BY EMEKA AGINAM
The software giant, Microsoft in partnership with the Rivers State Government last week held a ceremony at the Rivers State House of Assembly Auditorium in Port Harcourt to mark to mark the official kick-off of the Imagine Cup student technology competition in Nigeria,
Running in its tenth year, Imagine Cup has grown to become the world's premier student technology competition with more than 358,000 students representing 183 countries participating in last year's event. The competition urges students to come up with imaginative solutions to use technology to help solve some of the world's toughest problems.
The GM, Public Sector, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, Elias Tabet while reacting to the innovative products of the technology incubators said that , "We are excited to see the projects and ideas that come out of this year's regional and national competitions – last year's national winners, Team Nerds, were an inspiration and showed what kind of potential and talent we have in the country's youth. We hope to see record entries this year and the development of technologies that address the challenges that face the people in Nigeria on a daily basis."
Speaking on the partnership, Goodliffe Nmekini, Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor informed that the decision by Rivers State Government to support the Imagine Cup competition steps from its current effort to make Port Harcourt the Technology Hub of the country.
Fore one thing, this year, for the first time, two rounds of regional finals will be held in Nigeria instead of just one ahead of the national finals in Port Harcourt on the 25th of April 2012, to accommodate the anticipated number of entries.
Representative of the Rivers State Governor, Honourable George Feyii; Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Professor H.I. Hart, Commissioner for Youth Development, Owene Wonodi and Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Fred Igwe were in attendance along with government officials, University faculty members and students, Nokia Representative, Olumide Balogun; Microsoft staff and last year's national winners, Team Nerds
Meanwhile, students , according to Microsoft have until 13 March 2012, 23:59:59 GMT to register for the competition in one of eight categories: Software Design; Game Design (Xbox/Phone); Game Design (Phone); IT Challenge; Kinect Fun Labs Challenge; Windows Metro Style App Challenge; Windows Azure Challenge; and Windows Phone Challenge.
The Worldwide Finals, previously hosted in Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Korea, France, Egypt, Poland, and the USA; will be hosted in Sydney, Australia in July this year.
Vanguard Nigeria