Unified Topos Student's Club in Unilag (University of Lagos)

[dukepeter]

Project title

Unified Topos Student's Club in Unilag (University of Lagos)

Budget

$10000

Link to grant specification

Topos grant community fund

Time to complete the project

3 months

Do you agree to open source all work you do for this project under the APACHE2 license?

• I agree to open source all work I do for this project under the APACHE2 license.

Project description

Inspired by the success of principle-based organizations globally, the Unified Topos Student's Club at Unilag aims to empower the next generation of Nigerian students with the knowledge and principles of Topos. The project recognizes the pivotal role student clubs play in the propagation of ideologies as well as the personal and professional growth of organizations and communities so it aims to fill the void of Topos awareness in Nigeria as Topos represents not only a blockchain platform but also embodies a set of principles and values that will shape the future of technology and community collaboration.

As a leading educational institution in Nigeria, Unilag serves as the perfect incubator for fostering innovation and technological advancement. Its strategic location in Lagos, amidst a burgeoning tech scene and numerous tech hubs, provides students with exposure to cutting-edge technologies and entrepreneurial opportunities. Its diverse student population reflects the dynamic and inclusive nature of Nigerian society, offering a fertile ground for promoting Topos' principles of privacy, decentralization, inclusivity, and innovation.

The Topos Student's Club will introduce a unified structure with Coordinators, a Student Council, Mentors, and a Supervisory Council for long-term sustainability. By leveraging Unilag's robust academic environment and tech-savvy student body, the club aims to drive awareness and adoption of Topos among students.

Additionally, the project includes hosting a blockchain/web3 conference for 1000 students, which will serve as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and community building. The conference will converge all the students in the Topos club as well as other web3 and blockchain enthusiasts to learn more about Topos. This ultimately will foster the knowledge of Topos and consolidate the community building effort in the club.

Objective:

• Establish the Unified Topos Student's Club at Unilag within 3 months.
• Ensure active participation of at least 100 students in the club.
• Implement sustainable growth mechanisms for the club's long-term viability.
• Establish a Student Supervisory Council comprising 5 students.
• Onboard at least 2 blockchain expert mentors for the student club.

The project's impact extends beyond student engagement, encompassing multi-layered benefits like:

• Educational Impact by equipping students with blockchain knowledge, programming skills, and a deep understanding of Topos' principles.

• Community Building by fostering the sense of community among students, promoting collaboration, and creating a support network for aspiring developers.

• Economic Empowerment by providing students with a pathway to become active participants in the Topos ecosystem, potentially contributing to economic growth.

• Legacy Building by establishing a framework for long-term sustainability, ensuring the continued growth of Topos Student Clubs and passing the baton to future generations.

• Global Collaboration by facilitating cross-cultural and cross-regional interactions through partnerships with global student clubs, creating a unified framework for shared learning.

• Conference Impact by hosting a blockchain/web3 conference for 1000 participants, promoting knowledge and adoption of Topos, and building a thriving community in Nigeria.

Milestones

Milestone No.	Milestone Summary	Estimated Timeframe
1	Establishing Topos Student Club at one university in Nigeria	1 month
2	Formation of Supervisory Council	2 weeks
3	Selection of Mentors	2 week
4	Hosting a blockchain/web3 conference at the university and Post-Conference Follow-up	1 month

Documentation, education and community

For the initial phase of the project, basic documentation and educational materials will be created to provide a foundational understanding of Topos and facilitate the establishment of the Topos Student Club in Unilag. This documentation will include:

Club Guidelines: This includes comprehensive guidelines outlining the mission, vision, objectives, and operational procedures of the Topos Student Club. This document will serve as a reference for club members and coordinators to ensure alignment with the project's goals.

Training Materials: This includes basic educational resources introducing students to Topos, blockchain technology, decentralized applications, and the principles of decentralization. These materials will for beginners to easy comprehension and onboarding.

Supervisory Council Charter: A detailed charter defining the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes of the Supervisory Council. This document will provide a framework for effective governance and long-term sustainability of the club.

Mentorship Program Guidelines: Guidelines outlining the structure and expectations of the mentorship program within the Topos Student Club. This document will facilitate the mentor-student relationship and ensure valuable guidance for club members.

Beyond the timeframe of the grant, plans for further documentation, education, and community-building include:

Advanced Educational Resources: We will develop advanced educational materials and workshops covering topics such as smart contract development, decentralized finance (DeFi), governance mechanisms, and privacy-preserving technologies. These resources will cater to students seeking deeper knowledge and practical skills in blockchain development.

Continued Community Engagement: We will organize regular meetups, workshops, and hackathons to foster continuous learning and collaboration among club members. These events will provide opportunities for hands-on experience, project ideation, and networking within the Topos community.

Online Learning Platform: We will establish an online platform or repository to host educational resources, documentation, and project tutorials for easy access by club members and the broader community. This platform will serve as a centralized hub for ongoing learning and knowledge sharing.

Partnerships and Collaborations: We will forge partnerships with industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and blockchain projects to enhance educational offerings, facilitate internship opportunities, and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration. These collaborations will enrich the learning experience and create pathways for students to engage with real-world blockchain applications.

These efforts will be integral to nurturing a vibrant Topos ecosystem at the university and empowering students to become active participants in the broader Topos community.

Other deliverables

In addition to the primary milestones and documentation outlined in the project proposal, the following deliverables are proposed as part of this project:

1. Topos Student Club Website: Develop a simple and dedicated website for the Topos Student Club. The website will serve as an online presence for the club, providing information about upcoming events, educational resources with backlinks to toposware.com, membership registration, and contact details.

2. Social Media Presence: The club will establish active profiles on social media platforms such as Twitter, Whatsapp/Telegram and Instagram where regular updates, event announcements, and educational content will be shared to engage with students and the broader community.

3. Project Progress Reports: Provide regular progress reports to the grant committee, detailing achievements, challenges, and key learnings throughout the duration of the project. These reports will ensure transparency and accountability in project execution.

4. Feedback Mechanism: Implement a feedback mechanism to gather input from club members, mentors, and stakeholders regarding their experience with the Topos Student Club activities and resources. This feedback will inform iterative improvements and future planning.

5. Post-Event Evaluation: Conduct post-event evaluations following the blockchain/web3 conference and other club events to assess participant satisfaction, knowledge gained, and areas for improvement. Insights from these evaluations will inform the planning of future activities.

6. Project Sustainability Plan: Develop a sustainability plan outlining strategies for the continued operation and growth of the Topos Student Club beyond the grant period. This plan will include fundraising initiatives, succession planning for leadership roles, and strategies for maintaining community engagement.

7. Networking Opportunities: Facilitate networking opportunities for club members with industry professionals, blockchain developers, and academic researchers through virtual meetups, panel discussions, and guest speaker sessions. These interactions will enrich the learning experience and provide valuable connections for students.

These additional deliverables are aimed at enhancing the impact and long-term viability of the Topos Student Club project, ensuring its success in fostering a vibrant community of blockchain enthusiasts at the university.

Maintenance and upgrade plans

As time goes on, our major goal is to expand to 5 other universities in all of the geo-political zones in the country thereby increasing the awareness and adoption of topos, as well as increasing it's reach and impact. Our team is committed to ensuring the long-term success and growth of the Topos Student Club project beyond the initial grant period. We recognize the importance of ongoing maintenance and continuous improvement to sustain the momentum built during the project's implementation. Here are our plans for maintaining and upgrading the project over time:

1. Active Community Engagement: We will continue to foster a vibrant and inclusive community within the Topos Student Club by organizing regular meetups, workshops, and networking events. These activities will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, collaboration, skill development among club members and essentially expansion into other campuses.

2. Educational Programs: We aim to expand the educational offerings of the Topos Student Club by introducing advanced workshops, seminars, and online courses covering emerging topics in blockchain technology and decentralized applications. We will leverage partnerships with industry experts and academic institutions to deliver high-quality educational content.

3. Mentorship and Leadership Development: Our team is committed to nurturing the next generation of blockchain leaders through mentorship programs and leadership development initiatives within the Topos Student Club. We will provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience, mentorship from industry professionals, and leadership roles within the club.

4. Project Incubation and Hackathons: We will support students in turning their innovative ideas into tangible projects through project incubation programs and hackathons hosted by the Topos Student Club. These events will encourage creativity, experimentation, and collaboration among students, leading to the development of impactful blockchain solutions.

5. Research and Innovation: We will encourage and support research initiatives among club members to explore new use cases, technologies, and applications of the Topos blockchain. We aim to establish collaborations with academic researchers and industry partners to advance the state-of-the-art in blockchain research and innovation.

6. Integration of Topos Technology: As Topos continues to evolve and introduce new features and functionalities, we will explore opportunities to integrate Topos technology into club projects and activities. This could include developing decentralized applications (DApps) on the Topos blockchain, conducting research on Topos-specific topics, or contributing to the Topos ecosystem through community-driven initiatives.

7. Sustainability and Governance: We will establish robust governance mechanisms and sustainability plans to ensure the long-term viability of the Topos Student Club. This includes transparent decision-making processes, succession planning for leadership roles, and fundraising strategies to secure financial support for club activities.

8. Partnerships and Collaborations: We will actively seek partnerships and collaborations with other student clubs, academic institutions, industry organizations, and blockchain projects to broaden the reach and impact of the Topos Student Club. By leveraging synergies and collective expertise, we can maximize the value we bring to our members and the broader blockchain community.

Overall, our vision for the Topos Student Club is to create a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem that empowers students to become leaders and innovators in the blockchain space. By fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, we aim to make a meaningful impact on the adoption and advancement of blockchain technology, with Topos playing a central role in our journey towards realizing this vision.