7 Ways Microsoft’s Partnership with Nigeria is a Lifesaver

Microsoft Corporation recently announced that it has partnered with the Nigerian government to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, following a discussion the tech giant had with Nigeria’s vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo in January this year.

This is not the first time Microsoft would support Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. In 2019, the corporation in partnership with IT firm, Tek Experts, created a Customer Support Centre in Lagos, the country’s commercial capital. The centre reportedly employs more than 1,600 people.

The new collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria is expected to create more than 27,000 new digital jobs over the next three years.

Here are 7 benefits of the latest partnership with Nigeria

1. The collaboration will focus on three key areas of development which Microsoft said would help to build strong foundations for a digital economy in Nigeria. These are connectivity, skilling, and digital transformation.

2. Microsoft said each of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones will have access to high-speed internet infrastructure through its digital transformation plan. 

3. Microsoft will upskilling five million people Nigerians over the next three years, with 1,700 trainers expected to provide blended online and in-person training courses to the country’s youth and government workers.

4. The corporation will give the Nigerian Government tools to digitally transform skilling, education, and employment methods to match job seekers with the right employers.

5. Microsoft will collaborate with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, EFCC, to design and implement cloud-based tools to further enable the government’s fight against corruption.

6. It will also apply technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to help identify potential risks, highlight them to reduce corruption.

7. Microsoft will deploy Artificial Intelligence tools to protect Nigeria’s cultural treasures for generations to come. They will do this alongside the National Institute of Cultural Orientation to revive and preserve the country’s three major indigenous languages – Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

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While expressing excitement about the partnership, Microsoft President said he’s more enthusiastic about the preservation of cultural heritage project.

“This is one of my favourite projects that we pursue around the world. It uses the most advanced technology of the 21st century to nurture and keep alive the culture that has been so important for humanity from the centuries past,” Smith said in a statement published on the company’s website.