By Emeka Aginam
In a keenly contested software competition involving 16 schools from the Nigerian tertiary institutions yesterday at the African premier business resort Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River state, three students from the Abia State Polytechnic won the 2011  national software Innovation cup organized for students in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The national software conference and competition with the theme: “A framework for software as a national imperative for 21st century Nigeria” was organized by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, (ISPON)

The software code warriors from the department of Computer science of the Polytechnic including Enyika Iheanyichukwu, Anyadike Iheanyi and Nkoro Anselem had during their presentation before panel of judges showcased biometric electronic voting system which has the capabilities of doing bio-metric voting system, facilitating voter’s registration, eliminating dual registration via fingerprint verification, compilation of credible voters register, monitoring conduct of political parties , among others.

The winners will be given cash price of one million naira only (N1,000,000) in addition to a promise of one million naira, (N1,000,000) also from the state government.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 16 schools were short-listed for the finals competition that attracted the attention of the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoko who urged the software code warriors to use software development for job creation.

However, University of Lagos and Delta State University came as first and second run-up respectively.

While announcing the results before capacity audience, the General Secretary of ISPON, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu told the students that everybody was a winner.

“You all have good products, well developed to international standard. You represent the future of this great country called Nigeria. You have done your various schools proud. You are the software code warriors of Nigeria. You are all great” he said.

Winners of 2011 ISPON national software competition L-R: Anyadike Iheaanyi, Enyika Iheanyichukwu, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River state, Nkoro Anselem Ire, and ISPON President, Chris Uwaje shortly after the panel of judges announced 2011 national software competition that ended on Friday, in Calabar. Picture by Emeka Aginam

According to him, the ISPON software competition was designed to prepare all of you for the global job market.

“I am glad we made it. Our software application can compete with products in the international market. We thank the ISPON for the great opportunity given to us to showcase our product which we hope to take to the next level. This is the beginning of our career in software” Enyika Iheanyichukwu, the leader of the wining team told Vanguard Hitech in an interaction with excitement.

According to him, wining the ISPON software competition was another opportunity for their team to further develop the e-voting application for global market. I am happy we won the cup, he added.

Governor Omoko earlier in his closing remarks with optimism told the gathering that the students represent future leaders and entrepreneurs.

“You represent 21st century Nigeria. The future lies in your hands. With software engineering, you can compete favourably in the global labour market after graduation. Do not be intimidated. I am proud of you. You all are winners” Imoko said, adding that economic development of Nigeria lies in software incubation.”

For the ISPON President , Chris Uwaje, who held the audience with words of wisdom , the competition was beginning of a software innovation revolution for Nigeria whose potential has been latent for too long.

“The Federal Government has re-affirmed its commitment to support the use of Nigerian software intellectual property and the challenge is before our industry to transform the economy.” he said.

According to Uwaje who has been preaching local content, Nigeria may not attain global competitiveness unless indigenous software applications were retooled for the challenged ahead.

The following schools including Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State; University of Uyo, Uyo; Cross River State University of Technology(CRUTECH), Calabar; Yaba College of Technology, Lagos; Federal Polytechnic, Idah; Abia State Polytechnic, Aba; Delta State University, Abraka; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Olabisi Onabanjo University, and Ago Iwoye; University of Lagos, Lagos were earlier short-listed for the national software competition.

Others include, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Kano University of Science and Technology, Kano; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Uyo City Polytechnic, Uyo; University of Calabar, Calabar; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Osisatech College of Education, Enugu; University of Ibadan, Ibadan and Covenant University, Ota