Microsoft Partners Nokia, Dell And CcHub To Launch 9jApps Contest

In a quest to create satisfactory Windows Phone local apps, Microsoft, in partnership with Nokia, Dell and CCHub, launched the 9jApps contest in Nigeria. The challenge will focus on the Windows Phone platform, utilizing Visual Studio 2012 and the Windows Phone SDK, in addition to the Windows Azure SDK.
The 9jApps contest will run for three months (from March till June 2013). This contest is intended to empower the next generation of Nigerian developers by helping them drive innovation and grow the local software economy.
This push for economic development through African innovation is one of the key drivers of the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, launched continent-wide on February 2013. Microsoft is working with African students, entrepreneurs, and independent developers to help them create the next generation of world-class African apps on the Windows platform, to bring relevant content and new business opportunities to people across the continent.
At a press briefing to launch the contest, Emmanuel Onyeje, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria 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.”

Oyeshina Oyetosho, Developer and Platform Evangelism Lead, Microsoft Nigeria, added, “This is not development for development 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.”

Prizes by categories of the contest include:

Windows 8 Apps category:

• Grand Prize: 2012/2013 KIA Rio automobile
• Second Prize: NGN750,000 cash<
• Third Prize: A Windows Phone 8 device (X5)

Windows phone category:

• Grand Prize: NGN750,000
• Second Prize: NGN500,000
• Third Prize: A Windows Phone 8 device (X5)

The competition kicked off on March 28, 2013. To qualify,

• all apps must be in the respective stores (Windows 8 or Windows Phone) by 14 June 2013 at 23:59:59 GMT.
• apps published and available in store before the contest period are not eligible to participate.
• apps developed for the Windows Phone platform must be compatible with low-end Windows devices.

Speaking on the partnership, Partner Manager, Developer Experience, Nokia West Africa, Mr. Olumide Balogun, noted that Nokia is thrilled 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 Windows Phone and our Lumia devices’ capabilities to deliver locally relevant apps that we can export to the world.’*
Also airing his view about the partnership, the 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.”
What are you waiting for? Let the coding party begin.