By Emeka Aginam, in St. Petersburg

After a good presentation and outing Tuesday before panel of international judges at the ongoing 2013 Imagine Cup software students competition,   the world’s premier student technology competition holding in St. Petersburg, Russia, the mentor of team Nigeria, ‘Team LifeSaver from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Dr. O.T. Arulogun  has said with optimism that the students were prepared to do Nigeria proud and bring the Cup home.

Oluwole Michael, Adewale Adeyinka, Dr. O.T. Arulogun, mentor, Team Nigeria, Afolabi Olamide and Akinlaja Solomon doing a rehearsal before their presentation yesterday (9/7/2013) at the ongoing 2013 Microsoft Imagine student software competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo by Emeka Aginam

Already, more than $1million in cash and prices are available to student competitors. Over the past ten years, more than 1.65 million students from more than 190 countries have participated in the Microsoft Imagine Cup annual competition.

This year, there will  no elimination in rounds at the ongoing worldwide finals as all finalist teams will remain in the competition until winners are announced on the last day of the event this week.

With their amazing solution and   great supports from National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Dell, Nokia and  MainOne,  Dr. Arulogun, who is a lecture in the department of Computer Science and Engineering of the university having witnessed the brilliant presentation of the  four best software incubators from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ilefe, (OAU) and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (Lautech) Ogbomoso, Oyo respectively said that, “that  was a good beginning.

“The students are well equipped. That was a good outing.  Iam very optimistic that Team Nigeria will fly Nigeria flag well by coming out as the best team in the national finals in the category of World Citizenship.  Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso is among the best school of Technology in Nigeria with a strong IT resources”

According to him, with great expectations from Microsoft Nigeria, the school and Nigeria to win the finals, the students would put in their best to win the final.  Nigerian team was equal to the task to win the first price, he assured.

“It is not about money. Am looking at what impact the solution will make in the lives of people in the 21st century Nigeria. We will take the solution to the next even after this competition “he said.

Speaking shortly after their presentation, the team leader, Oluwole Michael told Vanguard Hi-Tech that they were determined to make Nigeria proud by winning the cup.

The team’s solution which provides a rehabilitation programme for stroke patients using the Kinect sensor he said can save a lot lives if deployed both private and public sector of the Nigeria economy.

Although the judges were not able to comment as the competition is still going on, the expressions in their showed that the presentation by the team Nigeria was very encouraging.

As at press time, the students were already setting up in their book where they will join other students to showcase their products and solution before the judges, mentors, international Journalists and guests who are also participating in the capacity building program that is expected to prepare the students for the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian team had developed an application called CardioLife, which helps prevent heart attacks by monitoring heart readings on the fly via the Microsoft Windows Phone.

Nigeria team has developed an application called CardioLife, which helps prevent heart attacks by monitoring heart readings on the fly via the Microsoft Windows Phone. It also provides a rehabilitation programme for stroke patients using the Kinect sensor.

Meanwhile, at the global contest that kicked off Monday no fewer than 309 students from 71 countries  have gathered in St. Petersburg, Russia to compete in three main categories like World Citizenship, Games and Innovation.

Out   of the 87 finalists teams currently competing,  10 teams were  from Africa, including Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Botswana , Tunisia among others

Imagine Cup has evolved into a yearlong experience for students with various opportunities to compete and innovate. Students can compete in the World Citizenship, Innovation and Games Competitions or technology Challenges that lead to the Worldwide Finals for Windows Azure, Windows Phone or Windows 8, or in themed Challenges such as the Women’s Athletics App Challenge or the Imagine Cup Kodu Challenge that result in other awards and prizes.