Nigerians Want Bread and Broadband!
Submitted by admin on Mon, 2010-08-02 07:12.The just concluded Broadband for Nigeria Stakeholders Forum was indeed a meeting that delivered on its objectives. It was held on Wednesday July 28, 2010 at the NCCE Hall, Central Business District, Abuja. Association for Progressive Communications (APC) provided the support funding while Fantsuam Foundation, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON; Nigeria ICT Forum of Partnership Institutions and Telecom Answers Associates supplied the faculty which put the forum together.
After kicking off with exchange of pleasantries and a welcome address, the first Nigerian Broadband Stakeholders Forum got down to serious business with the presentation of a Broadband framework supported with a background document.
Engr. Titi Omo Ettu, President, Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria, took the audience through these documents, spicing his presentation with examples and inside information which only long-time IT practitioners were privy to. Thereafter, delegates were invited to make their input. The BB4NG team had made efforts before the event to ensure a wide dissemination of the two key documents, through print and internet, and this seemed to have paid off as attested to by the quality and passion of contributions made by participants at the Forum.
The discussion and observation that followed the document presentation was rich and diverse, and it was one of such observations that seemed to have captured the essence of what the Nigerian Government needed to do, and do quickly. It was observed that Nigerians are at various levels in awareness of and demand for Broadband internet access, and the consensus is that this should not be a question of choosing either Bread or Broadband. Nigerians need both Bread and Broadband!
It was observed that beyond ensuring that the Broadband for Nigeria framework document, synergizes with ongoing and previous efforts of Government, it must be made explicit and clear to Government that BROADBAND IS THE MEDIUM THAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL, SUSTAINABLE, AND INCLUSIVE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR MGD COMMITMENTS AND VISION 2020-20.
This message came through this stakeholders forum loudly and clearly and it presents the Nigerian Government an opportunity to make Nigeria’s MDG commitments and Vision 2020-20, not a pyrrhic victory but a lasting reality. The message is that: broadband is the critical and efficient medium needed for the timely delivery of MDGs, Vision 2020-20 and ICT4D. In order to ensure that Nigeria’s MDG commitments and Vision 202020 reach their target audience in ALL the 774 Local Governments, it will require a substantial completion of fixed Broadband infrastructure that gives optimum connectivity within the country and to the global internet.
The First Nigerian Broadband Stakeholders Forum has delivered on its objectives and it has presented us the opportunity to make Nigeria’s MDG commitments and Vision 2020-20 a reality. The next crucial steps is to ensure that this message reaches all the people who will be responsible in developing the policy that will make this a reality.
The Forum, under the chairmanship of Mr. Olusola Teniola, Chief Operating Officer of Phase 3 Telecom, brought together a wide range of stakeholders. Senior Civil servants such as Dr. Moses Olateju Ojo Director, NCCE; Mr Obi Adindu, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Communication made contributions.
Chairman of NITDA, Hon Mohammed Bulama gave an inspiring speech while Secretary General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof Jibril Dahiru Amin pledged the full support of Nigerian Universities for this effort and this was echoed by representatives from several research and educational institutions.
The IT industry had Dr Armstrong Takang, and other Senior Executives from IEEE, Monarch Communications Ltd, Linkserve, and President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria, Dr Olufuye, were key contributors at the Forum.
Mr. Adrian Wood the pioneer MD of MTN, now CEO of BryMEDIA Consortium was there while President of Nigeria Computer Society, Prof. Charles Uwadia sent goodwill message and endorsement to the Forum. The presence of grassroot politicians, such as Councilor Ibrahim La’ah from Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State, showed the extent to which information about this event had been circulated. The Nigerian Military through Navy Commodore James Oluwole and Air Commodore Pat Udabor and other very senior Military officers also expressed full endorsement of the framework document. Civil society organisations such as Life Impact Foundation Intl., One World UK, Abuja Photographers Association, Center for Information technology & Development, Telecommunications Consumers Association of Nigeria, Development Information Network and national youth Corps members were also present.
Six additional items/ isssues were accepted to be addressed in the Framework Document.
Delegates represented the following organisations: Abuja Photographers Association; Adamawa State University; African Science & Tech Digest; Ahmadu Bello University; All Voices; Analytical Technology Ltd; ATCON; Bayero University Kano; Brymedia Group Ltd.; Businessday; Center for Information technology & Development; Committee of Vice Chancellors; Compass Nigeria; Consultancy Support Services-CS2; Daily Independent; Data ZA Ltd; Datasphir; DCOMMS-Defense Hqtrs.; Development Information Network; Fantsuam Foundation; Far Eye Marketing & Communications Ltd; FCE Kano; FCT Secondary Education Board; FCTA; Fed. Ministry I & C; Federal University of Tech. Akure; Financial Standard; Galaxy Backbone Plc.; Globacom Ltd.; Goga Investment Nig. Ltd.; Grassroot Systems Ltd.; Hafasco Communications Ltd.; Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Ltd.; IEEE Nigeria; ITAN; Kasuf Continental Ltd.; Kaura LG. Kaduna; KJ Technologies Ltd.; Kolmart Nig. Ltd; Layer 3; Life Impact Foundation Intl.; Lifeboom Century; Linkserve Ltd.; Media Trust; Megadi Security Service; Muhtasib Resources Ltd. Sokoto; National Planning Commission; National Teachers Institute; National Youth Service Corps; NBTE; NCCE; News Agency of Nigeria; ng ICT Forum; Nigerian Airforce; Nigerian Navy; Nigerian Tribune; NITDA; NITEL; One World UK; ONSA; Phase 3 Telecomm Ltd; Rural Electrification Agency; Sapphire Consult; Self Employed; Special Advisor ICT, Sokoto State; Step B; Swap Technologies & Telecoms Plc; Technology Support Centre Nigeria; Telecom Answers Associates; Telecommunications Consumers Association of Nigeria; Tinitop Technologies Ltd.; Unetcom Technologies Ltd.; University of Agriculture, Makurdi; University of Ibadan; University of Mkar; Vanguard; Wise Point Technology; and Yentech Services.
More information: bb4ng@forum.org.ng
Summary of the 2009 ngNOG Workshop, University of Ilorin, 08-15 November
ngNOG 2009, the 4th in the annual series of the Nigerian Network Operators' Group (ngNOG) Workshops and Meetings, was successfully held at the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) from 08-15 November 2009.
Eighty five (85) delegates from 15 Institutions and Organizations participated in the five parallel tracks of the 2009 ngNOG workshop in Ilorin. This compares to the 35 delegates from 14 institutions in the single track at pre-ngNOG Ibadan; 56 delegates from 14 institutions in the three tracks of ngNOG Jos; 75 delegates from 21 institutions in five tracks of ngNOG Kano; and the 71 delegates from 25 institutions in the five tracks of ngNOG Lagos last year.
- 28 System Administration(SysAdmin)
- 11 Internet Infrastructure (II)
- 14 Internet Services and Applications (IS)
- 06 Appropriate Power Technologies (APT)
- 26 ICT Strategy, Policy and Management (SPM)
We are grateful to the various Institutions and Firms (Veritas University, Obehie ; University of Jos ; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria ; University of Benin ; University of Agriculture, Makurdi ; University of Ibadan ; Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University, Katsina ; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife ; SKANNET (GDES) ; NISTech Ltd ; and Tinitop Technologies ) who contributed the following 13 ngNOG IV Instructors: Ishaku Anaobi; Chistopher Anthony; Olayinka Christiana Toluwanimi; Dewole Ajao; Cletus Okolie; Geraldine Daloeng; Bamidele Amire; Emmanuel Onowojo; Nentawe Goshwe; Kayode Ayodele; Sunday Folayan; Ayodeji Oluleye; and Bashir Sani. And, thanks to BGL Securities , Sekyen was able to rejoin Secretariat and assist with workshop organization.
ngNOG IV at Ilorin was dominated by Academic Network Operators: 74 (85%) of participants were from the HEIs. As many as 20 (24%) of the 85 workshop delegates were affiliated to University Libraries this year, thanks to the synergy grown with the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs. Following Unilorin with 20 delegates, other contributors of delegates to ngNOG IV were led this time around, by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with 9 delegates and the University of Ibadan with 8 delegates.
Participation rate for women was better than that recorded in 2007 at Kano (13%) and in 2008 at Lagos (14%), but was still low at 19% in ngNOG 2009.
Four tutorials were presented at ngNOG IV: on Fibre Optics; Audio and Video Technolology; Improving web/ database server stability and on high performance computing. Respectively, these were presented by Ahmed Atere of Torque Technologies ; by Adesola Dada of Visions Telecommunications Technologies ; and by Clement Onime of ICTP, Trieste .
The 2009 ngNOG meeting featured key presentations on management of .ng domain by Dewole Ajao of Tinitop Technologies , and on OS dependencies by David Dorman from Index Data .
A Power Logging device, which was commissioned by the Forum and designed and fabricated by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife , was demonstrated for the first time by Engr Kayode Ayodele. The device monitors and measures periods of mains power outage on a daily basis. Seven such devices will be deployed at various locations in the country, to generate information required for planning power-backup systems; this will also assist in monitoring efficiency of various interventions in the energy sector.
This workshop built-upon foundations laid at the preparatory-ngNOG Workshop that held at the University of Ibadan in July 2006, and the three full editions that were hosted at UniJos, BUK, and Unilag. These were in turn, made possible by earlier editions of the INET and AfNOG workshops at which fora ngNOG instructors were mostly trained over the past 10 years, and will continue to be updated.
With very great appreciation to the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the MacArthur Foundation for supporting this event; to the Network Start up Resource Centre , which donated books and networking equipment; to the Mortenson Center ; all the delegates, observers, and volunteer team of instructors and presenters, and their employers; as well as our Membership, and to the ngNOG 2009 workshop host institution, LOC, Interns and organizers.
As always, we remain deeply grateful to all our supporters and those who inspire us, including the very many who were not specifically mentioned in this summary.
Update - November 2009. “Towards an e-learning model for Nigerian HEIs. Lessons from the ICT Maths Initiative
Submitted by Len.forum on Tue, 2009-12-01 04:05.The ICT math team has developed a model for e-learning in Nigerian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It was presented at an ICT conference, held at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife in September 2009.
At this conference, the University of Jos had a presentation on the “Towards an e-learning model for Nigerian HEIs. Lessons from the ICT Maths Initiative”. The ICT Maths team was also given an entire plenary session to make presentations on “Preparing Nigerians for better communication with the Global Academic Community”. The latter special presentation was very well received. It was the only presentation in the entire conference that was given a standing ovation.
Several institutions including OAU Ife, Bells University, Covenant University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, and Federal University of Technology, Minna, indicated interest to partner with UniJos on implementing the Jos model.
Several participants suggested that the National Universities Commission, National Commission for Colleges of Education and similar bodies should be approached to adopt the model nationally.
The ICT mathematics team is pleased to share the paper and a power point presentation on the model. The presentation on the model was again made at the Ilorin ngNOG 2009 event in November 2009.
We shall continue to update you on progress with the initiative.
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Eko-Konnect Seminar and Launch
Submitted by Damiet on Fri, 2009-11-20 14:52.The Lagos Higher Education Connectivity Project (LHECP) is a multi-institutional project initiated by the University of Lagos in partnership with the Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria and Datasphir Solutions.
Enquiries: foss@unilag.edu.ng
The 2009 ngNOG at Unilorin: A Synergy With The Mortenson Centre
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Mortenson Center for International Library Programs is supporting the participation of 20 University Librarians, Deputy Librarians and Library Information Systems Staff in the ngNOG Workshop and Meeting that will hold at the University of Ilorin, 2009.11.08-15.
Mortenson Centre is also contributing two resource persons to make presentations and interact with delegates to the technology tracks of the 2009 ngNOG Event, as well as with the host-institution's Library Staff. This arrangement was made possible by the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, who also support the Mortenson Centre.
Senior delegates under this arrangement will mostly be at Strategy, Policy and Management Track along with IT Directors and Coordinators from the same and other institutions. Among the many useful spin-off benefits of such an interaction will be a much better mutual understanding and working relationships between Libraries and IT Directorates.
Growing such interactions (between Libraries and IT Directorates) is important for campus networking and has long been deliberately cultivated and advocated elsewhere. This was the subject of an African planning meeting convening supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation on May 25- May 27, 2009 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina with participation of the Stanford University Libraries, Council on Library and Information Resources, the Frye Institute and the happily re-incarnated and modernized Library of Alexandria.
The Mortenson Center's (and its funders') preference for building synergies with, and strengthening existing projects and platforms is a development-support best-practice that is very deeply appreciated.
The 2009 Nigerian Network Operators' Group Workshop and Meeting, University of Ilorin, 08-15 November, 2009
The 4th edition of the Annual ngNOG Workshop and Meeting is scheduled to take place at the University of Ilorin , as follows:
Workshop and Meeting Venue:
Geology Complex,
University of Ilorin (Permanent Site), Ilorin, Kwara State
Time: 9:00am Daily
Date: 08 - 15 November, 2009
Event Timetable:
Arrival & Registration: 08 November, 2009 (Sunday)
ngNOG Workshop: 09 - 13 November, 2009 (Monday - Friday)
ngNOG Tutorials: 14 November, 2009 (Saturday)
ngNOG Meeting: 14 November, 2009 (Saturday)
Departure: 15 November, 2009 (Sunday)
Application forms can be filled on line at http://forum.org.ng/ngnog/apply2009.
The closing date for receiving applications is Saturday 19th September 2009.
About the 2009 ngNOG
The 2008 Nigerian Network Operators Group Workshops and Meetings, University of Lagos, 16-26 November, 2008
The Convenors of the Nigerian Network Operators Group are pleased to announce the 3rd edition of the ngNOG Workshops and Meetings scheduled to take place as follows;
Workshop Venue:
Center for Information Technology and Systems,
University of Lagos
Time: 9:00am Daily
Date: 17 - 21 November, 2008
Conference Venue:
Afe Babalola Hall, University of Lagos
Time: 9:00am Daily
Date: 24- 25 November, 2008
Event Timetable:
Arrival & Registration: 16 November, 2008 (Sunday)
ngNOG Workshop: 17 - 21 November, 2008 (Monday - Friday)
ngNOG Tutorials: 22 - 23 November, 2008 (Saturday -Sunday)
ngNOG Meetings: 24 - 25 November, 2008 (Monday - Tuesday)
Departure: 26 November, 2008 (Wednesday)
This 10 day event is a domestication of the annual AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology (www.afnog.org) and will include two days for meetings and the Annual Conference on ICTs and Education.
UNIVERSITY OF JOS WINS INTERNATIONAL TEACHING GRANT
Submitted by Len.forum on Thu, 2008-07-17 09:31.The University of Jos has won the 2008 Hewlett Packard Technology for Teaching (TFT) Grant. The Grant is designed to support innovative and effective uses of technology in the classroom setting.
The University of Jos won the Grant alongside two other African Institutions, Makarere University in Uganda and the South African University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Each recipient of the Grant award would receive a grant of cash and equipment to implement their proposed technology based course redesign integration project. The 2008 HPTFT Higher Education Grant award is valued at about 100,000 US dollars.
The winning project titled “Integrating Technologies for teaching Mathematics in an African University” submitted by the University of Jos Mathematics Department under the leadership of Professor (Ms) W. Sirisena, while Professor L.S.O. Liverpool heads the four person Departmental Team.
ICT ABU,Publishes Booklet on 'Standard for Networking'.
Submitted by wale on Sun, 2008-06-08 22:00.As ABU Zaria decides to make the move to join the host of institutions that leverage ICT to improve its organizational processes, it has become necessary that the process of setting up Infrastructure be done according to some standards that will ensure ease of management as well as meet minimum requirements for Intranet application that will be deployed now and in the future.
This document defines standards for the installation of voice and data networks in all departments or units of the university. It will be revised periodically.
I am glad to share a copy of the booklet with you,current development has also informed us of the need to work on another booklet titled 'Acceptable Usage Policy'which will soon be published too.Please send your comments and additions on this booklet to wale@abu.edu.ng
and mukom.tamon@abu.edu.ng
Summary of the 2007 ngNOG Workshop, Bayero University Kano, 18-24 November 2007
Seventy five (75) delegates from 28 Nigerian Institutions and Organizations (HEIs, ISPs and private firms, NGOs, Government Agencies and Ministries) were trained by 16 volunteer instructors (8 from HEIs and 8 from the private sector) in the five parallel tracks of the 2007 ngNOG workshop in Kano. A healthy, steady growth and diversification of the ngNOG community is already observable. Respectively, 35 delegates from 14 institutions and 56 from 14 institutions participated in one track at pre-ngNOG Ibadan and in three tracks at ngNOG Jos last year.
The 2007 ngNOG Workshop and National Conference on ICTs & Education
The Nigerian Network Operators Group (ngNOG) announces the 2nd Annual Workshop and Conference.
Convened jointly by Nigerian Academic and Private Network Operators, the 2007 ngNOG Workshop will include four days of intensive training in five parallel tracks, and two days of meetings that culminate in the Annual Conference on ICTs and Education.
The 2007 ngNOG Event will be hosted by the Bayero University Kano (BUK), from 18 - 24 November 2007.
Event Timetable:
Workshop Arrival & Registration: 18 November 2007
ngNOG Workshop: 19 - 22 November 2007
Conference Arrival & Registration: 22 November 2007
ngNOG Meetings & Conference: 23 - 24 November 2007
Departure: 25 November 2007 (Sunday)
Call for Collaborators on VSAT monitoring using Free and Open Source Software
Submitted by fmdahunsi on Sat, 2007-10-13 14:20.The ICT forum is interested in monitoring VSAT links of member institutes using free and open source software which will be non invasive and have no impact on the VSAT bandwidth. The information to be extracted from the data includes; the bandwidth utilization of the VSAT link, the various software applications in use and other relevant network traffic characterization such as the source and destination address, data volume, the protocol used etc.
Backbone Connectivity & Bandwidth Aggregation Studies etc
Submitted by aminu on Thu, 2007-08-09 08:40.Galaxy Backbone Plc made this presentation at the ngNOG Jos Conference on 25 Nov 2006.
It should be studied in the context of the National IT Policy , and bearing in mind that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) bill has since been signed in to law to implement the IT Policy.
Funding under the "Science and Technology Education Post-Basic" (STEP-B) Project
Submitted by aminu on Thu, 2007-08-02 09:20.The Nigeria ICT Forum organized a "Resource and Strategy" seminar on 24th July, 2007, on "Advanced Academic Computing for Science & Technology Teaching and Research Collaboration".
The seminar was attended by 84 delegates from Universities (26), Colleges (7), Research Institutes (5), the Public Service (15), Development Agencies and Non-Governmental Institutions (9), and the Private Sector (22).
The purpose remains to stimulate the collaborative development of comprehensive proposals (by Research and Education Institutions, Professional societies, NGOs and the Private Sector) for funding under the Federal Ministry of Education's "Science and Technology Education Post-Basic" (STEP-B) Project.
Here are:
- Highlights on STEP-B presented by the Coordinator
The University of Jos announces the presence of an E-book on the Internet
Submitted by Len.forum on Sun, 2007-07-01 07:53.It is my pleasure to announce the presence on the Internet of our E-book on “The History of Information and Communication Technology at the University of Jos” It is, the one of the few digital contributions in a growing body of documentation on ICT developments, within the Nigerian Higher Education Sector. The book can be accessed on the university website http://www.unijos.edu.ng/Partnership/CarnegieTranche2/interventions/ict/...
As we partner with you all, to strengthen ICT in the Nigerian Education Sector and bridge the digital divide, your comments on the book will be most appreciated.
Professor S. Gwanle Tyoden
Vice Chancellor
