Purpose of eGYAfrica 2010 Workshop

1. eGYAfrica Workshop: better Internet connectivity for research and education in Africa, Accra 23-25 November 2010: Our Purpose Victor U. ChukwumaDepartment of Physics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P. O Box 351, Ago-Iwoye, NigeriaEmail: victorchukwuma@yahoo.com eGYAfrica Workshop on better internet connectivity for research and education in Africa, Accra, Ghana, 23-25, November, 2010

2. Purpose of eGYAfrica 2010 Workshop During the African Infrastructure Open Discussion Segment of the IHY-AFRICA/SCINDA 2009, the eGYAfrica initiative generated a number of resolutions and suggestions such as: • Transformation of eGY to an NGO as special purpose vehicle. • Collaboration with existing Networks providers in each countries towards bridging the digital divide. • Vafi Doumonya (Ivory Coast) emphasized the importance of highlighting each countries individual problems, finding possible way forward taking into cognizance that internet policy varies from country to country. • Francois Lefeuvre (URSI, PRESIDENT, FRANCE) emphasized the importance of the involvement of the URSI regional offices through his office towards ICT problems confronting African Scientists. • Sandro Radicella (ICTP) highlighted • Capacity building for the use and management of the systems. • Power Supply. • Possible involvements of ICTP in capacity building. • retreated the importance of making representation to the General Assembly of African Union on ICT problem in Africa through the Science and Technical Commission of African Union(AU). eGYAfrica Workshop on better internet connectivity for research and education in Africa, Accra, Ghana, 23-25, November, 2010

3. Christine Amory-Mazaudier (FRANCE) emphasized • Replicating what was done in Latin America which Boubakar has adequate information, and as such should be involved. • working with ICT community in individual countries on required applications comparing it to what has been done in South Africa. • Appointments and involvements of Ambassadors in each country towards bridging the digital divide. • Justin Mabie (NOAA-USA) highlighted the importance of improving diplomatic ties with advanced countries making reference to USA whose representative is a participant at the on-going workshop. • James Chibueze (Nigeria-JAPAN) emphasized Private Sector Participation. • Lekove (Liberia) mentioned the importance of contacting decision makers in each country. eGYAfrica Workshop on better internet connectivity for research and education in Africa, Accra, Ghana, 23-25, November, 2010

4. Building on the African Infrastructure Open Discussion, the eGYAfrica 2010 Workshop was planned to bring together colleagues who share a common desire to improve Internet access for scientists and educators in African institutions, and have the ability to chart and actualize a road map of producing not just results but sustainable outcomes in internet penetration in African tertiary institutions by • Establishing of national eGYAfrica groups in select African Countries. • Producing eGYAfrica documentation on Africa Universities Internet status: challenges, and prospects. • National eGYAfrica groups forming Collaboration with NREN Unit of the Association of African Universities to setup NREN. • Implementing Special Purpose Vehicles that will Influence Policy and Decision Makers in the Executive, legislative and Judicial arms of Governments in African Countries. • We have to think big. • We have to begin small. • We have to start now. THANK YOU eGYAfrica Workshop on better internet connectivity for research and education in Africa, Accra, Ghana, 23-25, November, 2010

5. THANK YOU eGYAfrica Workshop on better internet connectivity for research and education in Africa, Accra, Ghana, 23-25, November, 2010