About Us
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is a leading organization in Nigeria dedicated to leveraging technology for social development. Our work spans digital inclusion, cybersecurity, civic engagement, and artificial intelligence (AI) research with a focus on practical applications that address local and global challenges. With head office in Kano, it has offices located in Abuja (FCT), Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Gombe States, as well as outreach offices in several other states across the country. Its vision is to empower citizens for a just and knowledge-based society that is anchored on sustainable and balanced development using ICT, Capacity Development, Advocacy, Research, and Partnership.
CITAD is a house power in digital skills and knowledge, and in digital policy analysis. Its work on digital inclusion has seen it empowering several communities across the country to establish community-centred connectivity initiatives that have seen these hitherto unconnected communities now connected to the digital world.
Our Journey
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1996
Founded as the Computer Literacy Project, a single-focus initiative.
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2000
Expanded into a multi-project NGO to broaden impact.
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Today
With head office in Kano, and branch offices located in Abuja (FCT), Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Gombe States, as well as outreach offices in several other states across the country.
Infrastructure & Success Stories
CITAD has full fledge training institute, the CITAD Academy with classrooms, laboratories and studio for training. It has 18 Digital community centres (seven of them in rural FCT), five digital hubs (for providing internet connectivity to unserved communities), three digital safe space serving 12 secondary schools in Kano State and an online radio station, broadcasting 24 hours daily. It has a Children Creativity Centre(3C), a training unit for people with various disabilities, a repair, recycle and repair hub (3Rs). Three of the mentees of the 3C have just been given foreign scholarships by the Kano State Governments in recognition of their creative and innovative outputs that have been showcased by a number of media organizations such trust TV, Daily Trust, tribute, etc.
What We Do
Digital Rights and Inclusion (DIRAI)
Promoting equitable access to digital technologies, online safety, and the protection of digital rights for all communities, especially underserved and vulnerable groups.
Digital Skills & Entrepreneurship (DISAE)
Empowering individuals with in-demand digital skills and entrepreneurial knowledge to create sustainable businesses and thrive in the digital economy.
Technology in Peace Building (TAPEB)
Leveraging technology-driven solutions to foster dialogue, prevent conflict, and support peacebuilding initiatives within communities and institutions.
Technology, Innovation & Prosperity (TICAP)
Driving innovation and inclusive growth through technology, research, and strategic initiatives that support economic prosperity and social development.
Technology, Innovation & Prosperity (TICAP)
Driving innovation and inclusive growth through technology, research, and strategic initiatives that support economic prosperity and social development.
Technology in Peace Building (TAPEB)
Leveraging technology-driven solutions to foster dialogue, prevent conflict, and support peacebuilding initiatives within communities and institutions.
Digital Rights & Advocacy
CITAD’s digital rights work has centered around women and people living disabilities and operates across northern Nigeria even as it implements a number of national programmes. In the last 10 years, promoting digital rights has been a central plank of our work, which brought us directly to threats and challenges human rights defenders face in Nigeria. these basically include digital rights violations, including technology-assisted gender violence, privacy abuse, digital surveillance and hijacking, and destruction of digital assets, as well as closing to disseminate counter information. In this, we have been supporting human rights defenders, consisting of women journalists and lawyers, both be safe online as well as to protect their online assets, such as websites and social media. It works with human rights defenders, journalists and media organization, including training them on safety and privacy protection, awareness building, and engaging with encryption. On several occasions, we helped human rights defenders to recover their websites
Affiliations & Accreditations
Membership
- Member of the Association for Progressive Commissions (APC)
- Global Waste Cleaning Network
- Transparency International and African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms Coalition.
- Member of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room
- Transition Monitoring Group
- West African Networks of Peace Builders (WANEP)
- Peace and Security Network (PSN).
Accreditations
- Corporate licensed trainer by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN
- Capacity building providers of the EU-ACT Project
- Accredited trainer by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
Tools & Innovation
Launched in late 2025, Reportrix is CITAD’s unified digital reporting platform. It consolidates several specialized tools into a single, user-friendly mobile and web interface, designed to empower Nigerian citizens to take action against social, digital, and civic injustices.
By centralizing these modules, Reportrix makes it easier for users regardless of their digital literacy level to report incidents, track case progress, and access educational resources.
CITAD Mastodon is an independent, decentralized social media server hosted by the Centre for Information Technology and Development. It serves as a specialized gateway into the Fediverse a global network of interconnected social platforms that operate on open-source protocols rather than corporate algorithms.
By hosting its own instance at social.citad.org.ng, CITAD provides a digital space that prioritizes user privacy, community-led moderation, and freedom from commercial surveillance.