Nigeria beats open source rhythm across Africa

By Adrian Bridgwater-Computerweekly.com

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. As we know, where many people come together communities are formed and if open source technology needs one thing, it is community.

Unfortunately Nigeria is better known for organised crime, piracy and political dictatorships than it is for software. Regardless of these setbacks, the 5th African Conference on Free and Open Source Software will be held in Abuja between 19 to 23, March, 2012.

President of the Open Source Foundation for Nigeria (OSFON) Mr Dele Ajisomo has said that about 1,000 participants from Asia, Europe, U.S., Canada, Latin America and Africa are expected at the conference/

"This conference is the continent's rallying point for critical issues in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as they directly relate to the development of its people, governments and business enterprises,'' Ajisomo said.

"International experts will be coming to Nigeria; there will be free training for people on how to write code, protect a website, how to configure and manage a website and create sourcing.''

Prof. Cleopas Angaye, the director general of Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has promised free Internet services throughout the period of the conference, to train Nigerians in order for them to develop solutions to everyday problems.