up school children from the streets, most of these who actually hawk the pure water on the side of the road.

“You know, these children that when you park your cars, they come around and wash your screens, acting like business on one part. While many would find them as immittances, he has actually identified strengths and said, if he can pick these kids, whether they’re school dropouts or they’re in school, and equip them with digital knowledge.

“So I think that is the bigger vision. Of course, he’s trying to domicile digital learning in the Hausa language so that he can offer a second option. Irrespective of their background, irrespective of any background, whether it’s the societal status or the educational background.’

Speaking at the event, Kano state Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mohammed Tarjo Othman said the state has been implementing a number policies that promote digitalization.

One of such efforts, he said Kano state is planning to set up Technology FM Radio station in partnership with KKI e-learning Solutions solely meant create awareness and promote technology innovation.

The Initiator of the Project and Founder of KKI Learning Solutions, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed said he was inspired to embark on the project due to the unimaginable benefits and economic upliftment it will bring to people.

He said the group has commenced training and empowerment of 100 young Nigerians selected from across the northern states as a pilot scheme which hopefully will be replicated by each of the states going forward.

According to him, “The event, as you know, is called AREWA Rising. It’s a Digital Inclusion Initiative which is designed to kick start the creation and sustenance of a digital ecosystem exclusively designed in Hausa language, meaning, we want to build platforms in Hausa language using the most popular platforms that are being used in English cyberspace.

“Our aim is to replicate those sort of platforms, but with Hausa interfaces, so that they can be accessible to Hausa speaking users.

“Technology can do anything. You can use technology for agriculture, medicine, education, finance, services. You know, social networking, any of these platforms can give you a wide customer base,” he said

He cited examples of the great economic turn around achieved by countries like South Korea and China deploying the digital technology.

He said: “Less than 13 percent of their population speak English, and what’s the population of South Korea? 51 million. What’s the population of northern Nigeria – probably about 120 million. So there’s a market.

“There’s a huge market. Even them as users, they don’t know within themselves, they can build a digital technology network that can yield billions of Dollars, he said.

Mohammed who said that one of key objectives of the initiative was to create digital inclusion across the northern part of the country

He said some of the challenges they are trying to address included ; the skills gaps, ICT infrastructure and power supply challenges, adding that are leveraging on the existing internet services and devices.

Mohammed added that the group is seeking collaboration with the state governments in northern region to help actualize the dream.