TECHNOLOGY giant, Microsoft Corporation, has
unveiled plans to spend $12 billion on a special
package for Nigeria and other African markets in the
next three years.
The package is expected to be designed specially for
the markets in the continent in order to empower
youths and provide a lifeline for one million Small
and Medium Enterprises.
To this end, Microsoft has launched its Microsoft
4Afrika Initiative to aid the attainment of the set
objectives, and to help the continent’s businesses
boost their global competitiveness.
Country Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa,
Emmanuel Onyeje, who disclosed this in Lagos while
launching the initiative with the theme: “Improving
competitiveness through economic development”,
said to make this happen, the firm has launched
Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, through which it will
actively engage in Africa’s economic development
and to improve its global competitiveness.
Onyeje, said the firm will now accelerate the
adoption of smart devices, empowering small and
medium businesses, and intensify skills
development to ignite African innovation for the
continent and for the world.
According to him, by 2016, Microsoft projects to help
place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands
of African youths, bring one million African Small
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) online, up-skill 100,000
members of Africa’s existing workforce, and help an
additional 100,000 recent graduates develop skills
for employability, 75 per cent of which Microsoft will
help place in jobs.
“Microsoft wants to invest in that promise which
recognises Africa’s promise. We want to empower
African youths, entrepreneurs, developers and
business and civic leaders to turn great ideas into
reality that can help community, their country, the
continent and beyond.
“The initiative is built on the dual beliefs that
technology can accelerate growth for Africa, and
Africa can also accelerate technology for the world”,
he stated.
Onyeje, who said the United States of America-based
company was motivated to embark on the projects
as part of its contributions to Africa’s transformation
initiatives, announced that Microsoft has developed
a new online hub through which Africa SMEs will
freely have access to relevant products and services
from Microsoft and other partners.
SOURCE;www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=10537