Microsoft kits Nigeria with N140million

Computer giant Microsoft has invested about $1 million
(N140 million) in Nigeria as charity to assist in IT
diffusion in the last 12 months. Generally the
amount is part of the plough-back efforts of the company to its host country.

The money was disbursed on several pet projects
including the upgrading of computer solution
applications, running digital villages, training
centres, and the recently concluded partnership deal
of Partners in Learning (PIL).

Ilukwe spoke in Lagos at a media ceremony that also
marked the official unveiling of some of the company's
plans for the future to set up more IT academies,
student help desk certification programmes, a full
scale Train the Trainer programme. There are also
plans in the offing to form a consortium with ALTEQ to
set up more digital villages. ALTEQ is an Abuja based
IT consulting firm.

Microsoft also recently partnered with partnered Intel
and other stakeholders in inaugurating an association
tagged Computer and Allied products Dealers
Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) in conjunction with
the famous Otigba market, computer village Lagos.
Market watchers saw the move as part of the company's
objectives at addressing the software monster called
piracy that had defiled several past enforcement raids
in Otigba, regarded as Nigeria's hub for business in
computer wares and accessories.

“Our critical success factor is our openness to put up
groups that will work with other partners. We are not
license hunting, we are the world’s leading IT
solutions provider and we only want people to pay for
what they use,” says Ilukwe concerning the company’s
recent battle against proprietary and copy rights
infringements by some organisations.

Ilukwe said the company was fine-tuning plans to
localise its office packages in the country's three
official languages: Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa [see IT
Edge magazine July/August Edition 2004] in a bid to
strengthen commitment to Nigeria. It has already
opened a discussion window with linguistics and
software experts on the project aimed at helping IT
penetration among the country's 120 million people.

Microsoft will be launching its Abuja officially on
14th of December.

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