Appeal for Support & Key Justifications
Good day all,
I appeal to members to take the time to review this project proposal in detail and share their thoughts. Your support is crucial in making this initiative a reality.
I want to highlight key areas—Community Engagement & Partnerships, Measurable Outcomes, Infrastructure Justification, and Sustainability—to further address concerns.
Measurable Outcomes for Zcash Development & Adoption
The primary goal of this initiative is to drive real-world adoption of Zcash through education, developer onboarding, and ecosystem expansion. To ensure measurable outcomes, we will:
(a) Track Zcash wallet downloads and active usage within our community.
(b) Host structured developer training programs, providing hands-on mentorship to onboard builders into the Zcash ecosystem.
(c) Organize a Zcash Developers Contest (Month 4 milestone in Phase 4)—resulting in at least two tangible projects built on Zcash.
It is key to note that I have already done this successfully before. When I hosted Taking Zcash to Schools at WittyHub in 2023, we had seven verified Zingo wallet downloads from just a single event. You can see the Medium post here:
Taking Zcash to Schools - Maiden Event
That was just one event—now, imagine the exponential impact of running the Zcash Open Learning Lab Space consistently for one year. If one event produced 7 downloads, then a structured year-long initiative will easily surpass 200+ downloads. I’ve done it before, and I will do it again—at a much larger scale.
Justification for Infrastructure & Logistics Funding
I understand the concerns about infrastructure costs, but it is important to clarify that these resources are not just operational expenses—they are critical enablers for Zcash development and adoption.
(a) Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges: Without these basic resources (laptops, internet service, branding, etc.), blockchain education and developer onboarding are severely limited.
(b) A dedicated learning space with essential tools will significantly boost productivity and increase engagement with Zcash.
(c) Strategic location & branding: The lab will be positioned near a federal university in Warri—a growing hub for Web3 activity—ensuring continuous exposure and adoption of Zcash.
Additionally, we are not requesting excessive funding. Our total budget is comparable to what some individuals request for community events alone, yet we are establishing a permanent, structured lab alongside community initiatives.
Key difference? This new building is fully owned by us, meaning:
(a) No ongoing rental costs or risk of losing access
(b) Long-term sustainability of Zcash activities in Nigeria
(c) Zcash will have a permanent hub for education, onboarding, and real-world use cases
Because we own the building, this initiative will stand the test of time—and we are deeply committed to making it a success.
Long-Term Sustainability of the Lab
I fully agree that the lab should not depend solely on continuous grants. That’s why we have built a sustainability model to ensure its long-term viability:
(a) Strategic Partnerships: We will collaborate with local & global blockchain communities to secure additional funding and partnerships.
(b) Paid Blockchain Training Programs: A portion of revenue from advanced training courses will support the lab’s operations.
(c) Zcash Ecosystem Integration: By onboarding developers and startups to build real-world applications on Zcash, we ensure sustained engagement with Zcash technology.
This is not just a one-time project—we are creating a framework that will grow and sustain itself over time.
Proven Experience & Track Record
I also want to address the concern that I have not built something like this before. In reality, I have been doing this since 2019 with WittyHub, a co-working space and training hub, which is still active today.
Through WittyHub, I have successfully:
(a) Organized blockchain and tech-focused training programs, empowering developers and increasing adoption of various technologies.
(b) Led Polygon’s expansion in Nigeria: Our event helped launch Polygon’s Community Guild Program, which later expanded across all states in Nigeria.
(c) Founded GitLab Nigeria Community (2019): This initiative grew into a nationwide movement, leading to my recognition as a GitLab Hero. See my name here GitLab Contributor Platform
(d) Hosted Zcash-focused events: The “Taking Zcash to Schools” event alone led to 7 verified Zingo Wallet downloads, proving our ability to drive Zcash adoption.
These are not just ideas—I execute and deliver measurable results. Given my experience with WittyHub and blockchain community building, I am confident that the Zcash Open Learning Lab Space will be a success.
I deeply appreciate your time and consideration. I look forward to your support in making this vision a reality.
Thank you!