Emma Okonji
The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), has recognised the winner of this year’s annual Simeon Agu Prize for Software Entrepreneur.
The winner, Mr. David Aboluwarin Olaoluwa, who runs a training website where young Nigerians are trained on software development and coding, was presented with a cheque of N250,000 as the winning prize, by the President of ISPON, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu.
Established in 2012 in collaboration with the family of Late Simeon Agu, the pioneer President of ISPON, the prize is meant to keep alive the memories of Simeon Agu for his contributions to the software profession and industry in Nigeria.
Speaking during the prize presentation, Mba-Uzoukwu.said: “The award is targeted at software startups to recognise their entrepreneurship as they build a fledgling software business. In the selection of winner in the competition for this year, ISPON looked at the work done by startups from September 2020 – September 2021, before selecting the winner, based on the criteria for selection, which include: Idea, Impact, Business Model Innovation and Funding.
The panel of judges shortlisted three finalists who were later voted for by the general public. A combination of number of votes garnered as well as points scored from the technical review of the startup by the judges, largely determine the winner, Mba-Uzoukwu said.
Neptune Software Group, the sponsors of the annual award, is the software company, established by the late Simeon Agu.
Managing Director, Neptune Software Group, Mr. David Majomi, who represented the family of Simeon Agu at the prize presentation, said Neptune Software Group still maintained its operations in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, India, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom, even after the demise of Simeon Agu some years ago.
