Represented by only 2600 people in 81 countries, Microsoft?s Most Valuable Professional (MVP) awards are highly sought-after in the industry. Having displayed an impressive dedication to development of the African technology capabilities, Francois Bonin ? entrepreneur, mentor, developer and consultant ? is the first Ghanaian to receive the prestigious award.

According to Microsoft, the MVP program is the way that the software giant formally acknowledges the accomplishments of outstanding individuals for their contributions to the community. The awards are given to those individuals who are recognized, credible, and accessible individuals with expertise in one or more Microsoft products. Furthermore, these individuals actively participate in online and offline communities to share their knowledge and expertise with other Microsoft customers ? using their valuable pool of knowledge and real-life experience to provide advice and feedback.

Bonin is currently a founding partner of TheCodeFactory ? a software development consulting company that provides services ranging from application architecture to developer training and mentoring. However, his interest and involvement in technology extend far back. For seven years, Bonin was the lead technical person for TheSoftTribe ? the largest software house in Ghana. Additionally, Bonin has successfully participated in a number of software design and development competitions organized by TopCoder ? an American software company that specializes in identifying software talent the world-over. His success in these competitions earned him a position on TopCoder?s software development review board. Moreover, Bonin has been recognized for his mentoring and technical skills by being inducted into the developer-in-residence programme organised by the Kofi Annan Center for IT excellence. This programme, very exclusive in its recruitment, aims to utilize people who have had an impact on the software industry to mentor the students of the institute.

?Of course,? says Bonin, ?becoming a Microsoft MVP is an achievement that I am particularly proud of.? Speaking of the MVP program itself, Bonin adds, ?The idea of recognizing those individuals that have had an impact on the developer communities they belong to and providing those individuals with the means to affect their fellow developers even more is certainly a very laudable one.? Having attended the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa regional MVP summit in Prague this year, Bonin is planning to attend the MVP summit in Seattle this year. As this will be his first summit, Bonin says that he has more expectations than actual thoughts on it.

?This will be my first MVP only gathering and I expect it to be the culminating point of the MVP experience in terms of the nature and quantity of information shared with us. Also, this will probably be an invaluable opportunity for networking among peers,? he says. In existence for over eleven years, the MVP Program aims to recognize and engage with MVPs worldwide to identify, enable, and empower community influencers through a consistent quality customer relationship with Microsoft that spans product groups, services, and field organizations. Furthermore, by recognizing more customers for their efforts and improving the quality of the experience on their turf and in their language, the MVP Program endeavours to improve customer connection and satisfaction. Finally, the program strives to drive program excellence. As a result Microsoft intends to professionalize services, customer offerings, and worldwide roles and responsibilities to become more predictable and accountable to both internal and external Microsoft community customers.?

The MVP programme definitely adds value to me and my work; and it does so, on many planes. Firstly, with the extra information I get about the Microsoft products I am better equipped technically to handle the concerns of my clients. Additionally, because I get specifications and tools in advance of their actual market releases, I am able to prepare adequately and utilize new technologies in providing solutions as soon as these technologies hit the market.

Finally, being recognised by the software leader with the MVP title has added to my credibility,? concludes Bonin.