An International Non-Governmental Organisation in Africa, Search for Common Ground (SCG), has urged the Federal Government to collaborate with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the application of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Africa.

Representatives of the organisation in some countries in the continent made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sidelines of the opening of its five-day ‘Texchange’ meeting on Monday in Abuja.

They said that a synergy between governments in Africa and CSOs was necessary to address current ICT challenges in the region for achievable results.

According to Mr. Chom Bagu, Country Director of the group in Kenya, the organisation operates in 35 countries in the world, including Nigeria, and 22 of the countries are in Africa.

He said that the groups focus was conflict resolution, peace building and collaboration with security sites to develop strategies for communities to secure themselves.

“Our meeting here is really an international exchange programme which is about leadership initiative for good governance in Africa, aimed at creating space for civil societies to work with government in a constructive manner.

“With three countries participating, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, areas of collaboration with governments in the region will be explored as civil society only has advisory relationship with the governments.

“We have not been able to benefit from a collaborative synergistic relationship that can help government and civil societies to deal with complex problems that are facing our communities.

“The idea is that we want a situation where civil societies can work with government departments to identify problems that can have a technological solution.”

He said that CSOs had begun training of communities on ICT, stressing that the societies would support government departments to deal with problems from technological viewpoints.

He said that collaboration with government would enhance development of confidence and collaborative work with government ‘to face some of the challenges not dealt with in the past.’

He said that since the world had become more vulnerable, the use of technology to address problems was achievable, especially on the issue of Boko Haram in Africa.

He called on the government to understand the terrorism phenomenon and develop a response for it by involving civil societies, saying that all hands should be on deck.

The group’s Country Director in Tanzania, Mrs. Spes Manirakiza, said that ‘Texchange’ was aimed at promoting good health for the citizen and good governance in the polity.

She explained that the three countries came together to share experiences in order to complement each other in solving the challenges.

“Our aim is to promote peace and focus more on ICT by CSOs and government in their daily activities in order to promote peace, communication and social change in different issues.

“In Kenya, the government and CSOs have been communicating with each other on improving communication by engaging in different dialogue on accountability, corruption, human rights, among others.

“They go together to work within the communities and whenever they need somebody from government, CSOs have easy access to government representatives to come and talk directly with the population.”

On his part, a representative of the organisation in Nigeria, Mr. James Gopye, said that there was need to empower the youth in whatever the government was doing.

According to him, this will prevent them from deviating and constituting nuisance in the society.

Gopye, who is a Deputy Director, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bauchi State, said that the society had begun the registration of groups and associations, and were being guided and educated to develop their potentials.

“The government is actually supporting such activities to make sure that the populace work together, unite, agree without showing any tribal difference or religious difference in the society.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Chom Bagu.