Are you a startup founder, techpreneur or an entrepreneur? Do you want to learn how to maximize and benefit from Microsoft’s cloud and BizSpark platforms? You might want to join this free training.
Microsoft in collaboration with AfriLabs is hosting a FREE technical training for startups on the 8th of April, 2017 in Lagos, Nigeria. This training will be focused on the use of Microsoft’s Azure and BizSpark platforms and how they can be used to improve technology based businesses.
Microsoft BizSpark is a global startup program that helps startups grow faster and succeed by giving them free access to Microsoft Azure cloud services, software and support. The startups receive three-year access to Microsoft software development tools, marketing visibility to help promote their business and a connection to the BizSpark ecosystem, giving them access to investors, advisors and mentors.
AfriLabs host of training are a technology networking and acceleration association that supports technology incubators & accelerators in Africa. With a network of 50 technology innovation hubs in over 20 African countries.
Microsoft’s 4Afrika initiative is four years old. Hurray! Here is a throw back of some of the successes achieved by Microsoft in Africa.
Microsoft’s plan to empower youth’s, entrepreneurs, developers, businesses and civic leaders in Africa birthed the 4Afrika initiative. Microsoft through the initiative wants to help bring ideas that can impact communities, nations, the African continent and the world into a reality.
The Microsoft 4Afrika initiative focuses on three critical areas of development for the continent; Skills, Access and Innovation.
Each of these focuses on different aspects that will help empower African youth, entrepreneurs, developers and business and civic leaders to turn great ideas into a reality that can help their community, their country, the continent, and beyond.
Microsoft says “Since 2013, 4Afrika has launched 15 TV white spaces connectivity pilots, brought over 500,000 SMEs online, upskilled close to 800,000 Africans and helped 82 local start-ups to grow their ventures.”
Microsoft 4Afrika has been investing in markets, ecosystems, partners and people. Creating an enabling environment where tech unlocks the potential of Africans to become leaders and innovators of locally and globally relevant solutions.
Here are some successes of the initiative across the continent over the four years;
Over 1,500 partners and professionals have been trained in virtual classrooms.
300 Organizations supported by over 400 MySKills4Afrika volunteers
400 internships offered by 60 companies in partner network across 20 African countries via Interns4Afrika.
1.7 million SME’s reached via media and partner engagements.
500,000 SME’s actively Consuming Microsoft cloud services.
Developed a culture of IP protection in Africa. Through partnership with the IP Hub, IP registrations at the Kenya Copyright Board have increased by 100%.
775,000 people trained through Microsoft Virtual Academy
15 TV White Spaces deployed giving internet access to more schools, SMEs, & public facilities across Africa.
Here’s what Amrote Abdella, Microsoft 4Afrika Regional Director had to say about the anniversary.
4 years – 4Afrika has invested in markets & people, creating an environment for Tech to unlock African innovation for the globe.
Microsoft have been involved in various projects spanning Affordable Access, Innovation, Skills and Successful Partnerships on the continent. Click to read more about this.
Have you benefitted personally or know someone who has from the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative? Share with us.
Microsoft Nigeria hosted bloggers from Nigeria to an interactive session on Empowering Digital Transformation.
The bloggers meetup event was to bring a familiarization of service solutions offered by Microsoft and the new updates coming with the Creators Update to the bloggers.
Digital Transformation is simply doing things differently and with ease.
The Creators Update is the next major update to the Microsoft Windows operating system. The Update is scheduled to start arriving first on new devices and then to the older devices from April 11th 2017. Also Microsoft has said that you can use the Microsoft Update Assistant to manually initiate the update from April 5th 2017. For Windows 10 Mobile devices the creators Update will start rolling out from the 25th of April.
The Creators Update will begin to roll out on April 11th. Like with the Anniversary Update we delivered last August, this update for Windows will proceed in phases.
For the those of you who are eager to get the Creators Update right away, you will be able to initiate the update manually, starting on April 5th, via Update Assistant. This option is intended for advanced users on devices running a licensed version of Windows 10.
We’ll iterate this process over a period of several months until all compatible devices running Windows 10 worldwide are offered the Creators Update. Windows Phone will follow the same phased approach, with rollout scheduled to begin April 25.
At the event Microsoft Nigeria shared updated statistics of Windows 10 since it’s launch.
There are currently over 400 million monthly active devices.
Over 135 Billion hours spent on Windows 10
Cortana has been asked over 5 Billion questions with over 1 Million daily queries.
10 Million of streamed Xbox one games to Windows 10 PCs.
On digital transformation and how Microsoft technology can help you achieve more, there was a presentation on what’s a digital business? Addressing bloggers on the topic there was an elaboration on How is the business being digitally transformed and How is the business model being digitally transformed. Speaking on the four pillars of Digital Transformation:
Conçu pour éveiller votre créativité. Microsoft à nommée la prochaine mise à jour majeure de Windows 10 le Creators Update. Le mise à jour sera disponible pour déployée à partir du 11 avril 2017.
Avec cette mise à jour; Microsoft libère la créativité du plus grand nombre en mettant la 3D au centre de l’expérience Windows dans un environnement numérique toujours plus ouvert, humain et sécurisé.
La mise à jour arrivera a très bientôt pour les nombreux utilisateurs de Windows 10 et aussi gratuit. Il y a 3 mises à jour importantes Les utilisateurs de Windows 10 peuvent attendre avec impatience.Il existe également d’autres mises à jour et fonctionnalités basées sur les commentaires des utilisateurs par le programme Windows Insiders.
Vision élargie pour la réalité mixte. Virtual, réalité augmentée et informatique holographique avec 3D pour tous. Créer partager et expérimenter 3D dans une réalité mixte.
Les joueurs peuvent être les meilleurs en jeux 4K et en diffusion de jeux.
Un moyen plus rapide de se connecter et de partager avec les personnes qui comptent le plus, la famille, les amis, les collaborateurs et les autres joueurs.
Nous avons conçu Windows 10 pour permettre au créateur de nous tous. Pour nous, cela signifie que tout le monde a le pouvoir de rêver grand, qu’il s’agisse de démarrer une entreprise, d’élaborer un plan de cours, d’inventer un produit, de développer ou de diffuser des jeux, ou d’imaginer un tout nouveau monde dans Minecraft ou une réalité mixte. Et nous voulons que Windows soit l’endroit que vous aimez créer et jouer, avec les outils pour vous aider à faire la marque sur le monde.
Les utilisateurs désireux de Windows 10 peuvent obtenir la mise à jour à partir du 5 avril en utilisant l’outil Assistant de mise à niveau Microsoft. Il s’agit également d’une mise à jour gratuite pour les utilisateurs existants avec une licence valide.
Voici quelques-unes des nouvelles fonctionnalités dans Windows 10 Creators Update.
La réalité mixte pour tous – 3D pour tous et permettant une réalité mixte.
De la 3D à la réalité mixte, la Windows Creators Update propose de nouvelles expériences immersives gommant les frontières entre mondes virtuel et reel. Parce qu’elle est représentative du monde dans lequel nous vivons, la 3D permet à chacun de s’exprimer plus simplement et d’apprendre plus vite. Microsoft souhaite donner à chacun les moyens de s’approprier la 3D afin de mieux communiquer ses idées et s’exprimer.
Créer en toute sécurité
Avec Windows 10, Microsoft a conçu la défense la plus robuste pour les utilisateurs que cela soit pour la navigation web, l’envoi d’un mail ou l’archivage de documents dans le Cloud. La Creators Update va encore plus loin dans le pilotage de la sécurité.
Windows Defender Security Center regroupe désormais dans un unique panneau de configuration tous les paramètres de sécurité de l’appareil, simples comme avancés. Cette nouvelle fonctionnalité permettra également de recevoir des « bulletins de santé » réguliers sur les fonctionnalités de son terminal, grâce au « Device Health Advisor » ; cette démarche de prise de contrôle est également appliquée aux données personnelles, dont la gestion est prise en charge dans un tableau de bord unifié pour tous les services Microsoft.
Microsoft is sponsoring 30 individuals from various countries representing at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter games in Austria.
? via Microsoft Nigeria
Microsoft is the official Technology Sponsor of the Special Olympics, 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games taking place in Austria. With that Microsoft is also sponsoring 30 individuals from representing nationals in the competition.
Microsoft provides both financial and in-kind support to SpecialOlympics, including free software suites for all SpecialOlympics’ 220 accredited Programs globally, empowering efficient Programs for people with intellectual disabilities around the globe.
Some beneficiaries include individuals from teams in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, etc from Africa.
In Ghana, Microsoft is sponsoring Isaac Otchere a Floorball athlete of the Ghana team. There was a ceremony in Accra held by the Microsoft Ghana country manager and members of the Ghana Special Olympic team.
? via Citi Fm
Mr. Appiah during the event said “Mr. Otchere has established himself as a Floorball athlete and has been involved with Special Olympics for the last four years. Isaac, we are excited to support you and look forward to engaging you and the Special Olympics team on this journey to the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria” – Read more about this as shared by Citi FM
Unfortunately the Ghana and Afghanistan teams were denied visas to participate in the event.
Microsoft Nigeria spent some time with the Special Olympics team, Nigeria via the Valentine day #actofkindnessng event. Adewopo Marvellous Adedovin was selected as the recipient of the sponsorship.
Marvelous captain of the floorball team led Nigeria to gold glory in this year’s competition. Read about Marvelous in the featured story by Microsoft.
