UNESCO IITE was awarded by the Third International Software Conference & Competition

The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) was awarded by the Third International Software Conference & Competition held in Tinapa, Nigeria, on 22-23 October 2013 for "Distinguished Motivation & Inspirational Support for the Software Initiatives & Activities of ISPON in Africa".

The Conference was organized by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) in partnership with the Government of Cross River State of Nigeria and in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).  This international conference was a great and World Class Event challenged by the inspirational support of the Governor of Cross River State and the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology of Nigeria where 540 participants explored the challenges, impact and opportunities of Software Engineering and Computing to establish a functional roadmap for enhancing and adapting its benefits to Nigeria’s need and the survivability of Software Nigeria.

The Award was given to Prof. Tapio Varis, member of the Governing Board of the UNESCO IITE to be taken to the Institute. Being the keynote speaker of the conference Prof. Tapio Varis brought unique expertise in e-learning solutions delivering report titled “Technology, Culture and Learning in the age of disruption and creativity” and sharing vast experience as a Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Global e-Learning and Chair of Professional Education at the Research Centre for Vocational Education (University of Tampere, Finland), a Principal Research Associate at UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, member of the European Commission Media Literacy Expert Group and the Digital Literacy Expert Group, the acting President of Global University System (GUS) and a media Scholar at the Universities of Helsinki and Lapland as well as the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, a media education expert of the Finnish Board of Film Classification, and the Ministry for Education, and a contributor to the Media Literacy education activities of Alliance of civilization Forums of UN.

Certificate of the prize

From the right: The President of ISPON Mr Chris Uwaje The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke The Hon. Minister of Communication, Mrs Omobola Johnson Professor Emeritus Tapio Varis, representing IITE

The Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke receiving the GUS book by Professor Varis

The Minister of Communication, Mrs Omobola Johnson with President of ISPON, Mr Chris Uwaje receiving the UNESCO IITE book on media literacy and new humanism from professor Tapio Varis

The President of ISPON Mr Chris Uwaje delivering the Award Certificate for UNESCO IITE to Professor Tapio Varis

The dignitaries of the ISPON Conference with the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, the Minister of Communication Mrs Omobola Johnson, and President of ISPON Mr Chris Uwaje