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Free and Open Source Software is gradually becoming consolidated and an integral part of any meaningful and forseeable development, an event like this would be a milestone and have an shall have an irreversible impact on our policy of supporting ICT initiatives. Similarly, the joint organization of this event between Free and Open Source Software Foundation of Nigeria in collaboration with Bayero University, Kano and HUTSOFT Nigeria Limited is certainly a sign in this part of the country that our academic institutions together with private sector participation are promoting Free and Open Source Software in areas of Information Communication Technology.

Free and Open Source Software Foundation of Nigeria in collaboration between Bayero University Kano and HUTSOFT Nigeria Limited are working hand in hand in encouraging the use of Free and Open Source Software in our society as a key element of the domestication of ICT knowledge for everyone, by reducing the digital divide and boosting innovations.

One of our greatest goals is that, the event becomes the best opportunity to impact knowledge and create awareness on the use of Open Source products/ tools to enhance human development and achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) .

To this end the other priorities to this event are:

• Establishment of a program in English with a differentiated training schedule, tagged “Bird of the same feather or Special Interest Group”.

• An avenue for experience and knowledge sharing among participants, home and abroad .

• Getting the young people, actively involved in the usage and development of Free and Open Source Software products/ tools.

• To initiate the usage of Free and Open Source products/ tools in Learning and Research in our higher institution of learning, especially amongst academicians and students.

• To showcase and distribute some of the Free and Open Source tools/products.

It is the intention of Free and Open Source Software Foundation of Nigeria, Bayero University Kano and HUTSOFT Nigeria Limited to let the country and the whole world know, that Nigeria is not only known as a consolidated business and tourist destination, but also as an enabler in the promotion of the FREE AND OPEN SOURCE INITIATIVE IN NIGERIA & AFRICA in particular, and the world at large.