[Ica-osgeo-labs] [OSGeo-Discuss] Nigeria OSGeo Local Chapter

Tue Jun 2 01:23:01 PDT 2015

Thanks Jeff.

Welcome Ayo and please join also the Africa focussed maillist  http://lists.osgeo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geoforall-africa  and also inform other universities in Nigeria to join and share ideas on our Education initiative. You can also contact our chairs for Africa: Serena Coetzee (South Africa) , Bridget Fleming (South Africa) and Rania Elsayed Ibrahim (Egypt) and they will be pleased to share experiences and guide you.

Also for info. I recieved update from Bridget Fleming yesterday about the success of GIS teacher courses using QGIS  that she is being doing and it is great to  know QGIS is being used extensively and with much success in many South African schools. I think this is great development that will inspire other school teachers not only in Africa but globally to also explore ideas for expanding geoeducation opportunities for thier students 

I understand from Bridget that there will be a conference info that she will be sending to the Africa maillists soon. So keep an eye of these developments and participate.

Best wishes,

Suchith
________________________________________
From: discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Jeff McKenna [jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com]
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 3:42 PM
To: discuss at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Nigeria OSGeo Local Chapter

Thanks for this great news from Nigeria, Ayo!

I have added your chapter link to the list of local chapter initiatives:
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Local_Chapters#Local_Chapter_Initiatives

I have also filed a ticket for your new mailing list, with you as the
administrator of that list: https://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo/ticket/1497

In your connections with local universities in Nigeria, please be sure
to promote the GeoForAll network to them (http://www.geoforall.org/),
made up of researchers promoting FOSS4G all around the globe.  They can
subscribe to the mailing list and introduce their activities (subscribe
at http://lists.osgeo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ica-osgeo-labs).

And possibly consider hosting a local FOSS4G event in Nigeria, why not?! :)

Please keep us all updated with your activities in Nigeria promoting
OSGeo, through this mailing list.

Thanks again!

-jeff

--
Jeff McKenna
President, OSGeo
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Jeff_McKenna

On 2015-05-31 8:25 PM, Ayo Akinseye DSS wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I hold a Masters in GIS from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1997)
> and have worked on GIS projects in Nigeria ever since.
> My transition to Opensource software (operating systems, Server, Desktop
> and Web) began about 5 years ago. Over time  I have acquired most of the
> basic skills required for Opensource (java, python, javascript, html5,
> CSS etc) and have become an Opensource advocate of some sort (in public
> and private sectors in Nigeria).
>
> I have a group of people that we have held informal meetings and we are
> passionate about Open Source software, GIS, and our part of the world.
> We have people from all walks of life - academia, government and business.
>
> We have decided to set-up a Local OSGeo Chapter to assist our current
> drive of increasing FOSS4G and Opensource awareness in Nigeria.
>
> I have looked at the guidelines, OSGeo mission and according to
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Local_Chapters/Starting a page has
> been set-up at http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/User_talk:Ayolagos
>
> To grow our potential user base, we want to adopt the Ubuntu Linux model
> of distributing CDs/Flash drives with FOSS4G videos and software to
> interested people and organisations across our country. These costs will
> be borne by us. We would like to put the OSGeo logo on all these items.
>
> A training facility in Lagos Island, Lagos has given us access to one
> of their training rooms that can seat 50 people. The room has all the
> facilities required for workshops and trainings. This will form our
> Lagos base for now while we will look for other facilities in other
> parts of the country as we move along. We intend to start monthly
> workshops within the next 6 weeks. We intend to have movable banners at
> all our events, and would like to put OSGEO logo on these banners.
>
> We also have a couple of businesses (including our company) who have
> pledged at least 2 PCs in each of our offices which we will encourage
> potential users to come to use for specified periods, to mitigate the
> issue of users not having access to an internet facing computer. These
> will be managed by a booking system so we do not disturb the commercial
> activities of these businesses.
>
> We have started discussing with 5 Universities across Nigeria (as a
> start) about including Opensource and FOSS4G courses in their related
> departments. We actually found one university already using QGIS!.
> Introduction letters have been requested from these organisations and we
> would like to use the OSGeo logo as part of these letters.
>
> We have started development of a website and still working on the most
> suitable domain name. Suggestions are welcome so we are in line with
> OSGeo best practises. We will also like to put the OSGeo logo on the
> website.
>
> We would also like a mailing list set-up so we can start holding
> conversations outside of this main list.
>
> I joined this list around January this year and have been reading the
> posts to get a proper feel of how things are done. I realise that there
> will be other Nigeria residents here and use this as a reach out for
> them to join us and participate, since we are looking for more members
> to follow through on specific sectors based on the OSGeo mission and
> ours as well.
>
> I also solicit any support and assistance that can make our mission
> easier to achieve.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Regards
>
> Ayo Akinseye
>
>
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