…AS FUTA wins 2013 software cup

The Cross Rivers State government , Wednesday in Tinapa Business Resort Calabar, said that it would promote 2013 national software  competition with N7.5 million, even as the team   from the Federal University of Technology, Akure , Ondo State ,  won the 2013 Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, (ISPON)  national software Innovation competition  organized for technology  students in the Nigerian  universities and polytechnics.

However, 70 percent of the fund, it was learnt will go to the winners while the remaining 30 percent will be kept as seed fund for mentoring and innovation.
Accordingly, N2 million will go to the first prize   winners, N1.5 million to the second winners while N1 million will go to the third winners.

 The award was for the overall best and most promising solution submitted. The winners after showcasing their solutions before impartial judges were determined based on the quality of solution presented, its relevance to the society especially in Nigeria and capacity to solve local problems  for the ordinary  in the society, extent of work and creativity demonstrated in the solution

Out of 24 teams that competed in the first round , ten were shortlisted in the second round after which three teams emerged 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the final round of the competition that saw Olaoluwa Aboluwarin, Oluwadara Oladapo and  Mofesola Banjo as the  first  prize  winner with Enchanter as the project name  in the 2013 ISPON software competition grand price.

The three students were selected after   four days of  creative work in   a keenly contested software competition involving about 70 students from  21 schools  from Nigerian tertiary institutions  at the  Nigerian  knowledge city,  Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River state.

 Team 1 from Convernant University Otta with Anti-cultism social education media won the second price with  Ativie Raymond, Orogo Alanunioluwa as team members.

Also, team Efficacy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife  came third with team members including  Moyin Adeyemi, Adegoke Obasa and Adeyemi Olaoye .

 However, 24 teams in different categories including mobile app, web app, desktop app, and  mobile game  had  competed in national software completion and conference  sponsored by Main One, Nigerian Communications Commission, NEXIM Bank, NITDA among others.

Out of the 24 solutions in the showcase, health and education solutions  dominated contest with 5 solutions each  followed by security and business  which have 4. Entertainment and public service had 2  solutions  each.  

Other categories of prizes for the national software competition 2013 will include ISPON prize for best mobile software application developer team of the year 2013, Cleopas Officer Angaye cup for best open source software of the year , Dr. Ashiru Daura cup for best innovative software of the year, NEXIM Bank prize for emerging software export developer, Clement Ndukwe cup for best creative software of the year among others.

Running for three years since inception,  the national  software conference and competition with the theme: “Software strategies for retooling workforce”  was organized by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, (ISPON) and hosted by the Cross River State government.

For the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Liyel Imoke who was represented by the Special Assistant of ICT, Odo Effiong soon after the winners were announced told the students to use software solutions developed for the contest to solve problems in their local communities.

While assuring g the commitment of the state for the promotion of ISPON national software competition and conference, he said that,  “Everybody is a winner. 

You are the future of this country. We are proud of you all. We will continue to support software innovation. No nation can survive without local software solution. Be your own boss. Your destiny lies in your hands. This is the time to determine it. Begin now” he told the students.

With excitement, the national Secretary of ISPON , Chinaenye Mba Uzochukwu while announcing the winners said that solutions developed by the students would change the world if fully applied.

According to him, students can use the solutions showcased to be software entrepreneurs of the future