MICROSOFT’S ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT IN AFRICA.

It has been a few decades since Microsoft came into Africa to encourage digital competencies, internet connectivity and innovation. I would say they have pretty much, kept to this mission.

Africa is clearly on the verge of being completely transformed through the innovation in Technology, and with the fourth industrial revolution looming ever larger in the background, the significance of sustaining a chain reaction with a series of activities is the key.

For over seven years, Microsoft has been running its 4Afrika Initiative on the continent by investing in start-ups, small-to-medium enterprises, partners, governments and youth while maintaining the focus to delivering affordable access to the internet, developing skilled workforces and investing in local technology solutions.

Launched in 2013, the 75 million USD project is running across African countries including, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

In 2019, Microsoft launched Africa Development Centre (ADC) with locations, Kenya and Lagos. The ADC is a premier centre of Engineering for Microsoft. The company said it will invest around $100 million in the two centres in the next five years (2019 – 2023).

We can only agree that by leveraging the diversity of the African region, the company is growing a team of world-class talents to create innovative solutions for global impact.

Early on in 2020, Microsoft launched its Global Social Entrepreneurship Programme to support start-ups and SMEs in Africa who have a social impact, business models. The companies selected will receive access to free Microsoft cloud technologies, including up to US$120,000 in Azure credits, along with technical support and guidance.

I like the fact that Microsoft is investing heavily in the African Talent market. Perhaps, they should consider those of us without backgrounds in Engineering but who can contribute to Project development and ideation, design thinking and analysis.