University of Jos
Training Report

Report on February Training:

We have just completed a WiderNet training program on “Digitizing your material for the World Wide Web” followed by a one-day conference on “Developments of ICT in the Nigerian University System.” The training was under the direction of Mr. Cliff Missen of the WiderNet project, University of Iowa. He was assisted by several of our University ICT staff and students. The workshop was patronized by 13 University of Jos, staff and 12 outsiders from various institutions including the University of Ibadan, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto and the Industrial Training Fund, Jos. ABU Zaria patronized the conference, which had a larger audience including representation from the National Assembly, Abuja.

Total income from the training activity and conference was N586, 000.00 paid in cash and by vote transfers directly to the bursary. Earlier, an advance of N546, 000.00 was taken and as a result a profit of N40, 000.00 only was made. We however note that in the process, computers in the largest laboratory in the computer center were repaired; a scanner and a digital camera were procured, all, using the advance. As such the contribution of the three-day activity was much more than training and the profit stated above. It included a major maintenance of computers in the computer center and acquisition of new equipment for the computer center. It is an excellent example of all ICT units in the university working together to support the development and growth of the computer center.

We are pleased to report that the director of the WiderNet project made an award of N30, 000.00, as additional honorarium for six resource persons, a donation of a switch from the Network Resource Center, Oregon, USA and some cables. We have since written to thank the donors on behalf of the university. We consider the exercise as building on our foundation for ICT training nationally and trust that in the future, we shall be even more successful. We thank the university administration for its support.

L. S. O. Liverpool

28, March 2002