ITAN Partners Mandriva Linux, Omatek, Zinox, Brian, Beta for OSPC

At the just concluded 22^nd National Conference and 30^th Anniversary of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), a major interest group in the Society announced its partnership with Mandriva West Africa for Mandriva Linux (ML) an Open Source Operating and Application software on all the PCs, laptops, notebooks and thumbdrives for its Old Students’ Computer In School Initiative (OS-CISI) now branded “OSPC” ie Old Students’ Personal Computer. Making a presentation at the OS-CISI & Mandriva session at the Conference, the ITAN President, Dr Jimson Olufuye indicated that the OSPCs are PCs, laptops, notebooks and thumbdrives engendered by old students in the government (Federal, States and Local), private sector and in all areas of national life for primary, secondary and post secondary schools throughout Nigeria. Through the OS-CISI model, at least  one million OSPCs powered by ML and its suites of educational software are projected to be deployed to primary, secondary and post secondary schools in Nigeria by the year 2015.

Dr Olufuye further announced the accreditation of OSPC OEM Gold Partners at the event. These are Omatek Computers, Zinox Technologies, Brian Technologies and Beta Computers. The OEMs are certified to deliver the hardware powered by ML with embedded educational applications for Mathematics, Languages, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics etc. The following organizations and governments were also recognized as OS-CISI Strategic Partners in recognition of their support for the OSPC scheme: Centre for Information and Technology Systems (CITS), the University of Lagos;  Yobe State Government, Ogun State Government, Kano State Government, Education Trust Fund, ECOWAS Commission… More organizations will be recognized as the scheme progresses Dr Olufuye indicated. 

In a similar presentation, the Managing Director of Mandriva West Africa, Mr Dele Ajisomo, thanked ITAN for appointing ML as its Software Partner on the Project and assured of Mandriva’s full support and assistance throughout the OS- CISI project life cycle viz train-the-trainer training, research & development, technical and professional services through the Mandriva Academy that would be set up with ITAN’s Strategic/OEM Partners on the Project. Mandriva he said is the publisher of the award winning and easy to use Mandriva Linux Desktop and Server products (operating system, Open Office, educational and financial applications, games etc. “Mandriva is one of the most popular Linux editions in the world with a global client base in excess of 7 million” Mr Ajisomo said.

Earlier, Dr Olufuye encouraged all stakeholders and stakeowners desirous for the realization of the Vision 20 2020 to embrace the scheme aimed at boosting human capacity beyond 2020 for sustainable national development.  “As a technology neutral platform, ITAN is prepared to partner with all hardware and software manufacturers, resellers and engineers to drive this intervention across the country. We therefore remain opened to new partners in whatever way they wish to contribute to the initiative”, he said. He concluded that details on the scheme can be obtained on the ITAN’s website (www.itan,org.ng) as certificates were presented to Partners at the event.

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