The ComICT Centre project is going to launch a computer and internet training centre in the rural community of Buea. What marks out this project is its intention to use university graduate volunteers as trainers. There will be three levels of training. Level 1 will impart basic computer knowledge and internet skills. Level 2 will proceed to offer intermediate training in one or more of the following: operating systems, internet access and, Word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, Graphical design, and typing. Level 3 will offer advanced training in hardware and software maintenance, web page design and hosting, networking, computerized accounting, databases, and other related fields.

By Angella Nabwowe and Roland Stanbridge, Highway Africa News Agency (HANA)
25 February 2005

GENEVA - After 10 days of intense negotiations at the second preparatory meeting of the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), negotiators have reached consensus on the financial mechanisms to bridge the digital divide.

However, there is no agreement on the other substantive issue of who should run the internet. As we head to Tunis, there are still big differences, even within the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG).

Currently, the internet is managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a private-public partnership set up by the US government .

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) set up a Working Group on Internet Governance with a view to preparing the ground for negotiations at the second phase of the WSIS, to be held in Tunis in November 2005.

The WGIG is supposed to investigate and make proposals for action, as appropriate, on the governance of the Internet by 2005. The main task in this regard is to develop a working definition of Internet Governance; identify the public policy issues that are relevant to internet governance and to develop a common understanding of the respective roles and, responsibilities of governments, existing international organisations and other forums as well as the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries.