Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, Satya Nadella

Thrilled by the innovative solutions presented by over 120 technology students from 34 countries around the world, the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, at the just concluded 2016 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition held in Seattle, Washington, the United States of America, challenged the students to change the world with digital technology.


This is even as Team ENTy in the innovation category from Romania took the place as the 2016 Imagine Cup World Champion winner. 

 Teams from Thailand, Romania and Greece were the three top teams that moved to championship round after which team ENTy from Romania took the place as the World Champion. 

With this development, Microsoft crowned team ENTy the Imagine Cup World Champion. This will give the wining students the opportunity to have one on one mentorship with the Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Satya Nadella. 

Team ENTy’s project is an app for monitoring balance and posture. The team’s members include Flavia Oprea, Iulian-Razvan Matesica and Cristian Alexandrescu. 

Speaking with excitement, the Romanian team leader, Iulian-Razvan Matesica while expressing appreciation to Microsoft for the opportunity to participate in the Imagine Cup assured that they will take their project to the market. 

“We did not know we could do it. We are going to launch it and get medical certificate for the product. This will help deliver the products to the hospital. But we need angel investors and seed fund to scale up the solution” she said.

 Also, PH21, a team of students studying computer engineering at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand took home the prize in the games category. 

Team AMANDA, engineering students from Aristotle University of Thessaloníki in Greece, won in the world citizenship category. Their project uses an ICT approach to identify characteristics that might make someone a bully and give psychologists tools to intervene. 

“Think about your passions, what keeps them up at night. Imagine the future and connect that future you imagine to your core. 

“In a world like this where digital technology is having an impact in every walk of life, in every country, you are the ones who are going to help us everywhere move our economies, move our societies, and then also make sure the dividends we create out of digital technology is actually more evenly spread in the world”, the Microsoft CEO who was full of excitement told the 35 teams that participated at the Imagine Cup worldwide finals at the home of Microsoft, Redmond, the United States of America.

 Urging the students to take their products to the market to solve many issues including health, environment, social, among others, he said with optimism that the tech students have the chance to make a difference in the world with digital technology. 

“Technology is evolving. Technology is changing the world. Use technology solutions to your communities. Use your passion. This is the beginning of your success. Everybody is a winner. I want Imagine to open more opportunities for you. 

Make contacts”, the Microsoft CEO added. Another good news is that Nigeria team which had developed a solution called Humane which simplifies mobile apps for the visually impaired was the only country from West African that participated in the 2016 Microsoft Imagine Cup. One thing is clear. 

This is a positive signal that software Nigeria can compete globally if given the opportunity. We will scale up our solution and take it to make, Ayodele Obasegun, the spokesperson of tean Nigeria said with optimism soon after the result was announced. Meanwhile, Tunisia is the only African country that won second place award on World Citizenship category. This is a boost to Africa as a continent.