By Emeka Aginam

In a keenly contested Imagine Cup software students competition held last week at the University of Lagos Akoka, four students from the Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA) representing team ‘Nerds Inc’ whose software work is on Medicare that solves the problems of inadequate medical support systems in rural communities have emerged winners of Imagine Cup Nigeria finals 2011.

Running in its 9th year, the Microsoft Imagine Cup, the world’s premier student technology competition is focused on finding solutions to real-world issues.

With this development, the wining team comprising David Olaniyan, Taiwo Orogbangba, Toluwani Kolawole and Alaba Oluwafemi of the Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA) are expected to represent Nigeria at the world finals slated to hold this July in New York, the United States of America.

Spokesperson of wining team Nerds Inc who will be flying Nigeria flag at the stage this July, Olaniyan David with excitement told IT journalist that it was a dream come true.

“We will do Nigeria proud at the world stage this summer. We will fly the flag well. We hope to beat other students from other countries that will also be participating. We are very happy to be the winner of this contest. Our software application has the capacity to solve health issue which is one of the toughest challenge in the third world countries. We are grateful to Microsoft for this exposure” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Country Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa Mr Emmanuel Onyeje had inspired the contesting students to show passion in their software application.

“Each team that competed in yesterday’s competition is deserving of the highest recognition for the creativity and imagination applied to some of the world’s biggest challenges.”