Two undergraduate students at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, have won the 2018 Imagine Cup National Finals and would be representing Nigeria further.
Their names are Alayande Abiola and Taofeek Afeez. The duo are engineering students studying Physics Electronics and Electrical Electronics respectively in the university.
The Imagine Cup has been the world’s premier student technology competition organised by Microsoft over the past 16 years.
This global contest honours the most original student applications, and the winning team will take home up to $100,000 (US).
EduCeleb.com reports that Microsoft has provided a global platform for students to turn their dreams into reality.
Students from across the globe build amazing teams to bring their biggest, boldest ideas to life. Working with mentors and industry leaders, they get feedback to further hone and develop their projects.
The two students, who formed TEAM TREP, presented a device called Real Drip. This device helps to reduce the risk of blood clot or deep vein thrombosis.
Without penetrating the body, it monitors the flow rate of fluid during intravenous treatment and notifies medical staff in real time.
It also ensures timely removal of intravenous needle to prevent back flow of blood which may lead to pulmonary embolism if necessary action is not taken in time.
General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso said Microsoft believes that the new generation of innovators have the potential to address some of humanity’s most pressing problems such as medical and so on.
According to him, the world’s young, aspiring entrepreneurs and developers team up to build technology applications, create business plan and gain keen understanding of the concept needed in the market through Imagine Cup.
He said, “In a cloud-first, mobile-first world, creators and makers must work together to create a cloud for global good”.
Mr Banuso noted that national entries for the Imagine Cup competition opened in February and was available in 29 countries across the world including Nigeria.
The Leader of TEAM TREP, Taofeek Afeez, said that the team was excited about the win.
He appreciated Microsoft for the opportunity and said they look forward to competing at the global stage to make the country proud.
Also speaking, Damola Solanke, Principal, Azure Apps & Infrastructure Head, Microsoft Nigeria, and Chief Judge of the competition, said the winning idea was assessed based on four key areas of technology, innovation, concept and feasibility.
“We would like to commend TEAM TREP for satisfying the requirements of the competition.
He added that their idea was well articulated, and they look forward to seeing more home grown solutions to the pressing needs of the country”.
Mr Solanke said that this year’s Imagine Cup would see the addition of three special awards namely: Artificial Intelligence – the best use of Azure intelligence tools; Big Data and Mixed Reality because of the current state of digital transformation.
He listed some notable entries seen in the history of the competition to include Team AMANDA, 2016 finalist from Greece which created a bullying detection and intervention solution and Team X.GLU of the Czech Republic which took top honours in the 2017 world final for innovation of glucose meter for children with Type 1 diabetes.
He said that the innovation was paired with a Microsoft Azure cloud solution in the form of an app that could reward behaviours to keep diabetes in check and managed through motivational in-app games.
Solanke noted that the finalists would win an all-expenses paid trip to the World Finals taking place in Redmond, Seattle in July.
If the FUTA students emerge winners, they would be joining the likes of Gamsole, Team Humane, and Sanwo, which made Nigeria proud at the global stage.
