ISOC NIGERIA CHAPTER PRESENTATION AND ACTIVITIES FORMATION

ISOC NIGERIA CHAPTER PRESENTATION AND ACTIVITIES

FORMATION • The Internet society (Nigeria chapter) formation was started in September 1997 by five people namely: Prof. T. C. Nwodo, Engr. Dr. Umorem, Engr. Dr. Ahiakwo, Engr. Chief Oruye and Engr. G Massari, thanks to the moral support of Vint Cerf, who gave the suggestion to concretize our goal becoming a chapter of ISOC. • We were chartered by Isoc on June 1998 and at the same time we registered in Nigeria as a nonprofitable organization with the initial slate of 35 members.

• On the first year of activities, we carried out several activities comprising seminars, courses, professional conferences and workshops whose aim was to diffuse the awareness of Internet.

ISOC 99 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE • On January 1999, we succeeded • in organizing in Nigeria an Internet International conference captioned ‘ ISOC Nigeria 1999’ with the topic “ Information Revolution in the third millennium” dedicated to the memory of Jon Postel who has been and is our role model in the actualization of our mission. In this conference, we had 7 international experts along other Nigerian ones. Amongst the participants were Lynn Saint Amour(On the picture), Daniel Stern, Mike Jansen, Derek Asoh, Garsett Larosse.

• • • On the same year and the subsequent years we participated actively in all over Nigeria to diffuse internet awareness and to realize our mission and dream that the impact of Internet in Nigeria and in the Third world at large will help to reduce the digital divide. Specifically we organized between 1999 and 2002 various internet awareness free courses were we had 600 participants from various working categories and schools. On the same years we participated with other professional bodies and school in organizing various Workshops(16), Technical Events(24), National Conferences(12) and Seminars(15) in different place of the country.

STAND COURSES

VARIOUS COURSES

NEW IMPACT ON INTERNET DIFFUSSION • In 2002, we radically changed our impact on Internet promotion and we decided to start a new path on that direction. Along with our participation in conferences and seminars we started believing that the best way to diffuse internet in Nigeria where the majority of the people have no opportunity to access internet connection, was to provide equipment and facilities where people can freely access internet and get all the benefits. We focused on schools and professional bodies as the first point of action on Internet diffusion.

RSUST IT CENTER • • We started sourcing for funds and the first project was launched on the 23 rd of October, 2002 at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUT) Port Harcourt, where we built and installed internet facilities worth $ 50, 000 USD at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The center was equipped with the following facilities: v One conference room; v One office; v Two toilettes; v One internet room with: v 6 computers Pentium 4 with all accessories including printers connected in LAN; v 1 wireless internet system with 128 dedicated band shared by LAN into the 6 computers ( which will be updated in the near future. )

IT CENTER NSE PORT HARCOURT • Another project was the commissioning of Internet center to the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE). The center, which was commissioned on the 17 th May, 2003 has a 40 square foot full air conditioned portakabin equipped with 10 computers, printers, accessories and a satellite Internet connection. The Internet center costed $ 35, 000 USD and was also dedicated to the memory of Jon Postel for his tremendous contributions and impact on Internet. (A NET BUILDER THAT LOVED INVENTION AND NOT PROFIT)

IT CENTER NSE HDQTR LAGOS • • • On the 3 rd of October, 2003 an Internet center was commissioned at the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Headquarters Lagos State (South West Nigeria) The center was equipped with the following facilities: Twelve full multimedia desktop computers of 1. 8 GHz, 40 GB HDD, 512 MB RAM and CD writers for each Laser jet printers, scanners and all other related accessories No. 2 A/C split unit system A VSAT Internet system in Ku band with the capacity of 300 Kbps – 6000 Kbps upload and down load respectively. The value of the center can be estimated as US$ 35, 000.

IT CENTER UNIPORT HARCOURT • • • • The fourth IT center worth $ 40, 000 USD was commissioned on the 8 th of March 2004. The IT Center was estabilished at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Federal University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) The center comprises: v One VSAT on KU Band with a speed of 600 kbs Downloading and 300 kbs Uploading; v No. 9 Computers with the following characteristics: Pentium 1, 8 GHz, 256 MB RAM, CD Writer, 15” Monitor, Floppy, 40 GB HDD, P 4 Casing, Lan Ethernet card, Sound card, Modem, Keyboard and mouse, USB card, Speakers, UPS, Stabilizer 1 KVA. Laser jet printers, scanners and all other related accessories No. 3 A/C split unit system Full furniture for the computers and the full electrical and civil refurbishment of the Rooms hosting the center. One stand by generator of 16 KVA power.

UNIZIK UNIVERSITY SEMINAR • On 20 February 2004, we participate to one seminar hosted at the Federal University Nmamadi Nzike at Akwa, Nigeria for the development of IT in Nigeria specifically on the education sector. The seminar was organized in partnership with IEEE Nigeria Section. At that ceremony we presented a donation of no. 6 Computers with accessories. On 27 February 2004 in partnership with Nigeria Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch and in conjunction with an US based no-profit organization, we started a project for the Donation of 25, 000 technical and science book that will be distributed to some tertiary institution in Rivers State, Nigeria. We have already sent the relevant money for the shipping of the said books and we have started all the required procedure to obtain the waiver of the Custom Duties from the Federal Ministry of Finance. We are expecting the said books in three-four months time.

IT CENTER AT FUTO OWERRI • Another ISOC Nigeria Chapter project has started involving the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). The project has two phases: The first phase involves the establishment of a Research Center for Energy and Power System with the installation of 8 Computers connected in a LAN along with a printer and a scanner as well as all the related furniture and 2 A/C Systems. This work will be completed before the end of April 2004. The second phase comprises the establishment of an IT Center with 10 Computers connected in a LAN including printers and a scanner. A VSAT will be connected to the network. This work will be completed on June 2004. The two Centers dedicated to the memory of Jon Postel are the continuation of the program to bring to reality the diffusion of Internet in Nigeria, ISOC Nigeria Chapter's main Mission.

IT CENTER TELEMEDICINE AT UPHTH • • As per the Telemedicine facility, it is going to be seen as a great innovation of the Internet. Here the will be collaboration among doctors in Italy and in Nigeria. The center will make possible the treatment of patients with relative ease and efficiency. It is a joint venture of ISOC, Nigerian society of Engineers, IEEE , Robotics and Automation Society, University of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital, the University of Verona-Department of Computer science, Italy and The General Hospital of Verona It will comprise of: An IT center for the doctors. Here, there will be about eight computers, printers and scanners, all connected in LAN. This in turn will be connected to the VSAT internet facility. A tele-consulting room with two computers interfaced with a digital camera, an echography equipment, a telecamera, a set of laboratory test equipment and a printer. Here the doctors on both end-Italy and Nigeria are connected via the Internet and can thus engage in video conferencing. Thus they can carry out life teleconsulting, diagnosis and treatment. The third room will make possible to the faculty students lecturers and doctors to participate in the discussions and consultancies online. To make this possible will be a multimedia projector connected with the consulting room. It will greatly face a change to the old and obsolete Nigerian medical system, thus granting even the people that cannot afford good medical attention without having to travel out. Already, a member of ISOC Nigeria chapter, Engr. O. O Oruye, has been invited to present a paper on the telemedicine at the conference; SUSTANABLE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION, SMIA’ 03 taking place in Geneva from 4 th -6 th Sept 2003 and he will present another paper on the same subject at AFNOG Conference that will be hold in Dakar, Senegal the next 24 th May, 2004.

THE FUTURE • • • To continue and expand this program we are locating other institutions where can be established such IT centers. We are scouting for other funds to realize our plans. We are planning with IEEE Nigeria Section to build a national center for both organization having an IT Center.