Microsoft launches new AppFactory in Nanyuki, Kenya in partnership with Mawingu Networks Ltd
This new partnership with Mawingu Networks will help develop Digital skills, Coding capabilities and employability of graduates in Nanyuki. It will also work with local businesses to develop unique solutions that meet their specific needs.
Microsoft 4Afrika’s initiative focuses on developing world-class skills, access and innovation. Empowering people to turn great ideas into a reality that enhance livelihoods and drive Africa’s digital transformation forward. The Mawingu Networks AppFactory brings the number of Microsoft 4Afrika AppFactories in Africa to 16. The 2nd in Kenya, others in South Africa, Egypt, Rwanda, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, Mauritius and Malawi. Microsoft 4Afrika says last year, over 500 apprentices graduated from AppFactories with 85% securing full-time jobs within three months of graduating. This mostly because they acquire rare skills needed by organisations.
Microsoft’s 4Afrika initiative focusses on developing World-class skills, Access and Innovation to empower people to turn great ideas into a reality. This will enhance livelihoods and drive Africa’s digital transformation forward.
This partnership between Mawingu Networks and Microsoft 4Afrika will drive digital transformation in rural town Nanyuki. Equipping graduates of Nanyuki with skills that make them readily employable and effective in organizations.
Selected participants will spend up to six months working with senior software technicians, developing essential workplace skills and the ability to design and implement modern software solutions. After graduating from the programme, apprentices will have access to jobs, both at Mawingu Networks and within its network of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Microsoft 4Afika AppFactory in Nanyuki
“The AppFactory will turn young people into highly competent, in-demand ICT professionals. Local companies, including ourselves, need more of this talent, especially in an increasingly digital world. As a start-up in a small town ourselves, we know how difficult and expensive it can be to hire the right talent. Sometimes that option is not even available to us and we end up having to outsource to other countries” – Tim Hobbs, Director and CEO of Mawingu Networks.
Microsoft 4Africa AppFactory dean, Lutz Ziob shared on Microsoft’s commitment to empowering and extending reach of opportunities to individuals and organizations.
“A lot of skills development programs happen in and around big cities benefitting largely urban youth. By working with an innovative, local company in Nanyuki, we are demonstrating our commitment to extending the reach of opportunities to youth and small businesses across the country. This is in line with our global mission to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more. It also supports Kenya’s 2030 vision. Which aims to become a middle-income country and provide a higher quality of life to all its citizens.” – Lutz Ziob, Dean of the 4Afrika
Mawingu Microsoft 4Afika AppFactory in Nanyuki will solve local specific problems
Programs director of the Mawingu AppFactory shared with me on how disruptive and transformative this will be to local businesses in Nanyuki. She shared about a situation with a farmer who has over 100 workers on his farm, who is concerned about intruders coming in and posing as workers. With this she said a facial recognition solution can be deployed in this instance. Using technology to solve the needs and problems in Nanyuki.
Through the AppFactory program, Mawingu will also seek to scale their use of Microsoft’s Kaizala productive app. Apprentices will be tasked with building custom Kaizala Action Cards and extending the platform via an application programming interface. The Nanyuki AppFactory will be hosted next to Mawingu Network’s headquarters. The first round of apprentices are currently being selected, following an application process.
Using Microsoft Kaizala App, Mawingu Networks boosts productivity and cut costs
Mawingu Networks Limited are one of the early testers of Microsoft’s Kaizala app in Kenya before its official launch.
Based in Kenya, Mawingu Networks focuses on connecting rural and unconnected communities in Africa to the internet. By using TV Whitespaces; a high performance low cost wireless technology, it is able to offer internet access using hotspots and broadband services to individuals and SMEs in rural areas.
Microsoft’s Kaizala app is a mobile application that enhance business agility, collaboration and organizational productivity. Built for emerging markets it helps with large group communication and work management.
“Using Microsoft Kaizala app has greatly enhanced our internal communications and enhanced our operations. – Tim Hobbs, Mawingu Networks Ltd. CEO“
Speaking about how transformative Kaizala has been to Mawingu, Director and CEO Tim Hobbs said; Our main goal was to improve communication between the field and office teams. Simplify the data collection process and save time in reporting. Kaizala ensures clean lines of communication, customer and partner feedback within the organization.
With Microsoft Kaizala, Mawingu Network Ltd. can easily track and assign work to field teams. Mawingu is also now able to better monitor its over 1000 hotspots in outlying areas.
Other uses are collecting customer information and feedback in real-time during sales activations. Monitor installations and effectively manage field teams remotely. This saves time through automated reporting.
“Right now we are able to develop a survey form on Kaizala and broadcast to our field team. We can then access and analyse the feedback using analytic tools like Power BI. This saves us time and money. We are also able to tweak and customise Kaizala app with the help of Microsoft(developers) to meet our unique needs”. –
Organizations such as Unilever and M-KOPA Solar have already tried and tested Kaizala in their daily operations. Download Microsoft Kaizala app through your device app store. You can alternatively email KaizalaDev@microsoft.com to get a preview (after NDA and Terms & Conditions) of the developer SDK to build your own extensions to meet your unique needs.
Microsoft hosts Richard Akoto at its 2018 Microsoft Global Education Exchange Summit (E2) conference taking place in Singapore.
You surely have come across the post or image about a teacher who drew Microsoft Word on a chalkboard. No? Really? Not yet? Okay, let’s catch up. Richard Appiah Akoto an ICT junior high school teacher at Betenase Municipal Assembly, Sekyedomase in Kumasi, Ghana shared a post about his challenge teaching the course in his school. This story wouldn’t be any different in other parts of Ghana. But with his passion and love for his students, he decided to do his best.
Richard didn’t think his post would amount to him going viral or getting so much attention he will end up in Singapore. In a conversation with NPR he said he didn’t think it will go that far.
Supporting teachers to enable digital transformation in education is at the core of what we do. We will equip Owura Kwadwo with a device from one of our partners, and access to our MCE program & free professional development resources on https://t.co/dJ6loRUOdg
The post was drawn to Microsoft’s attention and they decided to do something about it. Microsoft promised to equip Richard Akoto also known as Owura Kwadwo, with a device through its local partners. Also giving him access to the Microsoft Certified Educator(MCE) program and other development resources. It is through this MCE program that Microsoft invited Richard to join them at its 2018 Education Exchange conference taking place in Singapore.
BREAKING NEWS:
We’re excited to see Owura Kwadwo Hottish in Singapore attending the Microsoft Global Education Exchange Summit! pic.twitter.com/2msY0msIAQ
Richard Akoto at the 2018 Microsoft Global Education Exchange Summit
Microsoft’s Education packages and solutions are about empowering every student and educator to achieve more. Doing this with the best of Microsoft tips and resources for education. Last year Microsoft launched new education packages that schools and educators can use to transform learning.
At E2 Microsoft Worldwide Education Vice President, Anthony Salcito, welcomed Richard on Stage to share his story. E2 is a Microsoft event that brings together innovative educators from around the world to collaborate, create and share experiences on how to integrate technology, advance learning, and transform education.
Anthony said; “when we saw what he did we were inspired, we thought this is amazing. We said this is an MIE (Microsoft Innovative Educator) in action, why don’t we bring this MIE into our community.”
Speaking to the audience Richard said;
“I never grew up with a computer, I said to myself if i wasn’t able to get the chance to use a computer the students should get a chance.
We were launching Microsoft Word and per the curricular we have to take them through the steps. I wanted to teach them how to launch Microsoft Word but I had no computer to show them. I had to do my best.
So, I decided to draw what the screen looks like on the blackboard with chalk. I drew the features and labeled them correctly so that they would know what-was-what. Then I drew what you would see on your computer screen after launching Word.”
“I have been doing this every time the lesson I’m teaching demands it. I’ve drawn monitors, system units, keyboards, a mouse, a formatting toolbar, a drawing toolbar, and so on. The students were okay with that. They are used to me doing everything on the board for them. When I did this, it was nothing new or strange for them.
Something very positive has come out of this and I am very happy. We are no longer going to use the chalkboard again. We will have computers.”
It takes Skills to be relevant and successful in these times of digital revolution.
In the next few weeks we head for Microsoft Tech Summit Africa event in Cape Town, South Africa. Where there will be a lot to learn and share. We earlier shared on what the event offers and brings.
Microsoft South Africa general manager Zoaib Hoosen shared his views on what Microsoft Tech Summit brings to South Africa.
He said “We are currently experiencing a seismic shift in the industry. Often referred to as the digital revolution or the 4th industrial revolution“.
“For us to be successful in south Africa, to capitalize on the shift, we need skills. Microsoft Tech Summit brings the best in the world to our shores so they can share their learnings and insight.”
Registration is currently opened if you are interested in attending. Visit the registration page and get yourself there for an amazing experience.
We will do well to bring yo updates from the event if you can’t make it. So bookmark this page. Microsoft Tech Summit takes place February 13-14 in Cape Town.
Xbox Game Pass to deliver the ultimate gaming subscription service with exclusive games from Microsoft Studios, available same date global release, and games library expansion.
Microsoft’s Xbox game pass subscription service gives gamers a diverse library of games with monthly prices, and unlimited access to download and play. In the latest announcement by Microsoft’s head of gaming, Phil Spencer; gamers will now have access to Xbox One exclusive games from Microsoft Studios. Halo, Forza, Gears of War, State of Decay 2, Crackdown 3, and others are all going to be available to Xbox game pass holders. There will also be more games from other retailers as they try to expand the games library.
We know our fans value having a variety of games to play at a low monthly price. We’ve also heard from fans that the ability to play new blockbuster games in Xbox Game Pass is important. So we’ve continued to explore new ideas to make this possible. Moving forward, we plan to release all new Xbox One exclusive games from Microsoft Studios into Xbox Game Pass on the same date as their global release.
As part of today’s library expansion, we are also pleased to announce that we are working closely with retail partners, such as GameStop, to offer a 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card for those fans who look for a variety of ways to purchase and enjoy new games and services. The 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card will be available at select retail partners for $59.99 beginning March 20.
With the new model and introductions will this put Xbox over as the preferred gaming console? Gamer do enjoy using your pass? Game pass isn’t available yet in your country? Have a way around it? Let us know your thoughts.
