Microsoft is pushing its efforts to get more and more Nigerian companies on board its service offerings. True to this cause, the software giant held an event in Lagos called Aska4AfrikaStartUp.The event was organized by the Microsoft 4Afrika platform.
Microsoft 4Afrika is a part of the software giant that empowers African youths, business, and civic leaders to turn great ideas into profitable tools for Africans.
@Microsoft 4Afrika programme has invested time and money into the digital transformation of Africa. #Aska4AfrikaStartUp pic.twitter.com/fBoB8HCMV5
— Penzaarville Africa (@Penzaarville) July 24, 2018
@4Afrika has supported these businesses with access to cloud services, and targeted mentoring. And, through partnership with organisations like Prescient Capital, they assess their strategies, finances, and growth plans. #Aska4AfrikaStartup pic.twitter.com/S4UTOKGBXx
— Penzaarville Africa (@Penzaarville) July 24, 2018
Interestingly, the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative is a $75 million project. It aims to increase Internet accessibility via affordable smart devices, educate the next generation of African web developers, and promote new Africentric technologies. The initiative also supports entrepreneurs with funding occasionally.
However, it is not a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme; it has a business side to it. It helps to transform African businesses while also powering them with Microsoft technology. And one of the most important is the Azure cloud services.
Some of the startups @4Afrika is working with includes Riby and Flutterwave, to name a few. They are all startups promoting financial inclusion and participation through their digital payment services. #Aska4AfrikaStartup pic.twitter.com/hsfcg2ei5G
— Penzaarville Africa (@Penzaarville) July 24, 2018
The Aska4AfrikaStartUp event was held in this light. The event was born out of the questions arising about the startups in Nigeria and how Microsoft is supporting them in the country. Microsoft has, indeed, done well to showcase its support for the ecosystem.
https://twitter.com/MissTechyNG/status/1021707150568181761
The event was relatively well-attended, with representatives of Microsoft and a few other Nigerian companies present. Companies like Riby Financial, Flutterwave, and logistics startup, Max.NG graced the event. They were, in fact, the events key panelists.
https://twitter.com/MissTechyNG/status/1021730942237503488?p=v
At the event, FinTech startup, Flutterwave, was represented by Azeez Oluwafemi, Vice President of product engineering; Max.NG, represented by its co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Chinedu Azodoh; and FinTech startup, Riby Financial which was represented by its CEO, Salami Abolore.
@4Afrika has supported these businesses with access to cloud services, and targeted mentoring. And, through partnership with organisations like Prescient Capital, they assess their strategies, finances, and growth plans. #Aska4AfrikaStartup pic.twitter.com/S4UTOKGBXx
— Penzaarville Africa (@Penzaarville) July 24, 2018
Together, these executives took part in an interactive session, detailing the various ways Microsoft supports their businesses. Now, each of these companies uses Microsoft’s services one way or the other. But most essentially, many agree to that they use its cloud services, Microsoft Azure as well as other Office products.
Events like these are key to boosting Microsoft’s reach in Africa. With cloud services becoming increasingly important, Microsoft seeks to get more companies onboard its own service offerings. Amazon currently leads the pack, but Microsoft is quickly gaining ground.
With the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative, Microsoft should be able to gain new customers, while doing some real good.
Here are a few highlights of the event:
#Aska4AfrikaStartup is the engine of Microsoft where they support businesses in Africa and scale them up. pic.twitter.com/tgv9yoPsbq
— Penzaarville Africa (@Penzaarville) July 24, 2018
The #Aska4AfrikaStartUp by @MicrosoftNG starts now with introduction of the attendees and speakers. We can’t wait to hear these amazing stories. pic.twitter.com/C2Pn6o7d1r
— Penzaarville Africa (@Penzaarville) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/MissTechyNG/status/1021710928423870464?s=20
Technext Newsletter
Get the best of Africa’s daily tech to your inbox – first thing every morning.
Join the community now!
