[May 17, 2010] CAI - Improving Access to Affordable Computer in Bauchi Tweet Bauchi, May 17, 2010 (Daily Independent/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- A charity organisation based in the United Kingdom, Computer Aid International (CAI), has become the most respected not-for-profit provider of refurbished computers to educational institutions in Africa. It's aim is to make computer systems available to developing countries in order to improve the social and economic welfare of the people, especially the less privileged. Launched in April 1998, the organisation which has one of its centres at Iya Abubakar Centre, Bauchi State in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, is concerned in addressing the problems of access to computers by the less privileged in developing countries. According to the Chief Executive Officer of CAI, Tony Roberts, the organisation has already sent over 165,000 fully refurbished computers where they are most needed in more than 109 different developing countries. In its 2008/2009 annual report, Roberts said the body was concerned in addressing the problems of access to computers by the less privileged in developing countries. According to him, the organisation was concerned that while access to computers was not affordable to individuals and some companies in these countries, yet in the United Kingdom firms were dumping thousands of functional computers in landfill as they upgraded their PCs every two or three years. He noted that Computer Aid selects the best of these 'excess' PCs from donors and after professionally refurbishing them, sends these to the less privileged around the world. He said so far the organisation had provided over 150,000 high quality computers in more than 100 countries including Nigeria. Said he: "We charge a handling fee of 42 pounds coupled with shipping to provide each computer in order to recover costs and remain operational. The fee cost is to assist us to source, externally clean, fully test, professionally refurbish and carefully pack each Pentium or equivalent computer ready for shipment. "Currently, the minimum specifications that we provide in every order are 100% Pentium 4 or equivalent PCs with a minimum of 256 Mb RAM. Each machine is a full system with its own color monitor, keyboard, mouse and cables securely packaged in boxes. The PCs are provided with English keyboards as standard but Spanish, French or Portuguese keyboards can be provided on request." He added that by so doing, "we aim to help strengthen those originations having the most positive impact in improving the social and economic opportunities of marginalised and disadvantaged communities in the developing world." In March 2008, the Iya Abubakar Resource Centre received its first consignment of 600 computers from Computer Aid International, which included 150 laptops and 450 desktops. Same were distributed to beneficiaries in the state through the American Corner, Bauchi. According to the officer-in-charge of the centre, Nasiru Umar Launi, a second consignment was also received in March 2010 and was distributed to beneficiaries from all sectors. The beneficiaries included students in higher institutions of learning, academic/non-academic staff, NGOs, journalists, the physically challenged etc. A number of organisations and individuals were provided with such computers by Computer Aid International, among them were Bauchi State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) which got 30 units of laptops and five units of desktops. Also a Bauchi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Challenge Your Disability Initiative (CYDI), was provided with 35 laptops and five desktops. The CYDI, which is an NGO founded by wife of the state governor, Hajia Abiodun Isa Yuguda, provides free vocational training in carpentry, metal works, weaving and others to some physically challenged people in the state. Speaking to some of the individuals that benefited from the laptops provided by Computer Aid International in Bauchi State, a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Danladi Yusuf, said he got his laptop from Iya Abubakar Centre at low price, and that the item has assisted a lot in his academic learning. Also a secondary school teacher with Government Day Secondary School in the metropolis, Sambo Usman, said he got his small size Toshiba laptop last month. According to him, "because I have a diploma in computer, I realised I needed to own a laptop. And when I was told about Computer Aid International from the American Corner in Bauchi, I quickly applied for and got my laptop last month. "Really it has helped me a lot in my vocation because I use it to prepare my lesson plan, time table and result sheets as well. Some of my colleagues also make use of the laptop for same reasons. It has become something of a companion for me. I remain grateful to Computer Aid and American Corner, Bauchi for making it possible for me to own my own laptop," he stated. According to Abubakar Bulama, a native of Yobe State who was in Bauchi to attend a course in computer, "I applied to Computer Aid when I heard about it, and now I am a proud owner of a Toshiba laptop." He said with the laptop, he established a small business centre in his hometown, Damaturu, from where he gets some income. Also one of the beneficiaries who did not want her name on print commended Computer Aid International for making the laptop affordable to people like her, who would have found it difficult to afford a laptop because of high pricing in the market. She explained that she got her laptop from Iya Abubakar centre early this year and it has been of good assistant to her in her school. With the provision of the laptops and desktops to the people of Bauchi, it appears that Computer Aid International has gone a long way in making computer accessible and affordable to the people especially students, teachers, lecturers and others. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]