By Emeka Aginam

LAST weekend at Tinapa Resort, Calabar in Cross River State, Abia State Polytechnic beat 19 other tertiary institutions to clinch the first prize in the National Software Competition floated by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

The Abia Poly team, led by Enyika Iheanyichukwu, won the prize with a Biometric Finger Print Voting System application they developed for the global market. The University of Lagos came second, while Delta State University placed third in the software contest.

Thus, the Abia Poly team smiled back to campus with N1million; University of Lagos, N500,000, and DELSU, Abraka N250,000. N100,000 each was given to the remaining 17 teams as consolation prizes.

Glad we won

“I am glad we made it. Our software application can compete with products in the international market. We thank 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 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.

Apart from the cash prizes and awards that the participants went home with, ISPON disclosed that it will facilitate participation in future technology competitions, adding that the dream of Vision 20-2020 was realizable only by accelerated efforts to build and unlock the innovative capabilities of young software talents for the challenges ahead.

Apart from the cash prizes, trophies, and certificates, the top three teams will undergo mentoring, incubation and venture capital readiness training and attend a high level meeting with the Minister of Communications & Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at a later date in Abuja.

From left, Sec- Gen, ISPON, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Gov Liyel Imoke of of Cross River State, President of ISPON, Mr. Chris Uwaje, Rep of the Education Minister, Ojinta Alala, and Special Adviser to Gov Imoke on ICT, Odo Effiong at the National Software Conference at Tinapa Business Resort, recently

Already, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State who hosted the competition, elated with the performance of the students announced additional monetary rewards to all participants.

Historic moment

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

“This is a very historic moment for us and is proof that there is hope for Nigeria. These young talents have shown us that with little encouragement and the right mentoring we can rule the world.” The governor then assured that the competition will be hosted again by the Cross River State Government in 2012, also at Tinapa, Calabar but urged ISPON to include secondary schools .

“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,” Imoke said, adding that “economic development of Nigeria lies in software incubation.”

For ISPON President, Chris Uwaje, the competition was the 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.

ISPON’s worries

According to Uwaje, Nigeria may not attain global competitiveness unless indigenous software applications were retooled for the challenged ahead.

“ISPON is deeply concerned, involved, committed and dedicated to ensuring that software, perhaps our last development hope for this century is transformed into a sustainable reality and a legacy for future generations. The software incubators are the future. We are proud of you. We rely on your work for global job market. Begin your future here,” he said.

Head, Panel of Judges, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jnr declared that after almost ten hours of deliberations, the judges were unanimous in their opinion that the contestants had far exceeded their expectations by presenting exciting, very well thought-out innovations in concept, design and code execution.

With the teams separated largely by fractions of a point, he said that the students were all winners. “We are proud of you, and Nigeria needs to know what it has stored up in its youth.”

Theory and practice

For the Chairman, National Software Policy Committee, Prof. Oluwole Akinyokun, there was need for software intervention in constructive engagement among the students.

“I believe in theory and practice. You have demonstrated that today. We are excited about your work. We believe that you can transform Nigerian economy with your creative works. No nation can survive without software. Your journey to global competitiveness begins here,” he said.

Similarly, the Director General, Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Execllence in ICT, Dorothy Gordon challenged the students in software entrepreneurship.

Software development. according to her should start from the early stage. “I do not believe in theory. “I do not believe in certification. I believe in theory and parctice. The competition represents a good example of theory and practice. Your future lies in the work you have showcased here. You have the opportunity to further reposition it,” she said.

Everybody a winner

Announcing the results, the General Secretary of ISPON, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu told the students that everybody was a winner.

“ You future begins here. You are Chief Executive Officers of your own. You do not have to look for job after graduation. Your future lie in your hands.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.

The Director Genal of the National Information Technology Developenet Agency, (NITDA) Prof. Cleopas Angaye who was represented by Emeka Ezekwesili, a Director of the regulatory authority believes that the role of Nigeria youths and students in IT and in particular sofware development as a major factor in economic growth and development was very obvious acrros the globe.

Sponsors of the event include, NITDA, NIGCOMSAT, 21st Century, Zinox, MTN, Huawei, NCS, NCC, CPN, ATCON and ITAN.

Participant schools included 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 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