OLPCorps Journal

The countdown is on, just 3 more days before we head to Kigali but we need to make sure some sort of infrastructure is put in place before we leave.

The team embarked on a trip to Minna on the 3rd of June, our main aim was to address a workshop/seminar and make a presentation to shed more light on our intended deployment which was scheduled for 10:00AM Thursday. Unfortunately, the presentation had to be postponed as most of the participants sent word about not being able to attend.
The presentation would be combined with the program launch slated for 29th June, a week into our deployment.

We also planned to resolve the connectivity issues and power issues. We settled for a Ku Band VSAT from Direct ON PC Limited who provided the solution at a subsidized rate. Also, we made provision for a generator as back up for power as well as set up the power adaptors for charging the laptops in the classrooms.

We headed to the Niger State Ministry of Science & Technology to see the ICT Director, Engineer Abubakar Salisu but we were told he went to the customs office to see how he can get a tax waiver for the XO shipment. Akin headed to the school to supervise the VSAT Installation while I waited for the Director.
When he returned, we had a meeting where we talked about the sustainability of the project and plans he had for IT in education in Niger State as well as how the ministry intend to support the project

So far, he and the Ministry have been very supportive of our deployment; they are taking various steps in supporting us during the course of the project some of which includes;
•Getting the team accommodation throughout the duration of the project
•Giving us 5 (five) facilitators from the Ministry of Science & Technology to assist us during the project
•Taking care of logistics for the opening and closing ceremonies
•Souvenirs which includes banners, t-shirts, bags for the XO’s, face-caps and badges for all participants
•Publicizing the project


Engineer Abubakar has also helped in the receipt of the UK chargers and he is seriously working on getting a tax clearance for the XO’s as soon as they can get the tracking number of the XO shipment.
For the opening and closing ceremonies, the Niger State Ministry of Science & Technology will be inviting various stakeholders in the State to grace the occasion, they plan on inviting the Governor of the State, all Local Government Chairmen, the state UBEC (Universal Basic Education Commission), the Emir whose palace happens to be opposite the school, the PTA (Parents-Teachers Association), Alumni of the school which includes prominent Nigerians (two past presidents) and other important Government officials who can help in the sustainability and expansion of the project. The team plans on inviting the Federal UBEC, the NPC (National Population Commission) and several corporate bodies that might be interested in the project.

The planned presentation did not hold but….

Today (4th of June) was the original date we set for the workshop/seminar for the project but due to unavailability of the stakeholders and other participants supposed to attend it had to be canceled. That didn’t deter us as we decided to have an introductory session with the 5 Teachers and 5 Facilitators from the Niger State Ministry of Science & Technology. Akin did a little presentation on the constructionist learning method and I introduced them to the XO and XO Activities. We also briefed them on possible projects the kids can work on and asked them to think of other projects that can be carried out. We were able to shed more light on our intended deployment in general. I am sure by the time we get back from Kigali, we will have a more intense session as the participants didn’t have any questions for us and they were very comfortable with our presentation.

We took some pictures with some of the kids and the XO. The kids were highly interested in the XO as we showed them some of the activities. I can tell our deployment will be a successful one based on the reactions we got from the kids.

We took some pictures with some of the kids and the XO. The kids were highly interested in the XO as we showed them some of the activities. I can tell our deployment will be a successful one based on the reactions we got from the kids.