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The Federal Government (FG) has given a boost to the
software industry in the country with the launch of the Tinapa Information
Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (IDEA) Incubation Centre in
Calabar, the Cross Rivers state capital.
Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson
made this known to DigitalSENSE
Business News, last weekend, during the official launch of IDEA, adding
that the intervention programme is aimed at accelerating the development of the software industry in
Nigeria by nurturing and helping Nigerian software developers attain global
recognition and success.
DigitalSENSE
Business News notes that IDEA is collaboration between the National Information
Technology Development Agency NITDA and the private sector to facilitate the
development of the software industry in Nigeria through the provision of office
space, mentoring, software development and testing tools and support grants.
The IDEA center was launched at the Tinapa Knowledge City,
Calabar-Cross River State, where Mrs Johnson was represented by the Acting DG
of NITDA, Dr Ashiru Sani Daura, who pointed out that the first centre was launched
in Lagos on the April 19, 2013.
DigitalSENSE
Business News gathered that the Lagos center has already admitted eight
incubates working on innovative solutions relevant to the financial services
and oil and gas sectors, while the Tinapa center will provide additional
opportunities to software developers especially those focused on media,
entertainment and gaming sectors and will complement the Lagos center.
In his remarks at the launch, the executive Governor of Cross
River State, Senator Liyel Imoke said, the IDEA incubation centre at Tinapa
Knowledge City is a giant project that is geared toward boosting software
development in the state.
He emphasized that the IDEA center established in the state,
will develop to the fullest extent to bring about an IT revolution in the state
and the South/South region. The Governor urged the private sector to key into
the opportunity presented by the center to boost IT development and software
development to the fullest. He concluded that it’s only through Public Private
participation (PPP) that the younger generation can be fully empowered through
software development.
The highlight of the event include the presentation of
prizes to winners of the 42 hours Hackathon that had taken place at the center
two days before the official launch. Ten teams of software developers that
participated in the Hackathon were presented with various prizes.
Team 2:
Le-media come first, Team 5: Educare second, while team 8: Health pad came
third in the software development competition. Also software developers from
across Nigeria were in attendance and showcased different innovative products.
The launch had in attendance the Executive Governor of Cross
River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, Mr. Dotun Suileman chairman of IDEA, Dr Chris
Uwaje president Institute of Software practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Her
Excellency Ambassador Nkoyo-Toyo, Hon member representing Odukpani/Municipal
Federal Constituency in the House of representative.
The launch was also witnessed by the deputy Governor and Secretary to the Cross Rivers State Government, members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Commissioners, and Special Advisers.
Remmy Nweke/DigitalSENSE Business News
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
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