As we come to the close of yet another active year in ict@innovation, its time to take stock again. This is the that time we must look back and take stock. Its the time to look at our successes and failures, at the lost opportunities and the challenges that we surmounted. Yet we must also take time to understand what is happening around us, so that we can encourage ourselves and move forward into the future without any fear.

Its been a momentous year for the FOSS community in Africa. Its unfortunate that George has left the ict@innovation programme but he is credited with having laid down the foundations over which we will continue building. But its definitely a big loss for the community. But then this is a wake up call for us all. We must go forward knowing that at some point this programme will be run by ourselves as the FOSS community. At this point in time, we should be preparing ourselves for just that.

Under FOSS certification, we managed to pull off 2 more Training of Trainers workshops, one in South Africa and one in Tanzania. This, after the one we did last year, brought the total number of LPIC-1 certified trainers to about 40 in all the 10 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. In Kenya, before we started the programme, there were only about 5 LPIC-1 certified system administrators. Now we have 19. The important thing here is that 8 of these are trainers that we have directly added into the market. When they start rolling out their trainings proper in the coming year, then there will be an exponential rise the number of certified individuals. This story is replicated in all the countries where we are operating.

Looking at the numbers, at a time like this last year, we had about 700 LPIC-1 certified individuals in all of Africa. This year we have added 329 more across the continent. That is a 35% growth. The growth in the higher certifications is even faster. This is very encouraging. What is not pleasant is the fact that the poorer countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa are still lagging behind. Although their growth rate is highest because of the really small numbers of certified individuals, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

If you are LPI certified, you must remain awake to the fact that the certification that you hold is subject to renewal every 5 years, unless you certify in the higher certification. This requirement has over 100 certifications lapsing across the continent.

I had the opportunity to attend the LPI Master Affiliates Conference for the EMEA region. Here I was fortunate to meet with the LPI top brass, including the President, Jim Lacey. The meeting in Florence, Italy, was a great opportunity to get to understand how the LPI works. The best news coming from the LPI is that they are almost finalizing the arrangements for the roll out of the Linux Essentials exam, a pre-LPI certification which is targeted at complete Linux newbies. The first Linux Essentials exams are targeted to be launched in June 2012, with beta exams being held in March.

After the trainings that we have conducted so far, it is quite apparent that this is long overdue. LPI certifications are not easy and I have seen even experienced sys admins struggle with the exams. Having an exam that prepares one with more basic skills before getting into the sterner stuff will make a huge difference in terms of revving up the numbers.

I have already seen Francis Thuo, one of our graduates from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa hold a pre-LPI course which was attended by over 70 eager students. The interesting thing is that there was even interest from students in other programmes apart from IT, and even from teaching staff in other faculties. A similar thing is happening at University of Dodoma, probably the largest University in East Africa.

But the LPI is now thinking about more than just Linux certifications. They are now thinking more about being a FOSS certification body, which means that they will be developing more certifications in other areas in the coming days. The future could not be more interesting!

As we close the year, there is a lot to celebrate, and even more to look forward to in the coming year. I therefore close with the following words by James Thuber, a celebrtaed American author, cartoonist and humorist who lived between 1894 and 1961: Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around us in awareness.

I wish you all happy holidays and a prosperous year in 2012. Its been great working with you all.