Ghanaian Teacher one of ten Change-Makers who inspired Microsoft CEO in 2018

Ghanaian Teacher one of ten Change-Makers who inspired Microsoft CEO in 2018

Ghanaian Teacher, Richard Owura Kwadwo Hottish Akoto Appiah, one of ten Change-Makers who inspired Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella in 2018

Change-Makers
10 Change-Makers that inspired Satya Nadella in 2018

Satya nadella has named Richard ‘Owura Kwadwo Hottish’ Akoto as part of individuals and teams who inspired him in 2018.

The CEO of Microsoft shared this in a post titled 10 change-makers who inspired me in 2018. He shared “that these change makers are solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, often overcoming odds“.

Here’s an excerpt of what the Microsoft CEO shared about the Change-Makers

“As I reflect on the year, I want to celebrate 10 people and teams who inspired me in 2018. With their ambition to think big and take action and also with their commitment to never lose sight of those whose lives they are trying to better. From a Ghanaian teacher who taught his students Word on a chalkboard, to a young entrepreneur in Paris who is reimagining recycling. To a Microsoft team in the United States working to improve outcomes in the foster-care system. These change-makers’ stories made me pause and reflect on the incredible opportunity each of us has to impact and spark change in our organizations, our local communities and the world.”

change-makers
Richard’s post that went viral

Satya Nadella goes on to say that “to me, Richard exemplifies the dedication and creativity of so many great teachers who go above and beyond each day for their students“.

Satya recapped Richards story by saying; When Richard Appiah Akoto was preparing his students in rural Ghana for a national IT exam earlier this year, he refused to let a lack of working computers get in the way.
In remarkably accurate detail, Richard drew the [Microsoft] Word user interface on his classroom chalkboard so his students could learn how to use it. His illustrations went viral, and our teams rallied to support him, providing the school with a computer lab
.

We shared about Microsoft’s efforts through its local partners in Ghana, to provide Richard and his school with an all-inclusive computer lab. Microsoft also made Richard a Microsoft Innovative Educator and invited him to speak at its 2018 Microsoft Global Education Exchange (E2) Summit in Singapore.

https://youtu.be/dVF5gkq_VlA

Richard Owura Kwadwo Hottish Akoto Appiah speaks at E2018 in Singapore.

Satya Nadella concludes that each of these change-makers show us how one individual or team driven by passion and ingenuity can empower others and have meaningful impact in the world.

Microsoft hosts Ghana Partner CEO Forum in Accra

Microsoft hosts Ghana Partner CEO Forum in Accra

Microsoft meets with Partners in Ghana at Partner CEO Forum to share Vision and Strategy

 

Partner CEO Forum

Microsoft hosts Partner CEO Forum event to show support and commitment to its business ecosystem in Ghana. This was evident with the high level representation of the Microsoft team in the room. From the General Manger Middle East and Africa Regional Multi Country Cluster, Ghana Country Manager and Partner Technical managers. As shared by Damola Solanke, Public Sector Sales Lead, it had been a long time since Microsoft spent time with partners in the country.

MCC CMO Enterprise Lead, Edmond Idoko getting the sessions underway said “We are here to show Support and commitment to our partners“.

Microsoft is committed to the success of our partner ecosystem. – Ibrahim Youssry

Speaking to partners, Ibrahim Youssry, Regional General Manger MMC introduced himself, Multi Cluster Countries(MCC) and shared on Microsoft’s vision for partners.

Our Success is to make you successful. It is a different mindset. – Ibrahim Youssry 

For Ibrahim it was a pleasure to be in Ghana meeting with partners. Microsoft’s new subsidiary MCC covers 67 countries across Africa and the Middle East with a focus on enterprise business. Microsoft doesn’t have presence in all these 67 countries. He said our focus directionally behind the MCC is to leverage our partner ecosystem to drive their businesses so we scale our purpose.

Microsoft wants to provide partners with much more assistance and support. With the new model Microsoft is committed to the success of our partner ecosystem. Our success comes with success to our partner ecosystem. To make you successful driving Microsoft business or your business on our technologies. It is a different mindset.” – Ibrahim Youssry

Ibrahim also shared that for the first time in Microsoft’s history in Africa it recorded an 18% growth. 



 

Partners meet Ghana Country Manager at Partner CEO Forum

 

It is the value we can add to your organization. 
– Akin Banuso, Country manager Nigeria and Ghana

 

Partners were introduced to new Country Manager under the new MCC model Akin Banuso. Akin Banuso, Country manager for Nigeria and Ghana told partners “The future is bright”.
In Ghana we want partners that are committed. Partners that will talk to customers about the solutions that really matter to them”. For Microsoft he said “it is the value we can add to your organization. The idea is we are going to scale through partners.”

Partners are the growth engine for Microsoft and Microsoft is the engine for partners.
– Ola Williams, Partner Technology Manager MCC  

Microsoft MCC Partner Technology Manager Ola Williams told partners without you our partners, we can’t be successful. The new model is a desire to scale through partners across most of our markets. She mentioned Microsoft has made significant investments in new resources with capabilities to help partners achieve aim. The aim to jointly help customers in their digital transformation journey.

She iterated partners are the growth engine for Microsoft and Microsoft is the engine for partners. We want to scale through partners. We are investing to help partners and customers.
The whole conversation from speaker to speaker was on how Microsoft together with partners can achieve growth together.



Microsoft delivers on promise, Equips rural school with All-Inclusive Computer Lab

Microsoft delivers on promise, Equips rural school with All-Inclusive Computer Lab

In partnership with local education partners, Microsoft has delivered on its promis to equip rural school with equipment

 

Microsoft delivers on promise

We shared on the story of the teacher who drew Microsoft Word on a chalkboard and got Microsoft’s attention. Microsoft’s promised to provide tools through its local partners in Ghana.  Microsoft then hosted Richard Akoto (Owura Kwadwo Hottish) at its 2018 Global Education Exchange Summit (E2) in Singapore making him a MIE .  

We also shared a video of Richard speaking at the summit. Below is a press release of the donation made by the Microsoft team and education partner eSolutions Consulting.  

“Microsoft believes that enablement
must start at grassroots level” 

 

PRESS RELEASE 

28 March 2017, Ghana – Ashanti –

In a move that is set to further encourage and propel digital transformation on the continent, Microsoft in collaboration with eSolutions Consulting – a local Education partner in Ghana, have today donated technological resources to equip a computer lab at Betenase Junior High School, located in Sekyedumase, Ashanti Region, Ghana.

The computer lab donation includes devices for students and lab teacher, furniture – tables and chairs, school uniforms, mathematical sets, device security storage units, 1-year free 3G connectivity, a projector, screen, UPS back up and routers. All devices will also be provided with Office Professional Plus software.

“As a technology brand that is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more – Microsoft believes that enablement must start at grassroots level – by way of education. It is the teachers and the work they do through their lessons, that allow for this to happen effectively.
We are extremely impressed by the work educators all over the continent are doing.  – As economies like Ghana become increasingly digital, technical thinking and understanding technology becomes of supreme importance. Around the world, a key part of Microsoft’s work is concentrated on empowering educators to create environments in and out of the classroom that guide and nurture student passion and enable students to achieve beyond their wildest imagination – making, designing, inventing, building the future” –  Warren La Fleur, Education Lead for West East and Central Africa at Microsoft.

 



 

Microsoft delivers on promise and includes other teachers in MCE program

 

Teachers not only in Bentase Junior High School but across Ghana will gain access to the Microsoft Certified Educator Program (MCE) for professional development, so that they can nurture their passion for teaching and build rich, custom learning experiences for students. Training such as this is vital in ensuring that educators have the global educator technology literacy competencies needed to provide greater learning experience for students.

Working with Microsoft to provide world class solutions to enable Ghana’s education transformation has been a great opportunity for eSolutions Consulting. As a Business and IT Consultancy company set up in Ghana, we aim to help organizations both in public and private sector to improve their performance through the introduction of innovative solutions. Immersive learning, enabled by technology, improves experiences and education outcomes for teachers and learners, as it shifts behavior, motivation and helps to develop an educated workforce with globally applicable skills and knowledge noted Solomon Adiyiah, Chief Operations Officer, eSolutions Consulting.

Microsoft has also invested in developing over 300 hours’ worth of free courses, where educators are able to participate in training and receive certification. The duration of each course is between 1 and 3 hours. Focuses vary from how to use tools like OneNote, Sway, and Skype, while others are more instruction based, designed to assist them to integrate technology in their course work. This ties together through assessments and a points-based system and teachers in Ghana and worldwide have access to all these learning tools.
The commitment to education will not stop with is donation and certainly goes beyond that of Ghana.

Microsoft is in advanced discussions with the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Ghana to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on more collaborative ways of transforming education in Ghana. A key objective of this MoU will be to provide support on teacher development and advancing digital literacy in secondary and post.
 



 

Microsoft is empowering educators through Digital Transformation to deliver quality education

Microsoft is empowering educators through Digital Transformation to deliver quality education

Microsoft is supporting educators with the power of technology to deliver quality education. Microsoft education partners hold Digital Transformation in Education Workshop in Accra, Ghana 

educators

Microsoft held a digital transformation in education workshop in Accra, to introduce its technology tools for education.  Organizations and institutions from the government, public and private sectors were introduced to Microsoft’s 365 Education solution. It empowers institutions to unlock creativity and promote teamwork within and outside the classroom. Microsoft 365 Education combines the essentials of the Windows 10 platform, Office 365 for productivity and collaboration and the Enterprise Mobility Suite for security and management. It provides all these within a simplified licensing framework, simple and safe experience in a single and affordable solution. 

The informative session put together by Zepto Ghana Limited and Point of View Afrique, Microsoft Education partners for Ghana showed educators of all levels how they can leverage technology in these times of digital transformation. Introducing localized and personalized solutions and devices that will suit their needs.


” Education is changing
and with the power of technology
we hope we can empower every one. “

Introducing Educators to Microsoft 365 Education  

educators

Keynote speaker: Jaye Richards-Hill Microsoft Worldwide BDM Education EMEA 

Keynote speaker of the event Jaye Richards-Hill, Business Development Manager, Education, Microsoft EMEA spoke on the Digital transformation of education. She spoke about Microsoft’s vision in Education and scenarios and solutions for digital transformation.
Jaye said “It is not the technology but what you do with it that is important. Education is changing and with the power of technology we hope we can empower every one. Our CEO Satya Nadella talks often about empowering STEM. Technology is driving the skills acquisition in today’s world. The skill you need today are the types of skills you need to acquire during education. It is important that institutions apply real life methods in their learning and teachings.”

educators

Anthony Mungai Nyutu Devices Lead Education WECA 

Senior Solution specialist and Microsoft Devices lead Education, WECA, Anthony Mungai Nyutu spoke about Technology in the classroom and building the education platform for the 21st-century learning. Introducing participants to solutions in Windows 10 and Office 365 that make sharing and learning interactive and fun. Demoing mixed reality in Paint 3D, Office Mix in Power Point, game based learning with Minecraft etc.   

” The way you build the future
is through education.
 “

Helping Educators with devices and solutions 

educators

Mr. Mark Pritchard moderating the last give away device contest.

The way you build the future is through education, said Mark Pritchard General Manager Point De Vue Afrique and Zepto Ghana Limited. One of the  biggest challenge in Africa is not the connectivity or technology but the money,. He said this when talking about how Point of View and Zepto Ghana are trying to fill in that gap. In partnership with EcoBank, organizations will be able to raise the needed funding to purchase the necessary tools and solutions to bring digital transformation to their schools and students. 

Every government, private or public education partner or provider needs different solutions. Zepto Ghana Limited and Point of View Africa as local Microsoft education partners will help you find the right affordable solutions to transform learning and increase creativity.

Other solution partners at the event included Africa Schools Online, Girls Konnekt, Extramarks and ISYX. Check out and join the conversation with #MicrosoftEduGH #DigitalTransformationGH on social platforms. 

 

Microsoft invites you to Experience Digital Transformation in Education with Microsoft 365 Education

Microsoft invites you to Experience Digital Transformation in Education with Microsoft 365 Education

Microsoft Invites you to Experience Digital Transformation with all that Microsoft 365 Education can offer you

Experience Digital Transformation

The new education package Microsoft 365 Education, was official launched at Innovation Africa a few months ago in Maputo, Mozambique. The Microsoft 365 Education package is a technology solution built for education. It comes as a bundled package of Office 365, Windows 10, Intune for Education, Minecraft Education Edition and Enterprise Mobility + Security all in a single cloud based package. 

The aim of Microsoft 365 Education is to get schools up and running faster through simplified acquisition and deployment.
This eliminates wasted time and delivers new capabilities to teachers and students to help them learn and work in new ways.

We know that schools want simple to purchase, simple to manage, secure and efficient systems. Microsoft 365 Education is designed to deliver on that need.” Mark East, Microsoft Regional Leader for Education in Europe Middle East and Africa. 

In the invitation it says “We are excited to invite you to come and experience all that Microsoft 365 Education can offer” 

Microsoft 365 Education is here to provide educators and students with all the tools needed to teach and learn skills needed for 21st century life. Familiar products like Office 365 encourage collaboration, Enterprise Mobility Suite provides security and management, and we’ll be introducing the latest version of Minecraft: Education edition. This fun open-world game is changing and improving the landscape of learning in a way students really enjoy. 

If you’ll want to learn more about the new Microsoft Education package, with demos, presentations and testimonials. Get insights and if you’ve got questions on what works and doesn’t, this is the right opportunity to participate in the event hosted by Microsoft Education Partners for Ghana,  Zepto Ghana Ltd. and Point de Vue Afrique.

Educators, IT Admins, IT heads of schools, Heads of Institutions, Register to be part of this event on December 7th, in Accra, Ghana. 

 

Microsoft holds Chief Security Officer Executive Series in Accra #MSSecurityGH

Microsoft holds Chief Security Officer Executive Series in Accra #MSSecurityGH

Microsoft holds Chief Security Officer (CSO) Executive Series themed “Think like a hacker” targeted at security experts in Accra.

security

The CSO Executive Series targeted at IT admins and security officers of companies was led by Greg Tworek. Greg is the director of CQURE and also a trainer at CQUREAcademy where they help experts level up.  Microsoft created the CSO executive series to enables participants network with peers and engage international security SMEs. It is also an event to teach on how to create an effective information security strategy against threats and hackers.

Every day, you can do something to protect your company from attacks. Especially when taking into consideration the newest technologies. It is surprising how often a hacker can use the same paths to enter your system. Let’s put you into the hacker’s role, and perform all the activities they would to better understand the threats. – Microsoft

The very informative sessions get you to see and think from a hackers point of view. What they think and how they think when trying to steal and take information from you that will be used in later days or months. Participants also learnt some very useful tools for whitelisting, checking ransomware, phishing etc.

Session modules included topics such as your company as a potential hacker’s target and Protecting privacy and identity. Also an informative session on Using Information Technology to prevent attacks and threats.
In the era of cloud computing information on Data storage security and Data sharing security was shared.

Greg sharing on some Security Best Practices;

  1. Understanding is the Key
  2. Put on the Hackers Shoes
  3. Prevention is the key to success.

Did you know 67% of young workers think cooperate social media policies are outdated. Digital signature is a great way to protect  your stuff. Also 70% of users do not password protect their smartphones.

One very helpful and interesting fact Greg shared was that Office 365 cloud solutions provide a lot of gains and security.

Follow more details check out the conversation via the hashtag #MSSecurityGH. The event is also scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya  follow  via the hashtag #MSSecurityKE