Building Digital Technical Capacity at Nigerian Universities:
Laying the Foundation for Greater Digital Participation and Collaboration

Institutional Partnerships Program
PROGRESS REPORT
March 31, 2002

Section I: Qualitative Reporting

1. Project Summary:

The partnership between the University of Iowa and the Nigerian National Universities Commission (NUC) seeks to develop the capacity of technicians and computer support personnel to develop, maintain, and promote the use of computers and networks at Nigerian universities. It also seeks, in partnership with Kirkwood Community College, to create links between the University of Iowa and multiple Nigerian universities via the Nigerian National Universities Commission (NUC).

Major accomplishments in the reporting period.

• Two participants of the WiderNet technician training passed Learnkey’s A+ Master Exam at NUC in February. They have mastered a wealth of material on building, repairing, and deploying computers through the completion of more than 24 hours of computer-based training cds. Nine participants from four universities are currently in the process of becoming certified.

• Project staff completed the “Satellite CD” which contains information (websites, articles, reports) on purchasing options, technical set-up, and operation of digital satellite systems. This plan demonstrates how satellite Internet connectivity can be used throughout Nigeria and prepares Nigerian technicians for a future that looks increasingly to be satellite based. (See the report...)

• Project staff members have continued to do considerable technical consulting with Nigerian partners. In addition to assisting technicians to monitor and manage Internet connectivity, the staff members have advised and given quotes on satellite technology.

• Director Missen covered “Introduction to the Internet,” “Big Birds, Bent Pipes,” "Introduction to Web Design,” “Demystifying Databases,” “Academic Information and Communication Technologies,” “Interactive Database Design with Microsoft Access,” and “Easy Database Design with Microsoft FrontPage” at UNIJOS for staff at the Computer Centre. (See the report...)

• Director Missen held a two-day Digitizing Materials Workshop at the Computer Centre for 30 attendees.

• The WiderNet Project co-hosted, with the University of Jos, a National Conference on ICT in Higher Education for 51 attendees from five universities and five local organizations.

• On the side, we have continued to collect donations of computers for shipment to our partner universities in Nigeria. Plans are in place to send the shipment of 300 computers, networking equipment, and software in April.  Fifty volunteers are signed up to work 200 hours.  These items will be distributed among The Universities of Jos and Ibadan.

• Director Missen consulted with the NUC, installing an NT server with the WiderNet Library and toured the new information center at the Center for Women's Development.  He also met with several university officials to discuss ICT plans. (See the report...)

• Participants have maintained their correspondence with other participants and trainers via email. They receive frequent news via email and occasional CD-ROMs with updated software and training materials. Participating institutions and trainees conduct training sessions at their home institutions and provide a summary report on outcomes.

• 3Com Corporation donated a network switch and a network router to the WiderNet office for use in maintaining websites, networking, communication, and projects facilitation. Additionally, 3Com has donated 200 network interface cards to complement the donated computers for Nigerian universities.

• The WiderNet Project has provided training and resources to three visiting Nigerian scholars from the University of Ibadan and the University of Jos and has extended invitations to four more to investigate the use and development of multimedia materials in contemporary U.S. university classrooms. (Meet the visitors...)
   

2. Project Status.

We are pleased with the results of the last six months.  Two trainees passed the certification exam and we expect more to do the same in the next few months.  We've committed to certifying as many people as they send.

Through on-site consulting sessions and ongoing correspondence with university administrators and technicians, the implementation and integration of information technology has been significant at the academic institutions of our partners. 

3. Project Planned Activities for next six months.

Over the next six months, we will be coaching the technician trainees via email and the NUC will be certifying them whenever they are ready. 

We hope to return to Nigeria for a third round of training and consulting in May or June.  Meanwhile, the WiderNet Project staff will continue to collect training materials and Web sites for the trainees as well as provide occasional consulting to individual universities.  We are hoping to expand our training to include universities in Ghana.

A shipment of donated computers, networking equipment, software, and journals is planned for April, 2002.  These items will be distributed among The Universities of Jos and Ibadan.

4. Significant goals or objectives amendments since the original project proposal.

Since the terrorist attack of September 11th, we saw every potential trainer who had previously expressed interest in traveling to Nigeria warily decline the opportunity.  We're still looking for trainers to accompany us on our next trip, but we're having to look further afield.  We might wind up employing more trainers to do email coaching and stateside testing and troubleshooting in the new WiderNet lab.

5. According to your records, how much money has the partnership drawn down on ALO funds so far? 
$57,716.68

Section II: Quantitative Reporting for USAID Indicators

Last updated Thursday, April 01, 2004 by Cliff Missen