RIDING on the success of the 2011 edition of the yearly software developers’ competition and conference, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), organisers of the competition, has expanded the ecosystem with renewed focus on cloud technology development in the 2012 edition.
ISPON, through its president, Dr. Chris Uwaje said on Monday in Lagos that the flagship event will hold at the Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar, Cross River State, adding that MainOne Cable Company and 21st Century Technologies Ltd have signed-on for active participation as partners of the 2012 edition.
Uwaje, who said the conference theme will be “The Cloud and the Future of Software Nigeria” informed that the Managing Director of MainOne Cable Company, Ms. Funke Opeke would deliver a paper on “Broadband Infrastructure – Imperatives for Cloud Computing”, while MD/CEO 21st Century Technologies Ltd, Mr. Wale Ajisebutu is billed to speak on “Information Technology Park – Imperatives for Building Software Engineering”.
According to him, these key players in the Nigerian ICT industry would be leading a team of over 25 seasoned IT practitioners in Nigeria, Ghana, USA and Europe to share knowledge and brainstorm on the latest trends in the IT industry with a bias for Cloud Computing and the future of Software Development in Nigeria.
Expectedly, he said the Institute has started accreditations for tertiary institutions, stressing that about 30 of them with over 1500 participants across the country will be attending. Last year’s competition was won by Abia State Polytechnic.
Uwaje, who said the conference is scheduled to begin third week in October, noted that the 2012 event promises to be exceptional in all respects. According to him, Cross River State Government, the main host and partner – has committed to raising the bar for quality of the conference and ensure a memorable, beneficial and sustainable experience.
According to him, one of the key factors behind last year’s success was the quality and range of individuals and organisations , which spread across Africa, Asia and the Americas.
“The central challenge for 2012 is how to improve on the milestone and success of last year’s conference and competition. This is why we have completely re-strategised and revamped the entire branding, speaker, panel of judges’ faculties. We want to assure all the participants of an inspirational experience. This amongst other things is what informed the selection of the current Theme which is designed to explore some of the most critical challenges of the Software Profession and Industry – namely: software in the cloud and what Nigeria must do to survive.
“One of the strong points and highlights of the Tinapa Knowledge City 2012 event is the appointment of Ernest Anene Ndukwe (OFR) – a world-Class ICT Brainbox as the “Distinguished Knowledge Ambassador” (DKA) for the 2012 National Software Conference and Competition. This is an ICT knowledge champion that has not only single handedly re-awakened the nearly comatose Communications Profession and Industry in Nigeria, but transformed it into a world class success story – ever before the promoters of the transformation agenda knew that the word and strategy exists”, he stated.
“The Cloud and the Future of Software Nigeria” addresses the overriding mission of the ISPON National Software Conference/Software Competition for tertiary institutions is to promote conscious national awareness on the imperatives for developing Nigeria’s indigenous intellectual property in the software knowledge space. It also aims to harness our collective IT potentials, resources, capacity and capability as a national priority for global competitiveness.
The ISPON president said as part the Institute commitment to the local Software Content, ISPON launched its Software Knowledge Domestication and Capacity Building Program called “Software for life” by establishing Software development Clubs in 32 locations of Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions – in collaboration with Nigeria Computer Society and NITDA as platform for engaging international competition.
According to him, in recognition that the emerging African ICT market is big and growing very fast, ISPON’s goal is to become the continent’s software market leader – as a medium term goal and engage the global export market potential. He said ISPON’s “Software for Life” seeks to empower the youths and emerging start-up companies to successfully handle the development, production, business management processes of products and services that will fulfill our national needs and export demands with quality assurance.
Uwaje said as part of development, ISPON is also focusing on Business Process Outsourcing Services – (BPO).
“Over the years, one of the fundamental characteristics of the globally estimated $800 billion BPO industry is the evolution from cost to quality. Nigeria, through the combined Tinapa Knowledge City and ISPON ‘Software for Life’ initiatives can take advantage of the new opportunities in BPO as significant contributor to our National GDP index.
“ISPON has over the years forged constructive partnership relationship with International groups and corporate entities such as, Microsoft, Global University Systems, The Millennium University, Global Early Warning System, Korea University College of Innovation, Software Development Forum, International Incubators of Silicon Valley and strategic Domestic Institutions and organizations such as Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Cross River State Government, NITDA, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, NCC, and others. These constructive engagements have invigorated our mission to enthrone the National Software initiative”, he stated.
ISPON is constantly contributing to providing the strategies and mechanisms for discovering the potentials to deliver solutions to our National Software challenges. Last year’s competition unexpectedly threw up Abia State Polytechnic as the winner of the finalists of the National Software Competition Cup. And that is some of the lessons learned from ICT knowledge development process – that is: Anything can happen – all nations have equal chances to emerge winners.
Source: ngrguardiannews.com