Building a Hello Hub in Nigeria with Hello World
Hello World is expanding internet connectivity one Hub at a time. Currently they're building one in Nigeria!
Project status: Closed
Country: Nigeria
Partner: Hello World
Impact goal: 1200 people
About the project
Three expert organizations are working together to close the digital divide in Nigeria. Hello World is partnering with The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD) to deliver effective and replicable connectivity solutions that reach disconnected communities in Nigeria. Hello World is scaling their Hello Hub model to Nigeria. In January 2024, Hello World will travel to Abuja, Nigeria to train CITAD and members from 7 Community Network micro-organizations, in the Hello World model. This training will include hands-on engineering skills in how to construct a Hello Hub, in-depth inclusive community management skills and collaborative sessions on how to adapt the model to suit the Nigerian context.
Results
The overall aim of this project was to build local capacity in Nigeria through constructing Hello Hubs using Hello World’s community centered model. Phase 1 of this project included the training of Nigerian NGO ‘The Center for Information, Technology and Development’ (CITAD) and 14 individuals from 7 Community Networks in how to build a Hub. One Hub was built as part of this training process, in Dakwa community. Phase 2 of the project was to fund CITAD and the Community Networks to build more Hubs across Nigeria. In this project, all the equipment for a Hub in Jama’are community was contributed to provide 1200 community members with access to connectivity and education.
In February 2024, the CITAD team alongside two of the trainees from the original ‘How to build a Hello Hub’ training successfully worked with Jama’are community to build an internet connected Hello Hub. The community is in the process of creating their sustainability plan and time table to ensure that all groups within the community have access to the Hub. Another result of this project has been the attention that this initiative has received in Nigeria. Various Nigerian media picked up on the Hub build in Jama’are, and reported on the innovation with enthusiasm, as seen in Kano Times and The Stallion Times. This media attention, alongside the success of the project has facilitated the fundraising for more Hello Hubs in Nigeria. Currently, all 7 of the Community Networks trained by Hello World are now funded to build Hubs within their communities. The Hub in Jama'are kickstarted the fundraising for this project, allowing Hello World to prove to new funders that this innovation was worth funding in Nigeria.
Around 1200 people now have access to free internet and the hardware to use it. CITAD will also deliver digital literacy training for the community so that they will have the skills to use the Hub in away which is meaningful to them.
About the partner
Hello World is a United Kingdom based organization. Their goal is to bridge the digital divide by connecting hard-to-reach communities to online education and Wifi connectivity.
Visit their website here to learn more about them.