DELEGATES from eight countries in the region, who are attending a regional workshop on Telecentres in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, are looking at ways of building the capacity of Telecentres in the region.

Paul Barera, who operates a Telecentre in Nyamata, Bugesera district and the chairman of Africa Knowledge Net steering committee, said the meeting highlighted the need for Telecentres to enhance the sharing of information on things happening in their areas of operation.

‘‘The aim of this project is to facilitate content creation and dissemination in key areas of sustainable development such as agriculture, employment, education, gender and health,’’ Barera said in an email to The New Times.

The 3-day workshop has attracted participants from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya the host.

The workshop is part of Africa Knowledge Network (AKN) agenda project implemented by United Nation Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Addressing participants, Bitange Ndemo, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Communication, of Kenya, observed most of African knowledge was and has always been passed on by grandparents to grand children orally, and nobody has endeavored to either film it or put it to writing.

‘‘We are lucky to have the new fiber optic cable that provides quick internet; professionals should start developing and sharing local content. And I am sure Telecentre operators are well positioned to do that,’’ he said.

Aida Opuku Mensah, Director ICT science and Technology Division, UNECA noted most African countries have not recognised the role of ICT in development.

She called on governments to put emphasis on helping rural communities to use technologies for development.

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