International column: The open source road to Web 2.0 for Nigeria: A view of two worlds from the outside

A s a student of information science with a legal background related to the human rights of indigenous peoples, I realize that the recognition of critical values hinges upon the survival of the open source movement. Open source seeks the participation of all persons; it helps empower each person to be an active force in the utilization of open source resources and in the improvement of the products. Moreover, a wider segment of society is initially reached by open source in that most of the open source applications are free or low in cost. This latter aspect is very important in much of the world. I have known poverty firsthand during my youth in Nigeria, and solutions that break down the barriers thereby democratizing access to needed educational resources are of paramount importance. What must be understood is that the open source approach respects the human dignity of each person by opening the doors to his or her participation and by typically removing the financial hurdle to participation as much as possible. As human beings, we reach our greatest potential when we do things to help others. As Linus Torvalds said in an interview about choosing a non-commercial distribution path for Linux, " So instead, I have a very good life, doing something that I think is really interesting and something that I think actually matters for people, not just me. And that makes me feel good. " Though the free market is certainly essential, it does not require us to be selfish. When we are selfless in relation to technology, it can help so many especially in the area of education, which must always rest on a higher plain than merely commercial endeavors. Many who work in the information professions are open to helping others, and the author counts this as a blessing for the world. Still, much remains to be done, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. It saddens me that in the midst of Web 2.0 with all of its potential for the participation and educational improvement of individuals, it is but a distant dream for much of the developing world. What I have to give to my colleagues is knowledge of life and the state of the information professions and technology in the developing world from the standpoint of someone who has spent most of his life outside the developing world. I genuinely hope that …