Posted by By Tayo Ajakaye on
Microsoft Nigeria, which marked its fifth anniversary in grand style in Lagos weekend, has disclosed that it is embarking on a language initiative whereby the basic essentials of Windows are presented in major Nigerian languages of Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.
Microsoft Nigeria, which marked its fifth anniversary in grand style in Lagos weekend, has disclosed that it is embarking on a language initiative whereby the basic essentials of Windows are presented in major Nigerian languages of Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.
In a documentary on the company at the occasion, Microsoft Nigeria said with the initiative, many more Nigerians are expected to be able to use the Microsoft Windows operating system.
The Corporation's vice president, Europe Middle East & Africa, Mr. Ali Faramawy, has also expressed the intention of the corporation to make its Nigeria subsidiary a 100 percent local company.
At the event weekend, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Obi Ezekwesili, ascribed the ascendancy of Nigerian youths in the area of Information Technology to efforts of such companies as Microsoft and the indigenous efforts of companies like Zinox. The efforts of these, she said, were a pointer to the fact that this century belongs to Nigeria.
According to her, the efforts of the private sector operators like Microsoft and Zinox and the contributions of the federal and state governments show that things could work in Nigeria.
In the documentary on the Nigerian company, it was shown that Microsoft asked for one assurance from the President before it could establish its presence in Nigeria. The President assured the IT giant of protection of intellectual property rights within a secure investment plan.
Microsoft therefore came into Nigeria in the year 2000.
Microsoft Country Manager, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe in his speech thanked the President for his assurance which was all the Corporation was waiting for.
Ilukwe disclosed that the Company had grown six times over. With a start-up staff of four, it now had about 25 staff. Microsoft Nigeria is also planning an office for Abuja, where Ilukwe said the Company had to be because a number of things were happening at the federal capital territory.
"It has been a very fruitful partnership with the public sector," Ilukwe declared.
He stated that one of the key lessons he had learnt on the job was that it is not a matter of selling software by of delivering service.
According to him, the statement of the Corporation's vice president Europe Middle East & Africa, Mr. Ali Faramawy to him was that he should make Microsoft Nigeria a local company. That he should have something for everybody. Ilukwe said Microsoft had been good for Nigeria and Nigeria for Microsoft.
In her short remarks at the occasion, Ezekwesili said it was great that Microsoft is five years in Nigeria. According to her, it is a symbol of how the country has come from those years when Nigeria was looked at as a no-investment destination except in oil and gas.
Ezekwesili said that the ascendancy of the youths in the area of Information Technology was because o the of efforts of such companies as Microsoft and the indigenous efforts of companies like Zinox.
She expressed gratitude to Microsoft for bringing up Nigeria from a country that is looked down upon to one that is now being looked up to with hope.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai noted that the vision of Microsoft in Nigerian is becoming a reality. He advised the Company to consider the local manufacture and support of software.
The Chairman of the Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Murray - Bruce said with organisations involved in intellectual property, it is a hard task doing business. For businesses like Microsoft and Silverbird, copyright is important, but unfortunately, the enforcement of copyright laws even when you have the second best law in Africa or in the world, is a problem.
Zinox Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh said for any local operator to achieve global impact, he had to do business with Microsoft, "You don't create a brand without having a global player as partner," he said adding that the game plan is to make Zinox the number 2 in the whole of Africa.
Faramawy who said he was coming to Nigeria for the first time also stated that there are just a few countries that have the potential and the kind of impact that Nigeria has.
He specifically would want Microsoft Nigeria to concentrate efforts on using IT in government and government processes. IT should also be used in educational institutions, in the communities and in the IT industry itself.
Expressing delight at the number of women who are staff members of Microsoft Nigeria and the role they play in the company, Faramawy said, "We want to be truly Nigerian; a100 percent Nigerian company with international roots."
At the ceremony, a special award was given to Nasir el-Rufai in appreciation of his sterling qualities as a Minister and for standing by Microsoft in Abuja. Other award winners were Infographics who won the Best Enterprise Solution Partner award, Omatek Computers who won the Computer Builder Award, Stephen Keshi for being the most successful Super Eagles captain till date and MTN for being the Most Demanding Customer. Tayo Ajakaye of THISDAY also won the IT Reporter of the Year Award. The winner of best IT of the Year Award was voted the best by IT reporters.