Bayero University Kano. Nigeria.
Information and Communication
Technology Profile
19th July 2002
Status of Internet
connectivity
- From
using a couple of UUCP nodes for email (Internet) access in 1997 the
University ICT capability has improved to having two Internet cafˇs in
2002. One of the cafes is connected to the Internet via dial-up and the
other via wireless; all provided by the same ISP (Electronic Connections
Ltd, Kano).
- The
bandwidths for the two cafes are 56kbps and 64kbps respectively. These are
not sufficient for the staff and student populations. Many leave the
crowded campus cafes and go to town in order to browse.
- By the
way things are going, BUK will need more than 128kbps in a yearÕs time. It
is planned that a VSAT will be installed soon.
- It is
difficult to know the exact figure but in the next five years BUK will
need more than 512kbps bandwidth.
ICT Strategic Planning
- Bayero
University recognized that ICT would be a very efficient instrument for
achieving its academic objectives. Therefore ICT development plan is
incorporated into the UniversityÕs overall strategic plan. The ICT plan is
divided into two parts; one part dealing with academic structure and the
other dealing with the ICT infrastructure that will support the academic
structure.
- The
execution of these plans will depend on the implementation committee
inaugurated by the University. In the short term, however, the MacArthur
Foundation Grant Implementation Committee of the University is responsible
of seeing to the implementation of some of these plans.
University LANs
- There
are now four networks on the campus, one of which contains as many as 35
terminals. The fifth one will have been installed by October 2002. There
is a small LAN of three computers at the Center for Democratic Research
and Training, which is in the process of being expanded to include
terminals.
- There
is no Wide Area Network (WAN) at the moment of writing in BUK, but it is
in the UniversityÕs overall ICT infrastructure plan and will be installed
in future.
ICT Usage
- Many
students and most of the staff use search engines to access research
information and other academic materials on the Internet.
- Although
all staff and some students can have email address on the University
server not all the staff (and students) have easy access to computers. The
number of computers is by far insufficient to cater for the demand. In
fact thatÕs why email account cannot be opened for all students on the
University email server (otherwise, due to the small numbers of computers,
students can spend hours before they can get their hands on a free
terminal).
- The
inadequacy of the number of computers is a problem for staff and students.
They do not like competing for a terminal with each other.
- Due to
the cost of the Internet access set by the ISP and maintenance purposes it
is necessary to embark on cost recovery exercise. Therefore people are
charged for using the Internet cafˇ. The cost for accessing the Internet
is
N250 per hour (about $2 per
hour).
ICT Software
- 99% of
the machines that are in BUK use Microsoft Windows operating system. The
office applications are also from Microsoft. Computer usage training that
is currently going on in the University for administrative staff centers
around Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
- The
University email server is using Linux. There is also another server based
on Windows NT. The latter is the UniversityÕs intranet (web server),
although changes have now been made to make the web server Linux based as
well.
- Although
not fully operational, the University library is installing Alice library
software. It should be operational by mid-August 2002.
ICT Funding
- The
funding for ICT is mainly from the University (Federal Government) and
from donors. The government funding is by far too small to realize our
plans.
- A
significant part of BUKÕs ICT plans are being implemented using a grant
from the MacArthur Foundation.
Human Resource Needs
- The
human resource is generally insufficient as far as ICT maintenance is
concerned. The NUNet in BUK can provide 24 hours service, but it actually
provides 8hrs service because all the staff close at 4pm (they work 8am Š
4pm).
- Due to
lack of human resources there may be no surfing or emailing on weekends!
This is a drawback.
Major Challenges
- The
major challenge to the implementation of ICT in BUK and indeed in may
parts of Nigeria are three:
(1) Funding: the funding is too
small to implement meaningful ICT plans.
(2) Power: The power supply is
unreliable for sustaining ICT infrastructure.
(3) Communication: The
communication system and the policies surrounding it restricts and indeed limit
ICT implementation.
Success Story
- In BUK
challenge number (2) was overcome to some extent by use of the combination
of the University Generator and a backup power supply.
- Substantial
funding for ICT was granted by the MacArthur Foundation in 2002.
- Some
of the strategic ICT plans are beginning to be implemented as a result of
the funding.
- Although
there is no department that is actively/creatively using ICT in all of its
activities, BUK feels that the above is a success towards achieving the
use of ICT everywhere in the University.