Microsoft 4Afrika partners TEF to bring Digital Technology to Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs across Africa

Microsoft 4Afrika partners TEF to bring Digital Technology to Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs across Africa

 

Microsoft 4Afrika has signed a partnership with Tony Elumelu Foundation to provide Technology and skills support to Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs across Africa.

Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs in the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs program will benefit from technology tools, resources and mentorship in this partnership project. The mission is to help these entrepreneurs use ICT effectively to modernize their businesses and reach new customers.
Microsoft says “The support will be available across the continent through both virtual and in person experiences”.

Microsoft 4Afrika will also take the opportunity to identify highly potential entrepreneurs from the TEF Entrepreneurship  Programme and integrate them into its Innovation Grant Programme.

During the The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos in October, Microsoft will training them on Microsoft it’s technologies.

Speaking about the partnership Microsoft Nigeria country manger Akin Banuso said;

“Microsoft 4Afrika and the Tony Elumelu Foundation share a common goal to accelerate economic and social development by promoting entrepreneurship.
As we enter into an era of digital transformation, it’s vital that we help all entrepreneurs develop relevant technology skills and integrate ICT into their businesses. Technology can help SMEs reach customers outside their local markets, generate powerful business insights and improve their customer retention.
We have found that SMEs who adopt this kind of modern IT have seen 15% faster revenue growth than those not using it.”

Some of the benefits Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs will get from Microsoft 4Afrika’s partnership include:

• Access to cloud-based software, online support and technology through BizSpark
• Access to information and markets through the Biz4Afrika platform, where SMEs can trade with similar-sized organisations
• Technical training on Microsoft technologies and platforms during the 2017 TEF Forum
• Online business and technology training through the Microsoft Virtual Academy, to support entrepreneurs through their start-up, growth and acceleration phases
• Access to Microsoft experts for virtual and in-person mentorship through the MySkills4Afrika programme
• Access to the Interns4Afrika programme, for entrepreneurs to access and build their talent pipeline

Speaking on the partnership Parminder Vir OBE, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation said;

“With Microsoft on-board, we’re adding an essential ICT platform and partner to this mix, which will help to strengthen the capacity of our entrepreneurs, ensuring they remain relevant and competitive.”

Microsoft’s partnership will upskill about 3000 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs across the African continent. It will also give 4Afrika the opportunity to reach thousands of SMEs.

Visit Microsoft 4Afrika and the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme  for more information.
What are your thoughts on the offerings and partnership? Share with us.

Nigeria FG introduces #PEBECHack Hackathons series to deliver smart solutions to promote Ministry accountability and transparency

Nigeria FG introduces #PEBECHack Hackathons series to deliver smart solutions to promote Ministry accountability and transparency

Nigeria’s federal government council tasked to implement reforms PEBEC, is organizing a series of hackathons, #PEBECHack. Delivering smart solutions to check and promote accountability and transparency in government ministries and agencies.  

#PEBECHack

Are you a developer, coder, engineer, techie, designer with a passion to help make business work in Nigeria and keep government honest? This looks like a great opportunity to help in the development process of the nation. Also win up to 1 million Naira.

The Hackathon series is organized by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). Set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to implement reforms that would make it progressively easier for small and medium sized businesses to start and thrive in Nigeria.

The first #PEBECHack will focus on developing a tool that will promote accountability and transparency among key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) crucial to the success of Nigeria’s Ease of doing Business reforms.

The competing teams would develop a service management solution that will allow citizens monitor, provide feedback, report, make complaints, and ‘blow-a-whistle’ about the quality of service received from key Federal Government Doing Business MDAs or at strategic locations such as airports, seaports and land borders.

Microsoft is partnering with the Nigerian federal Government and another organizations for this project. Microsoft will be offering Bizspark Startup packages to the top 3 winners of the hackathon.

Interested participants can register as a team of 4 members with different skillsets or an Individual can also register and specify skillset. Selected individuals will be matched with others with different skillsets and placed in teams of 4 members. A total of 10 – 12 teams will be selected in all.
Registration commences on Tuesday May 23, 2017, and ends by midnight on Tuesday June 6, 2017. There would be no further applications after that date.

1st prize winner gets NGN 1 million, 2nd prize NGN 300,000 and 3rd prize NGN 200,000. In addition, Top 3 teams will get Microsoft’s Bizspark + a start-up stand at Techplus conference in July with an opportunity to meet potential investors and promoters.

Visit PEBECHack page to register. All the best to all participants.

Let us know what you think about this initiative in the comments.

Register to Join the Microsoft-AfriLabs Training for Startups on Azure and BizSpark

Register to Join the Microsoft-AfriLabs Training for Startups on Azure and BizSpark

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.

afrilabs

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.

Spaces are limited so do well to register early.

Click here to register and participate in the training.

Update:
Here’s a recap of the five hour session participants spent acquiring new skills as shared by AfriLabs.