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  • Microsoft Courts Nigeria Digital ID4D

    Microsoft Courts Nigeria Digital ID4D

    American multinational technology company, Microsoft Corporation says it is willing to partner the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project in the areas of capacity development and data protection.

    Microsoft’s Government Affairs Lead, Nonye Ujam disclosed this during a working visit to the Nigeria ID4D project office in Abuja, Wednesday.

    According to a Press Release signed by the Manager, Communications of the Nigeria Digital ID4D, Dr. Walter Duru and made available to newsmen, Ujam lauded the ID4D project for its timely intervention in the areas of data protection and digital identity in Nigeria, expressing the readiness of Microsoft to collaborate with the project to succeed.

    “We are here to ensure that we support you to make things work very well. We are happy with the achievements Nigeria ID4D has recorded in such a short period.”

    “Microsoft Corporation has made a lot of investments and interventions in capacity development and cyber security. Beyond supporting governments in the area of capacity development, Microsoft meets their stakeholders where they are, hand-hold and close identified gaps. As people are working hard to upgrade and update themselves, that is how hard the bad players are working to update their skills. This is why we must take data protection and cyber security very seriously.”

    Responding, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Digital Identification for Development, Musa Odole Solomon expressed the readiness of the project to partner with Microsoft.

    “We are open to collaborating with as many relevant stakeholders as possible to ensure that the project succeeds. We want the capacity of ecosystem implementing partners enhanced.”

    Speaking on data protection in Nigeria, Solomon stressed that “the project is working very hard to ensure that a principal law is in place. We are constrained by time, considering the fact that elections are close. We are battling to ensure that we balance the urgency with quality. It will not just be done quickly, but also done very well. Stakeholders engagement is an ongoing activity and Microsoft is our major stakeholder. We are ready and willing to work with you.”

    “We are happy with your interest in capacity development. We operate an ecosystem model and our implementing partners need to benefit from the capacity building plans. It is one of our deliverables and we are willing to partner with Microsoft to close gaps in capacity.”

    Solomon used the occasion to call on Microsoft Corporation to consider extending support to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and other ecosystem implementing partners.

    The Coordinator used the occasion to invite Microsoft to the second leg of Focus Group Discussion on Nigeria’s Data Protection law, scheduled to hold at Lagos on the 1st of September, 2022.

    Part of the activities lined up for the Lagos engagement is a courtesy call on the leadership of Microsoft Corporation in Nigeria. Conversations will center around data protection, capacity development and other areas of collaboration.

    On the project coordinator’s team that received Ujam were the Internal and external communications Managers of the project, Dr. Walter Duru and Mouktar Adamu.

    The Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project is a Nigerian project, jointly funded by the World Bank, European Investment Bank and French Development Agency.

  • FG Partners Microsoft On Digital Transformation, Project To Create 27,000 Jobs

    FG Partners Microsoft On Digital Transformation, Project To Create 27,000 Jobs

    The Federal Government is partnering with Microsoft Corporation to accelerate Nigeria’s resolve towards a more digital economy.

    This is in line with the Economic Sustainability Plan of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, said a statement by Laolu Akande, the spokesman for the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

    In a dual announcement on Monday by both the government and the tech giant, no less than five million Nigerians would benefit from a digital upskilling programme.

    Locations in each of the six geopolitical zones would also enjoy active internet connection and cloud services courtesy of the digital transformation plan.

    Speaking in a formal video announcement of the partnership with the tech giant, Professor Osinbajo stated that the government was committed to leveraging innovation and technology to bring better outcomes across a wide area of governance concerns.

    “Indeed, it is with this in mind that we have sought constructive partnerships that bridge the knowledge, skills and technology gap that exist in most of our communities,” he said.

    The Vice President added, “This launch is indicative of our commitment to this and will involve collaboration with various government agencies as implementing partners, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian Institute of Cultural Orientation, and various other local partners.

    “We intend that these initiatives become institutions in their own rights and make a real impact in the lives of our citizens going forward.”

    The partnership with the tech giant anchored on connectivity, skilling and digital transformation, followed discussions between both parties led by the Vice President and Microsoft President, Brad Smith, earlier in 2021.

    In January, Professor Osinbajo had a virtual meeting with Smith where discussions covered areas of intersection between technology and governance to enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation.

    On the core areas of the partnership, the Vice President explained that the partnership would focus on two pillars – connectivity and skilling, as well as digital transformation.

    “We plan to connect under-served communities in each of the six geo-political zones with access to internet and cloud services.

    “This project is a critical component of our objective of expanding broadband connectivity, which is by itself, a major pillar of our Economic Sustainability Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

    The Vice President added, “Working with Microsoft, we intend to upskill five million Nigerians through this increased internet access over the next three years in various digital skills which will increase both employability and entrepreneurship.

    “The multiplier effect will bring opportunities in rural and urban areas to many young people and will help us deal with unemployment problems made worse by the pandemic.”

    Using digital tools under the project, the Vice President remarked that the government would pioneer innovative approaches in the fight against corruption – a major priority of the present administration.

    According to him, the government seeks to use cutting edge analytical and case management tools to plug holes in the public sector system and confront white-collar criminality efficiently while leveraging Microsoft’s technology tools.

    “This pillar will also serve a vital social function by using Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence technology and resources to preserve and promote our major languages so we can revitalise these important aspects of our culture.

    “Our focus is, of course, the Nigerian people. With over 80 million regular internet users, there is no question that Nigerians have fully embraced technology, the internet and their various uses,” Professor Osinbajo stated.

    On his part, Smith said Microsoft believed in the future of Nigeria and was excited as a company to add to its investments.

    He noted that the company partnered with Tek experts to create a Customer Support Centre – a centre in Lagos that employed over 1,600 people in 2018.

    The tech company chief explained that they had another opportunity to broaden their investment even more by creating the African Development Centre.

    The centre, according to him, will employ over 200 software developers and engineers by the end of 2021 – people who are creating technology and Microsoft products to serve not only the people of Nigeria but the people of the world.

    “All of these is giving us the kind of confidence to want to invest even more, and one of the things that we have recognised as a company is the need to grow with communities and countries and not just buying for ourselves,” Smith said.

    On the new partnership with the Federal Government, he stated, “We are embarking on a series of broad-based, really multifaceted investments to better serve Nigeria in three areas of internet connectivity, digital skilling, and digital transformation.

    “We will be providing digital skills to five million Nigerians over the next three years, and along the way, creating 27,000 new jobs during the same period.”

  • LASG partners with Microsoft to train 18,000 teachers

    LASG partners with Microsoft to train 18,000 teachers

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education  is to collaborate with ATB Yechsoft Solutions (Microsoft Company) to train 18,000 teachers to boost Secondary Schools in digital literacy  training.

    Mr Kayode Suton, the Ministry Public Affairs Officer, in a statement said that the teachers would receive training during the COVID-19 lockdown beginning from April 27.

    The programme is tagged ” Work- From -Home, Remote Teaching and Learning for Lagos State Secondary School.

    Suton, said that the teachers would reeive digital  training, mentoring, observation, creating and sharing subject specific content, accessing interactive classes from mobile phones and devices.

    He said that the teachers would also have knowledge of diagnosing and understanding learning needs,  challenges, assigning homework, give feedbacks, auto-grade quizzes/tests remotely and internal stakeholders engagement.

    The Commissioner for Eduation, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, said the training would have huge benefits on the overall technology transformation of the school system in the State.

    The Chairman, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, (TESCOM ), Mrs Elizabeth Ariyo, said she was satisfied on the robust course content and its  sustainability on the long-term as part of Microsoft Office Corporate Social Responsibility  ( CSR).

    Ariyo noted that the programme was easily accessible via mobile smartphones, Web browsers and robust platform for up to one million students, teachers and officials.

    She applauded the efforts of Microsoft Office through their representative, ATB Techsoft Solutions, in utilising the stay at home period to equip, train and engage secondary school teachers.

    She said that it would enhance teachers  performances in discharging their duties of imparting knowledge in the younger generations through the use of technology.

    The TESCOM chariman further said it was  in line with the Education and Technology Pillar in the THEMES Agenda of governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration and vision for teaching.