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Microsoft to grow investments in Nigeria, targets SMEs

By on March 16, 2014

Software and devices firm, Microsoft, has said it will grow its investment in skills acquisition, innovation support and provision of Internet access in Nigeria.

The firm had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology to support the Information and Communications Technology in the country.

This, it explained in a statement, was part of its commitment to people across the globe in creating sustained economic opportunities, and in driving its rapid transition to devices.

The President, Microsoft International, Mr. Jean-Philippe Courtois, who was in Nigeria recently, had explained that full possession of Nokia by Microsoft will take place once every regulatory structure had been put in place.

He expressed optimism that Microsoft, which will expand its cloud services in Nigeria and other markets, will benefit from Nokia’s mapping system.

With cloud computing taking the continent by storm and literally changing the way businesses and individuals access technology, Microsoft also reaffirmed its status as a leader in the driving down of data costs especially for Small and Medium Enterprises that often do not have the capital for IT infrastructure investment.

Courtois said Microsoft Incorporated had invested fresh $75m in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and other African countries.

“I think so far in a new drive, we have invested about $75m in the African markets and Nigeria had had a fair share of that deal.  We have invested in access, innovation, skills development, youth empowerments; software development; digital curriculum, skills among others,” he pointed.

He also encouraged applications developers in the country to take advantage of the new Windows 8 platform to identify real life problems; create functional local applications that have global competitiveness around such and publish same to the Windows Store so they can monetise their innovation and share it with the world.

 

 

[Punch]