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Microsoft to empower Nigeria’s software developers

By on April 9, 2013

Microsoft Nigeria has formally declared open its 9jApps contest in Lagos. The challenge is designed to empower local developers to take advantage of Microsoft’s new tools and resources to develop locally appealing and relevant apps for the Windows platform, utilising Visual Studio 2012 and the Windows Phone SDK, in addition to the Windows Azure SDK.

At a press briefing to launch the contest, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria Emmanuel Onyeje, said “Nigeria is blessed with enormous talents, and Microsoft is proud to be able to help these talented developers to acquire new skills that will help them explore their potential and reach new heights”.

The 9jApps contest intended to empower the next generation of Nigerian developers, by helping them drive innovation and grow the local software economy, will run for three months, teeing-off in March and climaxing at the end of June, 2013.

This push for economic development through African innovation is one of the key drivers of the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, launched continent-wide in February. Microsoft restated commitment to working with Africa’sstudents, entrepreneurs, and independent developers to help them create the next generation of world-class African apps on the Window Platform, to bring relevant content and new business opportunities to people across the continent.

Developer and Platform Evangelism Lead, Microsoft Nigeria, Oyeshina Oyetosho, stressed that “this is not development for development’s sake.  This contest is about giving developers the skills and tools they need to help them publish their apps to the Microsoft Store so they can monetize their innovation and share it with the world. The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative is rooted in the belief that African innovation can and will shape the future, so it is our hope that contests like this one can help fuel that cycle”.

Fielding questions from journalists, Shina listed conditions for entry to include: “The 9japps contest is a Microsoft initiative aimed at fostering innovation and creating personality around developers and their apps, in collaboration with Nokia, Dell and CCHub Nigeria.”

Speaking on the partnership, Partner Manager, Developer Experience, Nokia, West Africa, Olumide Balogun said: “Nokia is happy to partner with Microsoft, to bring the 9jApps competition to both students and independent developers. We are looking forward to some great solutions on the phone side leveraging both Microsoft WP and our Lumia devices capabilities to deliver locally relevant apps that we can export to the world.”

Also commenting on the partnership, Country Manager, Dell, Nigeria Chuks Udensi said “Dell remains committed to the partnership and looks forward to great innovations to come from the competition”.

Tunji Elesho Pre-Incubation and Research Lead for CCHub added that “the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative is a laudable one which seeks to empower Africans. The entire plethora of what Microsoft is bringing is massive”.

 

 

[Daily Independent]