June 22 

Ile-Ife is consistently ranked as one of the ICT leaders amongst universities in Nigeria.  In 1998 it became the first university to establish an independent satellite link to the Internet.  In partnership with International Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics in Trieste, Italy, OAU implemented campus-wide wireless networking in 1999 and built several small copper LANs.

Many of these innovations have been led by Professor. G.O. Ajayi.  Professor Ajayi has recently been tapped by the federal government to be the Director of the National Information Technology Development Unit (NITDU), in the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology. 

I met Professor Ajayi in Abuja at the launching of the Nigerian-American Information Initiative, he invited me to stop by Ile-Ife to visit the campus of OAU.   Unfortunately, Professor Ajayi could not get away from Abuja, so he recommended me to Mr. Ayara, Mr Bello, or Mr. Adewara.

It turns out that all of the above individuals were out of town and I was unable to make alternative arrangements over the phone.  So I simply drove to Ile-Ife after my meetings at Ibadan with high hopes of finding someone "on seat."  (In general, I do not like "surprise" visits because it puts my hosts in an uncomfortable position.)

I was met and escorted by Mr. Adeniran I. Oluwaranti, a lecturer in computer sciences, who handled my unplanned tour with good humor and enthusiasm.  

Computer Science Tour

Mr. Oluwaranti showed me around to the campus network center, various offices, and the public computer lab. OAU has about 300 computers on the campus network, which consists of 10 wireless radio links (they call them Subnets, since within the building that has the wireless links there are LANs with a average of 25 PCs and several smaller LANs.) They host 1,850 email accounts and provide network services with a set of 5 Linux servers (each of the 10 subnets also has a Linux Server.)
 

OAU is gradually updating their 2 mbps wireless equipment to newer industry standard 11mbps technology.  They have a plan for fiber optics on paper but are waiting for funding.  Mr. Oluwaranti related that most of those around the university seems satisfied with the current bandwidth, hence there's not a great deal of pressure to upgrade.  Mr. Oluwaranti suspects that the planned introduction of distance learning and an Internet Cafe for Students at various location on Campus will create a perceived need.

	Mr. Oluwaranti	Jide Afolabi

OAU takes particular pride in assembling their own computers.  Mr. Oluwaranti escorted me to a room with a newly acquired pile of components for 100 new computers. They purchased components in Lagos -- in this case Pentium III motherboards (500MHz processor), AT cases, hard drives (10GB), CD-ROM drives (56X), and monitors (15") (the monitors remaining the most expensive component) -- and will assemble the computers at a cost of about N6700 ($600 USD) per system. 

The OAU computer science group has been hosting Infonet workshops to train the trainer. With trainees from government ministries, the military, and other universities.

They have a public access lab with a dozen computers that is available to staff and faculty for a small fee of N500 per month.  Students can use the lab from 4pm to midnight. They are in the process of upgrading their satellite connection from 19.2 kbps to 128 kbps.  They had started the process with the hopes of retaining their original satellite dish and router, but it turns out they need to install new equipment the link is up and running and hopefully will go up to 512 kbps soon.

Currently they are using a direct connection to New Skies directly and paying $20 per k/per month. Their new 128K uplink and 64K downlink connection will be with New Skies through a local firm BT limited and they'll pay $3,860/month.

Partnering with Alumni

OAU computer sciences alumni, who have moved into high-end technical positions in Nigeria and abroad, have proved to be appreciative and generous.

Mr. Oluwaranti showed me a room stocked by the alumni of the class of 1994.  The alumni have donated and built a six-station computer lab and they have plans to expand the collection by another six computers before December.

Beyond that, the computer science staff are currently assembling 100 computers whose components were donated by a larger alumni group.

The university maintains an extensive database of alumni and works hard to keep them involved in the university.  The vice-chancellor represented the university at recent gathering in Houston, TX, where a commitment was made to raise $50,000.

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