by chrisdofdof | Jan 15, 2024 | Microsoft Africa
Can you believe it? It’s been 30 years since Microsoft opened its first office in Africa. That’s right, 30 years of empowering Africans with technology, innovation and skills. 30 years of making a difference in education, health, agriculture and more. 30 years of being part of the continent’s amazing journey.
But we’re not here to brag. We’re here to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate than with some fun facts about Microsoft in Africa? Here are some of the highlights from our three decades of presence and impact:
- Did you know that Microsoft was the first global tech company to launch a datacenter region in Africa? That’s right, we beat Google and Amazon to it. And we didn’t stop there. We also launched the first cloud services from Africa, enabling businesses and organizations to access world-class technology and innovation locally.
- Did you know that Microsoft has trained over 1.7 million young Africans in digital skills since 2013? That’s more than the population of Gambia. And we’re not done yet. We’re committed to reaching 4 million more by 2023, through our flagship programs like 4Afrika, YouthSpark and DigiGirlz.
- Did you know that Microsoft has supported over 500 startups in Africa, helping them grow and scale their businesses? That’s more than the number of lions in Kenya. And we’re not just talking about funding. We’re talking about mentorship, technical support, access to markets and customers, and more.
- Did you know that Microsoft has partnered with over 200 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa, helping them leverage technology for social good? That’s more than the number of countries in the world. And we’re not just talking about donations. We’re talking about co-creating solutions, sharing best practices, and empowering communities.
These are just some of the facts that make us proud of our work in Africa. But we know that we couldn’t have done it without you. You are the ones who inspire us, challenge us, and collaborate with us. You are the ones who make Africa what it is today: a vibrant, diverse, and dynamic continent.
So thank you for being part of our journey. Thank you for trusting us with your dreams and aspirations. Thank you for letting us be part of your story.
Here’s to 30 more years of Microsoft in Africa!
by Sylvester Addo | Oct 17, 2018 | General, Microsoft Africa
Microsoft to partner with 15 nonprofits in 8 countries to upskill 1.4 million youths in computer science across the Middle East and Africa region.
By the next three years, Microsoft wants to impart digital skills to 10 million youths in Middle East and Africa. To reach this goal Microsoft plans to work with nonprofit organizations. Organizations whose mission aligns with its focus on computer science education.
Microsoft says “Digital Skills are becoming essential for the jobs of today and tomorrow. These skills can open doors to greater economic opportunities in the work place of the future. Microsoft believes in a future where every young person has the skills, knowledge and opportunity to succeed“.
Microsoft will work with 15 nonprofits in 8 countries across the Middle East and Africa region to upskill 1.4 million youths in computer science.
Nonprofits will receive grants through the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative. With a target of being able train 13,000 educators to teach digital skills to youths across the region.
Microsoft hopes to reach new goals with this initiative. That 80 percent of the beneficiaries will represent underserved communities and 50 percent female.
by Sylvester Addo | Aug 29, 2016 | Events, General, Microsoft Ghana
As part of activities to mark this years International youth Day, World Vision hosted a YouthSpark Conference.
Photo Credit : TizaaWorks
World Vision, new implementing partners of Tizaaworks held an event to mark International Youth Day in Accra, Ghana. TizaaWorks is a Microsoft YouthSpark and Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative introduced by Microsoft Ghana.
TizaaWorks is an online platform for employability and entrepreneurship. It helps equip young graduates and school-leavers with the right employable skills to prepare them for the job market. That’s hard and soft skills to bridge the skills gap and secure first-time job opportunities. It also provides career guidance and resources for those wanting to build their businesses. The platform offers information on personality assessment, virtual interviews, CV writing, business idea pitching, writing cover letters, job vacancies and free online courses.
The YouthSpark conference featured a presentation on the Sustainable Development Goals, a training on entrepreneurship, poetry, choreography and music. Here are some pictures from the event.
The TizaaWorks online platform offerings include:
* Plan your career – career counselling, job market info and stats
* Get trained – mentor matching, IT training, entrepreneurship, CV writing, soft & language skills
* Find a job – job matching tool Entrepreneurs – Start-up training, funding tools, social entrepreneurship and freelance opportunities.
* Get engaged – Community-based networking platform for users to share ideas and volunteer opportunities
Follow Tizaaworks on social sites Facebook, Twitter: @TizaaWork, Website: Tizaaworks
More Info: TizaaWorks
by Sylvester Addo | May 29, 2015 | 4Afrika, General, Microsoft Ghana, Windows
TizaaWorks is a coined out initiative by Microsoft Ghana in what is being rolled out as a number of employability platforms in Africa and the Middle East by Microsoft’s Youthspark and 4Afrika initiatives in these regions with local partners. The idea is to have 13 platforms in Africa with Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Algeria, Egypt, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Morocco, Madagascar, Libya and Angola as beneficiaries and hopes about 960,000 jobs and 200,000 entrepreneurs will be created by the end of 2015.
Microsoft Ghana and the International Institute for Communication and Development(IICD) launched Tizaaworks and hopes it’ll be national one-stop online hub for employability and entrepreneurship. Tizaaworks acts as an online aggregator for job search, acquiring and sharpening employment and entrepreneurial skills.
The portal will help;
- Plan your career – career counseling, job market info and stats
- Get trained – mentor matching, IT training, entrepreneurship, CV writing, soft & language skills n
- Find a job – job matching tool
- Entrepreneurs – Start-up training, funding tools, social entrepreneurship and free-lance opportunities.
- Get engaged – Community-based networking platform for users to share ideas and volunteer opportunities
Brad Smith, General counsel and Executive Vice President of legal and corporate affairs at Microsoft on the project said;
“Technology can empower young people to make a vital contribution to their community and our world. We hope that this platform serves as a bridge, connecting Ghana’s young people to the tools, resources and people they need to find the fulfilling careers they deserve,”
Martine Koopman, Ghana country manager and global advisory services manager for International Institute for Communication and Development(IICD) also said of the initiative;
“The TizaaWorks platform is critical for expanding IICD’s impact in supporting Ghanaian youth in smart learning, working, and earning. Thanks to TizaaWorks, our programmes that build market-driven digital skills and help youth find employment and start their own IT-related businesses can reach out to a much wider audience, beyond our physical presence”
Give the platform a try and tell us what you think.
