AKINSETE SUNDAY AND ADEDOYIN KAZEEM WINS THE FIRST POSITION OF THE ONGOING 9JA APP CHALLENGE

Committed in  empowering  the next generation of Nigerian developers, students, entrepreneurs and independent developers  by helping them drive innovation and grow the local software ecosystem, Microsoft Nigeria has announced winners in the Windows Phone category of the inaugural 9japps Competition, a local app development contest for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 applications.

At an event held at Co-Creation Hub Nigeria in Lagos last week, winners were announced for the best locally-relevant apps in the Windows Phone category.

Akinsete Sunday and Adedoyin Kazeem who both developed ‘CINEMAZ’,  an app that enables you buy movie tickets online thereby removing the stress of queuing for such, and also allows you view any paid for movie without going to sit in the cinema hall was named the overall winner and were awarded the sum of NGN 750, 000 for their app.  The second place winner, Bukola Akinfaderin also went home with the sum of NGN 500, 000 while the 3rd place winners all received Windows Phone devices.

In his reaction,  Dele Akinsade, Director Developer Platforms for Microsoft Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian OceanIslands after the announcement said that he was  excited to see Nigeria’s talented developers showcase their great work and focus on developing locally-relevant apps.

“We strongly believe in the potential of Nigerians to not only solve the challenges facing their country, but in doing so, to solve challenges that affect people across the globe”, he said.

Meanwhile, over 120 developers from across Nigeria entered the competition, an  initiative by Microsoft  to support  local developer community.

Adedoyin Kazeem, one of the first place winners with excitement said that,  “It feels exciting and nice at last that we can get people to share the excitement and entertainment we derived while conceiving and developing the Cinemaz app.  Today, we hope, would be the beginning of great feelings for all users of the app”.

According to Bukola Akinfaderin, 2nd place winner who designed Jandus Radio, a conglomerate of radio stations on the Windows phone platform which gives users wider choice of radio stations to choose from, “I am honoured to be a winner in the competition.  I have a determination to improve the features for Jandus Radio and also work on a version for Windows 8.   I appreciate Microsoft’s support for the developer community”.

For Tunji Elesho Pre-Incubation and Research Lead for Co-Creation Hub,  “The Microsoft 4Afrika initiative is a laudable one which seeks to empower Africans. The entire plethora of what Microsoft is bringing is massive”.

Following on the heels of this awards ceremony, on a date to be announced soon, winner of the grand prize of a Kia Rio car in the Windows 8 category would be selected at a keenly contested event which will be witnessed and deliberated by technology experts, developers and the media.

....vanguard newspaper...