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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