Microsoft Africa

Introduction

To fully develop the African continent, a large number of countries have chosen to partner with foreign organizations, both public and private, to speed-up the growth of Africa’s technological, entrepreneurial, and educational sectors. One of these many organizations is Microsoft Africa  (Microsoft 4afrika) which is an arm of the multinational tech giant Microsoft Corporation.

The organization has succeeded in building partnerships in Africa to bridge the gaps in infrastructure, connectivity, and capability for innovation.

This article will shed some light on Microsoft Africa and some of her programs that are already scheduled to kick off this 2020.

About Microsoft Africa

Microsoft Africa is an initiative for African development that was founded by Microsoft corporations to develop the technological potentials of African countries till they evolve to become one of the world’s most reliable source of innovative machinery and other products of applied science.

The foundation was launched on the 3rd of April 2013 and has since invested over 75 million USD in increasing internet access via smartphones, educate African web developers, and promote new Africentric technologies.

Their involvement in the development of African nations also extends into other sectors besides technology such as investing in African entrepreneurs, youths, small and medium scale businesses, governments, and markets.

Some of their achievements

Microsoft 4afrika partnered with Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communication alongside Indigo Telecom to reach disadvantaged communities through a solar-powered base station. A short while after, University of the People (UoPeople) struck a partnership with Microsoft 4Afrika to offer scholarships to Africans who wish to attain an associate’s degree in the University.

The organization also created avenues for software and web developers to create better programs, monetize their applications, and also have access to senior developers in several programmes to quickly gain more working experience.

Microsoft 4Afrika branches are currently located in the following African countries:

• Nigeria
• Ghana
• Ethiopia
• Kenya

Amongst their many partnerships, 4Afrika also signed a contract with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to help provide tools, resources and mentorship to entrepreneurs in Nigeria and across Africa.

1. Microsoft 4Afrika scholarships

As expected of an organization founded by a billion-dollar corporation, Microsoft 4afrika contributes to the educational sector of Africa by awarding scholarships to undergraduates, and other eligible candidates.

Here is a quick overview of the two major scholarship program available

Microsoft Interns4Afrika Internship Program

The Microsoft intern4Afrika program will allow young and talented individuals to intern with one of the most dynamic and agile technology organizations on the African continent. The participants will work on real projects for six months with a partner from Microsoft.

Field of Study: The Microsoft 4Afrika internship program is available to only young individuals in the field of technology.

Available internship Positions: Internship positions vary from country to country. Please visit the internship website for more information about the opportunities/positions available in your country

Eligible Nationality: The internship is open to a few developed countries in the African continent, which includes:

• Burkina Faso
• Zambia
• Uganda
• Tunisia
• Tanzania
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Rwanda
• Morocco
• Mauritius
• Kenya
• Ivory Coast
• Ghana

Eligibility/Requirements

• The candidate should be able to stay committed to the internship until the six months are over.
• Must be a student or graduate from an Undergraduate or Postgraduate course from within the last two months.
• The candidate must be equipped with a BA or BSC on Information Technology or any business-related courses.
• Must be a citizen of a country in Africa with a right to work.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the Microsoft 4Afrika program varies from country to country. Please visit the internship/scholarship website for more information about the deadline for your country.

Scholarship value

Alongside the invaluable experience they stand to gain from the program, all the participants will be paid a salary by the partner organization where their internship will take place.

2. University of the People and MICROSOFT 4AFRIKA Scholarship Program

The University of the People and Microsoft 4Afrika have joined together to offer scholarships to students who wish to acquire an Associate’s Degree with UoPeople. This collaboration between UoPeople and Microsoft will enable 1,000 African students to graduate with a world-class degree from the University.

Field of study: Computers & IT

Degrees: Undergraduate/Masters

Eligible Nationality: Individuals from a country within the African continent are welcome to submit their application.

Deadline: The deadline is uncertain because the application period will be open for one or more cycles this year.

Eligibility

• must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be fluent in English
• Must send a copy of certified diploma and academic transcripts
• must have access to a reliable internet connection.

UoPeople Admission requirements

• Must submit both the online and offline application materials to the University
• Must complete the Microsoft 4afrika selection process

For more information on the admission requirements for UoPeople, kindly visit the University’s website to enquire.

Benefits/Value

Selected candidates will be granted a tuition-free admission to study any computer or IT related course at the University of the people.

So there you have it, a brief overview of the Microsoft 4afrika initiative, their purpose, their achievements, and their upcoming scholarship programs.

For more information about Microsoft 4afrika and their other programs and activities, please visit their official website to enquire.