By Emeka Aginam

Like the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil in June, Microsoft 2014 Imagine Cup successfully ended last month in Seattle, Washington,USA, with a call to technology students to turn their innovative ideas into reality.

The software contest had brought together no fewer than 125 talented technology students from 34 countries around the world to showcase their talents.

The premier technology programme and competitionn had provided opportunities for student technologists to change the world with their innovative ideas.

Team Nigeria at 2014 Microsoft Imagine Cup: From left : Adefioye Temidayo ,Oyebisi Jemil, Emuoyibofarhe Justice , (Team Mentor) Faleye Benjamin and Bello Ibraheem at the just concluded Microsoft Imagine Cup held in Seattle, Washington, United States of America

Over the past 12 years, the event has empowered more than 1.7 million students worldwide to do more and achieve more through technology.

Challenge of the students:

However, having been monitoring closely students’ participation at the global finals of the contest in many countries for several years, and as a Technology Journalist who is passionate about tech start-ups, turning ideas into reality appears to be major challenge for most participants after global showcase.

It would be recalled that STEVE Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, at the 2011 edition of the competition held in New York, USA, had advised participants at the contest to put their ideas into reality.

Ideas matter:

His words: “Ideas matter, sometimes people get all caught up with the speed, agility and execution, which is certainly vital, but part of the reason you’re here isn’t just because you worked really hard and you did some really good programming; it’s because you had an idea that somebody thought mattered. In our business, ideas matter”.

Contest empowers students:

“Imagine Cup empowers students to hack tough problems, while learning and building off the work of others. Student developers play a huge role in bringing new technologies to life in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Congratulations to all the competitors for their hard work and creativity.” Satya Nadella, the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, told the students at the Imagine Cup World Championship ceremony where Team Eyenaemia of Australia in the World Citizenship Competition emerged as the overall winner 2014 Imagine Cup.

Code as a common language:

For the 34 teams that participated in the finals, code was not just the way they created their projects, but a common and essential language.

Being a good outing and showcase, after narrating their experiences at the world stage, at a welcome reception last week in Lagos, one thing was clear, there were positive signals that the software code warriors would turn their ideas into reality.

Taking solution to the next level:

Narrating their experience, Adefioye Temidayo, the Team spokesperson told Microsoft officials at a welcome reception for the Team held in Lagos last week they were determined to take their solution to the next level.

We will bring our solution to life:

With the digital tools provided by the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), he assured that; ” We want to bring our solution to life. From idea to reality, we want to use it to solve local problems.

“The judges during live presentations and hand-on judging were impressed with our solution, CATARA, which serves the purpose of drastically reducing the rate at which cataract causes total blindness in humans” .

Our vision:

Oyebisi Jemil, also a member of Team High Rise said they will leverage on the experience gained from the software contest to take their solution to the market.

Seed fund needed:

“We need seed fund from investors for research and development, (R&D) to grow the solution”.

Microsoft restates commitment:

“Team High Rise’s brilliant delivery at this year’s world finals and their take-out from the whole programme further reinforces our belief that with the right prop as exemplified by Imagine Cup and other programmes through Microsoft 4Afrika, Nigeria and indeed Africa is set to be the next IT Hub of the World.” Microsoft Nigeria’s Country Manager, Kabelo Makwane, said.

For the Team mentor, Prof. Justice Emuoyibofarhe, HOD, Computer Science and Engineering department, LAUTECH, the boys had done well.

“We did our best. We got to the finals. The boys should know that they dd not fail. . Everybody was a winner” he said.

Take your product to local market:

Although the students’ solution is not limited to any market, while hailing Team Nigeria for showcasing software Nigeria at the global market, Microsoft Nigeria Technology Evangelist, Funmi Adewole who is passionate about tech start-ups advised the students to take their solution to local market before going global.

“You have to start with your local community. You have to start from Oyo. Focus on your community first. It is all about using your solution to address local problem. It is a seed you have to grow. Leverage on your solution and experience gained from the Imagine cup software contest to solve local challenges”.

You are the best:

“ Everybody is a winner. We are proud of you. You have done a good job by representing Nigeria at the world stage. You are the best of the best. It is not all about winning. It about what you do with your solution after the competition” Funmi explained.