Microsoft hosts Africa-Canada DigiGirlz Virtual Camp to mark International Women’s Day

Microsoft hosts Africa-Canada DigiGirlz Virtual Camp to mark International Women’s Day

Microsoft is hosting the first International DigiGirlz Camp dubbed 2022 Africa-Canada Microsoft DigiGirlz Virtual Camp. It will bring girls from Africa and North America together as part of events planned to mark year’s International Women’s Day on March 8. The three-day Africa-Canada DigiGirlz digital camp for girls in science targets junior to high school girls between the ages of 11 to 17 years. It aims to introduce and inspire them to careers in science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Africa-Canada DigiGirlz Microsoft girls camp

The theme for the 2022 Africa-Canada Microsoft DigiGirlz Virtual Camp is “lifelong learning”. The digital camp is entirely virtual and will take place between March 7th and 10th. For 2-hour workshops at 4 PM GMT, 7 PM EAT, 8 AM PT, 11 AM ET daily. It will provide an opportunity for the girls from Africa and North America to connect.  

Microsoft is organizing the first International DigiGirlz Camp in partnership with Fair Chance Learning. The program will give girls hands-on experience with technology. Through workshops to help them bring their ideas to life as well as opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and networking.

The youth who grasp today’s tech will change tomorrow’s world“, notes Wanjira Kamwere, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office’s Business Development Manager, when announcing the program.

Right now, women lack a clear pathway to technological experience and resources. At Microsoft DigiGirlz, we’re helping girls across the globe—and especially those in under-represented communities—learn the skills they need to realize their passions in a tech-filled future“.

The camp is open to girls of all skill levels. It provides hands-on workshops that are led by supportive instructors who can help you increase your abilities. For girls who may have already taken technology classes in school, the camp workshops will provide you with quick exposure to new technologies to help enhance your knowledge.”

Wanjira Kamwere, Business Development Manager, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office

Microsoft says enrolment of students is on a first-come, first-served basis. Event content and curriculum are for specific age groups. So applicants are to check the target audience before enrolling a student in a DigiGirlz program.  Teachers and educators can also enrol their students as a group.

The DigiGirlz registration form must be completed by an adult aged 18 or older. The parent or legal guardian of attendees under the age of 18 may complete the registration form to register the student for a DigiGirlz program.

Wanjira Kamwere explains that Microsoft DigiGirlz events are to provide a gender-specific approach to introducing girls to career opportunities in technology. In a safe setting that is attuned to addressing specific biases and challenges that might impact their experience. However, event participation is open to anyone, regardless of gender identity, who aligns with the mission to provide an environment that encourages girls’ participation in technology. 

Microsoft notes that mentorship programs such as the DigiGirlz can help encourage women to pursue these careers.

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Microsoft, WOCCU support SACCOs with digital solutions to improve SME lending in Kenya

Microsoft, WOCCU support SACCOs with digital solutions to improve SME lending in Kenya

Microsoft is working with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) to support Savings and Credit Cooperatives Societies (SACCOs) with digital finance solutions to improve and increase credit union lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya.

The company held a two-day ideation workshop with 16 SACCOs in Mombasa seeking to understand the digital transformation challenges faced by the lending sector. With a strategic partnership execution program drawn to address the concerns raised during the event.

SACCOs SME lending Kenya

Microsoft says digital transformation will firstly build trust among members and improve loan repayments. Secondly, It will enable informed decision making on members or clients. Thirdly, the transformation will enable better credit scoring letting SACCOs manage risks and improve their bottom line.

Microsoft announced an MoU with WOCCU last year to help accelerate digital transformation within the savings and credit sector. Where both parties will work to establish a framework for the digital transformation of SACCOs in Kenya. Microsoft will leverage programs to close the skills gap and develop a training curriculum to accelerate the adoption. It will also identify local partners to support the development of solutions and business strategies within the sector. Whilst WOCCU will deploy its TIFI lending methodology and SME Finance Toolkit.

COVID-19 has accelerated the need for SACCOs to evolve and embrace digital channels. Empowering them to embark on this journey is not only critical to their sustainability but also the key to unlocking further growth potential within the region,” said Megan O’Donnell, WOCCU Vice President of Financial Inclusion. 

Both organizations will develop a proof of concept that can be tested and deployed once they meet sector demands.

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Microsoft Student hackathon winners get hired as full-time software engineers at Microsoft

Microsoft Student hackathon winners get hired as full-time software engineers at Microsoft

Four undergraduate students teamed up to participate in the 2021 Microsoft Student Hackathon, they eventually emerged winners and have received and accepted offers to join Microsoft as full-time software engineers. The students Gloria Keya, David Lutta, Christine Wambui, and Audrey Njenga will start their professional careers at Microsoft when they graduate from school.

They are all final year students pursuing computer science at universities located in Kenya and Rwanda. Firstly, Gloria and Christine are students at the University of Nairobi(UoN) in Kenya. Whilst David is a student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT). Finally, Audrey is a student at the African Leadership University(ALU) based in Rwanda.

Microsoft Student hackathon Kenya Africa

The students who had just completed their summer internship with Microsoft learned about the hackathon and decided to extend their Microsoft experience. By forming a team to participate in the student hackathon. Which was concurrently taking place with the Microsoft Global Hackathon for Microsoft employees. The hackathon event was to hack solutions for Sustainability, Society, Education, and Ability using Microsoft technologies. In all, there were students from 22 other countries participating in the virtual Microsoft student hackathon. Over the course of just a week, they conceived, built, and tested their idea.

We wanted to create an opportunity after their Microsoft internship for the students to stay connected to Microsoft and use the skills and knowledge they acquired in a new project and challenge that reflected their own passion,” says Steve Scallen, Senior Director of University Engagement at the Microsoft Garage. “They were all summer interns at Microsoft, and they all have offers to come back, which they’ve accepted. We are very excited they have chosen to start their professional careers at Microsoft.”

The students won the grand prize-winning project with their idea Forest Guard. Which falls under the hack for earth challenge and sustainability category. Forest Guard is a real-time on-site deforestation sensor and alert system that detects and reports dangerous or illegal activity in protected forests. It will be able to detect illegal logging and forest fire, using an IoT tool and Azure cognitive services.

Microsoft says they will have the opportunity to continue hacking the Forest Guard at The Garage when they begin work as full-time software engineers at Microsoft Nairobi in 2022. Microsoft is bringing The Garage program to Africa and will be opening new locations on the Microsoft Lagos and Nairobi campuses. The Garage is a Microsoft resource for employees to connect, experiment and be creative outside of their day job.

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Microsoft to open Garage sites in Nigeria and Kenya

Microsoft to open Garage sites in Nigeria and Kenya

Microsoft Garage Africa Lagos Nairobi

Microsoft is bringing The Garage program to Africa with sites to be located in Kenya and Nigeria. The company says The Garage Nigeria, in Lagos, is currently in advanced planning stages, as are other Garage locations in Africa. New information reaching us including the search for a Senior Program Manager to lead the program confirms it is close.

The Garage is an extracurricular Microsoft resource for employees to connect, experiment and be creative outside of their day job. But that is not all, it will also be a creative space for hacking and making for the local tech ecosystem and Microsoft customers. Running hackathons, engineering internships, and an experimental outlet for its local students and tech communities.

There are 12 garage sites across the globe with the Africa sites to increase this number to 14. Microsoft could yet still increase this number with possible sites in South Africa, Senegal and Egypt.

I expect each Microsoft Garage site in Africa to have three dedicated lab sections just like all the other global sites. The lab sections will consist of a collaboration hub for hackathons and workshops, a Makerspace and an Advanced Makerspace. The advanced Makerspace will have an electronic workbench, 3D Printers, laser cutter, PCB milling machine for creating prototypes. A Reality Room dedicated to working in the space of Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality applications and dedicated space and equipment for doing work on Deep Learning.

Every person at Microsoft has the ability to come up with a good idea. The Garage is here to help.

Jeff Ramos, GM The Garage

The Microsoft Garage in Africa

The Garage is a program designed to support our employees’ creative ambitions and innovative instincts,” says Jeff Ramos, general manager of The Garage. “Every person at Microsoft has the ability to come up with a good idea. The Garage is here to help our great people shape and develop those ideas. We need a place for people to feel confident to take creative liberties, and that place is The Garage.”

Ramos says Microsoft is going to learn how to do business better worldwide by learning in Africa. Noting that in Lagos, Microsoft sees a tremendous opportunity to learn as a company and as a culture.

For Gafar Lawal, principal group manager at Microsoft ADC Nigeria it will be essential to both tantalize and satisfy employees’ creative curiosities. Adding that the Garage will support employees as they continue to learn at every stage of their careers.

Through the Garage, employee projects have gone on to become full Microsoft branded products or features. Notable ones are Kaizala, Microsoft launcher, Seeing AI, FarmBeats, Mouse without Borders and the Xbox Adaptive Controller.

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2021 Microsoft Partner of the year Africa Award winners

2021 Microsoft Partner of the year Africa Award winners

Microsoft Partner award Africa

Microsoft is announcing its partner of the year award winners and here is a list of winning organizations in Africa. The announcement comes ahead of Microsoft Inspire 2021 where it will celebrate exemplary achievements from across its global partner ecosystem. Microsoft Inspire 2021 partner event, is set to take place July 14-15 as a free global digital event.

Microsoft uses the partner award to recognize outstanding accomplishments within its partner community. This year, the company received over four thousand entries from one hundred and thirty countries across fifty-six categories. Microsoft introduced a new category, the Social Impact Award which includes awards for Community Response, Inclusion Changemaker, and Sustainability Changemaker.

Unfortunately, no African partner emerged as a global category winner this year and last year. The last time this happened was in 2019 when Cloud Productivity Solutions Limited from Kenya won the global category for Teamwork.

Ten partner organizations emerge as award winners in 2021. Cloud Productivity Solutions, Kenya is the only winner from last year to win this year as well. Ghana recorded an award winner for the second year in a row. Senegal for the third year in a row failed to register an award winner. Côte d’Ivoire is back with a winner after failing to register an award winner in 2020. Namibia failed to register a winner this year.

Below are Microsoft Partner Africa winners from the country and region category.

At Microsoft, we believe our partners make more possible.
That’s why we recognize exceptional partner contributions.

Microsoft Partner Africa Award Winners country category

Cote d’Ivoire Partner of the Year
MC3 Cloud

Egypt Partner of the Year
Atos IT SAE

Ghana Partner of the Year
eSolutions Consulting

Kenya Partner of the Year
Cloud Productivity Solutions Limited

Mauritius Partner of the Year
The Cloud Factory

Morocco Partner of the Year
CBI

Nigeria Partner of the Year
Reliance Infosystems

South Africa Partner of the Year
Tarsus On Demand

Tunisia Partner of the Year
INSOMEA Computer Solutions

Uganda Partner of the Year
Computer Revolution Uganda

Click here to register and participate in the Microsoft Inspire 2021 online experience.

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Dynamics 365 Business Central is now available in Africa and the Middle East

Dynamics 365 Business Central is now available in Africa and the Middle East

Dynamics 365 Business Central Microsoft

Dynamics 365 Business Central the Microsoft business management solution for small and mid-sized organizations (SMBs) is coming to Africa and the Middle East. The solution will launch in Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Lebanon over this month.

Dynamics 365 Business Central lets SMBs automate and streamline their business operations. By connecting their financials, sales, services, shipping, manufacturing, project management, operations and more to improve customer interactions.

Maher Al-Khaiyat, Regional Business Applications Director for Microsoft MEA Emerging Markets, says what businesses get with Business Central is an end-to-end view of their operations. With built-in intelligence when and where they need it. He notes that the application is easy to tailor and extend to meet any unique business or industry-specific needs.

With digital transformation now a necessity, SMBs are seeking cost-effective, streamlined systems that will make their transition seamless. Multiple, disconnected systems are now easily combined under one secure, centralised application. Using Dynamics 365 Business Central, efficiency is boosted through automated tasks and workflows. All from within familiar Office tools like Outlook, Word, and Excel.”

Maher Al-Khaiyat

The new solution will launch in Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Lebanon over this month AL-Khaiyat adds.

Business Central is easy to integrate with applications like payroll, banking apps, or custom APIs. It has the same consistent and secure experience across all devices no matter where teams are accessing the application from.

SMEs will be able to deploy Dynamics 365 Business Central in either the cloud, on-premise, or with a hybrid approach. No matter the requirements for data residency, compliance, or security, companies can run their business wherever and however needed.

Business Central was previously known as Dynamics NAV. The solution is now a SaaS and comes in the Dynamics 365 suite.

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