The ISPON National Software Competition has come and gone but the memories will forever remain in the hearts of all those who attended starting with yours truly. This is one event that has the capacity of putting Nigeria on the map as a contending IT driven Nation in the 21st century. It was a pretty memorable event for me because the President and National Executive Council of ISPON deemed it fit to present honour me at the event. A plaque was handed over the me in special recognition and appreciation for my contributions towards National Software Development Initiatives in Nigeria. This came as a surprise because I am naturally motivated by the quest to leave a good legacy rather than to receive awards; be that as it may, I am most grateful for the award.
CFA receiving an Appreciation Award from ISPON
Back to the event, one phrase I heard repeatedly from a number of speaker at the event is the word “knowledge economy” – it is obvious that one of the last frontiers of mankind today is truly knowledge – its been argued (and proven) that wars of the future will be fought with knowledge rather than physical combat, how about man’s quest to produce food scientifically or virgin’s quest to help man visit moon in the next few years? Are you prepared for the knowledge economy? Is Nigeria ready for the knowledge economy or is she just banking on her natural resources alone? The event featured speakers from across the world including Europe, America & Asia – it was indeed a gathering of experts with the intention to help Nigeria’s software industry take off properly. The conference lived up to its theme of “Software Strategies for Retooling the Workforce (SORWORK)“ and various experts suggested ways to truly achieve this. I think ISPON is doing its best to contribute to the growth of the software industry which will in turn have a positive impact on the IT industry as a whole. Permit me to share a portion of the President’s remarks:
ISPON is concerned that, if our National Technology Character of applied Technophobia and Innovation poverty is not addressed with conscious political will and strategies to reverse its current direction, the nation may become a classical example of the “Digital Colony” of the 21st Century!
Prof. Pat Utomi, Founding Faculty, Pan-Atlantic University, Mr. Odo Effiong, Special Adviser on ICT to the Governor, Cross River State & Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr. “CFA”, ICT Expert & Columnist, Sunday Punch at the National Software Conference & Competition 2013 help in Tinapa, Cross River State
The ICT sector has so much potentials but it is not being given the required attention no wonder why Nigeria’s current Minister of Information and Communication is regarded as a woman of substance because of her quest to change the face of the industry for good and she is doing a good job at that. A big kudos also goes to the Cross Rivers State Government, Mainone, NIDTA, Jim Ovia Foundation, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Zinox Computers, NiRA, NIMC and many others. The event came to a super successful end, when we observed a group of 24 teams from various higher institutions in Nigeria compete for the grand prize and trophy. At the end, the team of Federal Univerisity of Technology (FUTA) clinched the trophy beating all other teams due to a truly innovative solution they provide.
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