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They deserve praise for preserving democracy

By Emeka Aginam, in Warsaw, Poland


While recognizing their innovative technology solutions that address the toughest challenge of the 21st century, global software giant, Microsoft this evening at the Opera House and National Theatre of Warsaw, Poland has announced the worldwide finals at the just concluded 2010 edition of Imagine Cup, even as it gives out cash prizes totalling $240,000 across five competition categories and six awards.

Running in its eight series, more than 400 students gathered to celebrate their unique innovations, creativity and passion geared solving the world’s toughest problems as contained in the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs)
Sponsored by Microsoft as the world’s premier student technology competition, the capacity building program began with a field of more than 325,000 high school and university students representing more than 100 countries and regions and culminated with a week-long celebration in Warsaw, Poland.

Throughout the week, the talented students demonstrated their real-world solutions and competed for cash prizes totaling $240,000 (U.S.) across five competition categories and six awards.

Already, Team Skeek from Thailand took home the grand prize of $25,000 (U.S.) in the Software Design category for their solution eyeFeel, which allows hearing-impaired people to communicate with others via an augmented-reality environment.
The solution combines speech and face recognition, converts it to English from text, and generates virtual conversation text balloons and sign language animation in real time.

The following are list of the top three winners in each of the five competition categories. Cash prizes, totalling $150,000 (U.S.), were awarded to winners across the five competition categories.

Software Design
*First position: Thailand, Skeek
*Second position: Serbia, TFZR Team
*Third position: New Zealand, OneBeep
Embedded Development
First position: Taiwan, SmarterME
Second position: Russia, MCPU
Third Place: France, GERAS
Game Design
*First position: Philippines, By Implication
*Second position: Belgium, NomNom Productions
Third Place: France, Gears Studio
IT Challenge
*First position : China, WeiQiu Wen
*Second position: Bolivia, Miklos Cari Sivila
*Third position: Singapore, Zhengbin Hu
Digital Media
*First position: Taiwan, Mirror Vita
*Second position: Saudi Arabia, Dreaming Spirits
*Third position: Singapore, Woolgathering
In addition to the competition categories above, the Imagine Cup includes six achievement awards.
These six awards provided more opportunities for students to win cash, prizes and a trip to Poland. $90,000 (U.S.) worth of cash and prizes were awarded to winners of the six achievement awards. The following is a list of these winners:
Envisioning 2020 Award. The Envisioning 2020 Award challenges students to express their vision for how technology could transform people’s lives by the year 2020.
First position: Taiwan, Jigga-Dongxi
*Second position : India, KOLA
*Third position : India, Target Locked
Interoperability Award. The Interoperability Award is designed to recognize the software application that best leverages out-of-the-box Microsoft technologies and blends them with other technologies to connect people, data or diverse systems in a new way.
*Firstposition: Jamaica, Xormis
*Second position : Brazil, Uptiva Dreams IT
*Third position : Indonesia, Chandradimuka
Next Generation Web Award. The Next Generation Web Award asked teams to write open source Web applications using modern technologies, such as Silverlight or ASP.NET, on the Microsoft Web Platform.
*First position: Korea, Wanna Be Alice
*Second Place: Poland, Rhea
*Third position : Brazil, Samba Samba
Touch & Tablet Accessibility Award. The object of the Touch & Tablet Accessibility Award is to create a new education application that uses Touch & Tablet technology while expanding the possibilities about how a user interacts with the computer.
*First position : United States, Team Note-Taker
*Second position : United States, OneView
Windows® Phone 7 “Rockstar” Award. This award challenged teams to create a Windows Phone 7 application in either Silverlight or XNA Framework that was original, visually compelling and appealing to the average consumer and that used mobile-oriented features.
*First position : United States, Beastware
*Second position : Indonesia, Tselina
*Third position : Malaysia, Hypo Team
*Windows Internet Explorer 8 Award. The Windows Internet Explorer 8 Award competition is designed to recognize software applications that create an enhanced user experience by leveraging Web Slices, Accelerators and Search Providers in Internet Explorer.
*First position : Poland, Rhea
*Second position : Poland, LittleRitle
*Third position : Poland, CieszakTeam
*Web Slice: Poland, Invention Task Force
*Accelerator: Brazil, Samba Samba
*Visual Search: Russia, BigTurtle
With excitement, Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International told the gathering that,
“These student projects are sophisticated technology accomplishments that highlight the incredible things that can happen when inspired ideas and the will to make them happen come together.
“These students should make us all proud, as they are taking concrete steps to help others and make our world a better place. With their passion and the assistance of technology, these young adults can and will affect the future.”
The Imagine Cup, according to Professor Dennis Anderson of Pace University, one of this year’s Software Design judges stands alone as a competition that is focused on applying technology to solve the biggest problems of our time.

“Microsoft has created more than a technology competition for students; it has created a lasting impact for the next generation of leaders” he said.
Responding, Pichai Sodsai of team Skeek who was full of excitement and appreciation told the capacity audience that, “We wanted to implement something that would have a unique impression on the user and also be fun to use,” said Pichai Sodsai of team Skeek. “We dare to dream and worked hard to make it come true.”
For one thing, students care deeply about their projects having an impact. This year’s projects primarily focused on solving challenges in education, healthcare and the environment. Within those, a few trends emerged among the students’ projects that spoke to specific global issues. For example, a number of projects used social networking to address carbon emissions caused by vehicle traffic, several teams created alert systems to help people quickly access local emergency services, and a plethora of solutions were designed to help the visually and hearing impaired communicate more effectively.

In addition, the increasing prevalence of cloud computing was carried into Imagine Cup projects.
Students historically have been the early technology adopters who set the pace for others, and this year’s Imagine Cup is no exception. Nearly one-third of all finalists used Windows Azure, one of Microsoft’s cloud computing offerings, to develop their projects.
Microsoft today also announced that the Imagine Cup 2011Worldwide Finals will be held in New York City, America’s financial and emerging technological center. This is the first time the United States will host the event.

The Imagine Cup was made possible by support from a number of key partners dedicated to helping students realize the potential of technology. These sponsors include Ministry of Economy in Poland, Institute of Industrial Design, Energa Group, Orange, TakingITGlobal, XNA Game Studio, Lenovo, Bradesco, Windows Embedded, Microsoft Central Marketing Group, Microsoft Interoperability, Microsoft Office Labs, Windows Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft Office of the Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Accessibility, Microsoft Learning, Microsoft/web, Windows Mobile and Microsoft Research.
Meanwhile, the following are list of the top three winners in each of the five competition categories. Cash prizes, totalling $150,000 (U.S.), were awarded to winners across the five competition categories.

He has what it takes, i think.

Federal University of Technology Akure(FUTA) 2010/ 2011

Hey guyz, FUTA 2010/2011 Screening exercise for admission into all courses and programmes would hold from 14th July to Friday, 16th July, 2010. Check website for more information.

Good luck!

How does Sharia Law affect FIFA?

Any one with information on when Osun State Polytecnic 's post UTME would be out?

Better to stay in touch with the School Website than call any number for support,

Google Unilag site @ unilagDOTeduDOTng for full details.

The post UTME would hold on 12th-14th July.

Hurry!!

Is the late for still on?

Howard Webb has been chosen to referee th World Cup final between Spain and Holland on Sunday. The 38 year old Yorkshireman has a good tournament so far. He has refereed three world cup matches so far in South Africa and has neither showed a red card nor awarded a penalty. What do you thin about Webb

Why call when you can check the site

A 27-year-old man has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly robbing a family and raping three sisters.

The suspect, identified simply as Segun, was said to have invaded his victims’ residence in Orogun area of Ibadan, the state capital with a member of his robbery gang currently at large.

The two were said to have forcibly entered the house at about 5am on June 24, 2010, armed with cutlasses.

Having gained access into the apartment, the suspects were said to have robbed the family of valuables including money, telephone handsets and jewellery among other items.

Unknown to the suspects, however, while the operation was going on, some neighbours who were aware of the incident quickly alerted the command headquarters to the incident and a patrol team was dispatched to the scene.

Obviously unaware of the arrival of policemen, Segun, not satisfied with their loot, reportedly started raping the three daughters of the family one after the other.

He reportedly raped the ladies – a set of twins and their sister- in the full glare of their helpless parents.

By the time the policemen led by the Divisional Crime Officer, Mr. Busari Kabiru, arrived on the scene, they met the suspect pants down on one of the ladies while his accomplice quickly fled from the scene. He was arrested immediately.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, said that efforts were on to track down Segun’s fleeing accomplice.

Bolanta assured residents of the state that his command would leave no stone unturned to ensure safety of lives and property.

He further urged members of the public to assist the police in fighting crime by reporting suspicious movements around their areas at the nearest police station.

The Economic and Financial Crimes will soon dispatch some operatives to South Africa to verify claims made by suspects in the N1.4bn scandal rocking the Nigeria Football Federation.

EFCC sources told our correspondent that some of the suspects invited by the commission were interogated on Thursday.

Those who have consistently maintained that they have no hand in the alleged fraud were said to have arrived at the EFCC office with heaps of documents to defend themselves.

They were said to have been released on administrative bail after hours of grilling with strict instructions to make themselves available for further questioning.

Citing “strategic reason,” the EFCC source, however, refused to disclose the identities of those that turned up for interrogation on Thursday.

The EFCC had, on Monday invited the sacked President of the NFF, Sani Lulu, as well as Amanze Uchegbulam, Taiwo Ogunjobi, who were also dismissed from the board on Sunday.

Also invited was the federation’s General Secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba. They were alleged to have played different roles in the alleged mismanagement of the funds meant for running the country’s football.

Some aggrieved board members of the NFF had in a June 28 petition titled, ”Petition against the Sani Lulu-led NFF board for corrupt practices,” catalogued how the dismissed board members allegedly wasted public funds.

The EFCC source, who spoke to our correspondent, claimed that the commission recovered some vital documents from some of those that honoured the invitation, on Thursday.

One of the said documents was said to be a February 18, 1998 letter of dismissal issued to Ogunjobi when he was the Chairman of the Shooting Stars of Ibadan.

The source said, “The documents will assist us in our investigation. Some of the suspects are also assisting us in our investigation and we will not like to jeopardise our efforts by revealing their identities.

“Those that came on Thursday, are not limited to the four suspects that we invited initially. We have among them those that are members of the NFF who are assisting us in our investigation.”

When contacted, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that some of the invited suspects were interrogated on Thursday.

He refused to reveal the identities of the suspects, insisting that we “will tell you at the appropriate time. It is an ongoing investigation.”

The Chances of AC winning is very low, even with Ribadu. Except if Jonathan fails to contest.

Ribadu can only compete with the likes of Atiku and Babangida in PDP

University of Lagos has announced the details of its re-scheduled Pot UTME Screening exercise for Admission into all courses/programmes for the 2010/2011 academic year.

The new date is 12th-14th July 2010. Check their website for more details.

Micheal Okpara's post UTME Sreening Exercise for 2010/2011 admission for candidates with 180 and above would hold from 22nd July 2010-23rd July 2010.
080
Check their website for more details

Effective from this month, the least paid worker in the federal civil service will earn a minimum of N17,000 as monthly salary.

The new wage is 63.7 per cent more than the current minimum wage of N11,000 which came into effect in 2007.

A source in the Joint National Public Service Council, who did not want his name in print, who made this known to our correspondent in Lagos on Thursday, said, “This increase, which is across levels, is the best deal that federal workers have had in a long time.”

He added that on July 5, he received a circular dated July 1 which was signed by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule.

The source declined to make a copy of the circular available, but he explained that the new wage would be implemented “on graduating level.”

This, according to him, means that the percentage increase for junior workers is higher than that of senior civil servants.

Another source in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, who also said he had seen the circular, said civil servants on the highest grade level (Level 17, step 9), would now earn N453,444,67 per month.

He said, “I have seen the circular. It is tabulated for each grade level and step. While the least paid will now be earning more than N17,000, someone on the highest level will be earning N5,441,336 per annum.”

When contacted, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr. John Odah, and President-General of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, described the new wage as a welcome development.

Esele, who was the first to speak with our correspondent said, ”It is mutually negotiated and agreed between the employer, which is the Federal Government; and the federal workers. Workers are definitely happy; they have even told us to go ahead and commend the President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan).”

Esele, however, disclosed that the committee on the minimum wage for all Nigerian workers would be submiting their report to the Secretary to the Govenment of the Federation next Monday.

On his part, Odah, said, ”It is a negotiated agreement with the public sector unions in order to bridge the gap between the salaries of political office holders and career civil servants.

“For us in the NLC, it is long overdue and we support it. However, it is different from our quest for a new national minimum wage.”

The Secretary-General of the Senior Civil Servants Association of Nigeria, Mr. Solomon Onaghinon, who also confirmed the new wage, said, ”I can tell you that since 1975 -and that is about 35 years ago; that what we have now is one of the best negotiations.

“We decided not to talk about the percentage of the raise because we do not want Nigerians to suffer unduly as a result because if it is made public, prices of everything would go up. That is when you will start hearing that landlords are increasing rents indiscriminately and that cost of transportation have also go up.”

Civil servants, under the aegis of JNPSC, had embarked on a five-day warning strike on May 3, to make the Federal Government increase their salaries. They had suspended the strike the same day at the intervention the President.

Following the intervention, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, inaugurated a Joint Negotiating Committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Prof. Oladipo Afolabi, to work out an acceptable new wage and submit its report within two weeks.

However, senior civil servants in Abuja have expressed mixed reactions on the new salary structure.

One of them, Mr Tony Chikelu, told the News Agency of Nigeria that he had expected something much better.

He said, “From what I saw in the circular issued by the income and wages commission, it seems that the increase is not that significant.

‘I tried to do some mathematics from the table and it will seem that in the present regime, or under the new structure, somebody on level 1 step 1 takes home is about N17,000 naira plus and somebody on 14 step 2 takes home about N101,000.”

Chikelu noted that an officer on level 17, step 1 takes about N330, 000 monthly , adding that the gap was still wide.

Alhaji Ibrahim Sabo, another civil servant, said he was very happy about the new salary structure.

“Though I have not set my eyes on the circular but I am happy that the Federal Government is keeping to its words about the increment and I can‘t wait to see what my take home will be at the end of this month,” he said.

A 96-year-old mother of a King-elect of Umukwata kingdom in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State has been kidnapped. Identified as Madam Celina Abaja, mother of Friday Abaja, King-elect of Umukwata Kingdom, was abducted at about 9pm on Monday night.

Reports from the area said the kidnappers have already established contact with the family and were demanding the sum of N20 million as ransom.
There had been growing tension in the area over the kingship tussle, which the son of the kidnapped woman, one Mr. Friday Abaja is laying claim to.
As a result of the bickering over the stool, the state government waded in. State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka confirmed the story, saying “we are making frantic effort to see that the woman is released unhurt.”

Permanent Secretary in the Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs, Deputy Governor’s office Asaba, Mrs. R. Sakpoba, had in a letter dated March 17, 2010, addressed to the Ukwuani council chairman, said “I wish to inform you that this office has been inundated with petitions on the above (Re: imposition of Eze in Umukwata clan) and that after due considerations the state government directed that the kingmakers of Umukwata kingdom and the traditional rulers and chiefs committee of Ukwuani council should set in motion machinery for the traditional installation and official recognition of a regent, who will act for a period of three years before the installation of a new Okpala_Uku.

That's a good one

Audio version pls?

Can one change one's course, when the cut-off mark is not up to the required mark? Using Uni Ilorin as an example; their cut off mark for most course is 220.

Its ok to wear, though not compulsory

How much was the man paid sef?

Okocha

cool