Microsoft Donates N11.5 Million to Centre, Six NGOs
Mi c r o s o f t Incorporation, on Tuesday in Abuja presented a cheque of N11.5 million to Bola Ige Information Technology Centre (BIITC) and six NGOs. Presenting the cheque, Hajiya Jummai Umar -- Citizenship Manager for Microsoft Nigeria -- explained that it is to bridge the digital divide and attain a knowledgebased society by 2015.

She said Microsoft launched the third phase of its Unlimited Potential Pragramme grant, aimed at facilitating information technology capacity building in Nigeria. She said the grant would focus on youths in the FCT; North Central; Ajegunle in Lagos; South- West and on windows in the South-East. ``The excellent results of the first two phases of the programme grant have given us the confidence to continue to invest in changing lives across Nigeria's six geo-political zones,'' she said.

Umar said the programme was a Microsoft initiative targeted at delivering relevant, accessible and affordable solutions in three interrelated areas crucial to developing economic opportunity, transforming education and fostering local innovation. She said the programme commenced in 2007, in partnership with BIITC, which was set out to empower Nigerians -- particularly the under-served -- through the acquisition of IT skills to enhance their potentials. She commended the NGOs' commitment towards ensuring that the under-served in their various areas were reached through the programme.

``The personal impact stories of the many beneficiaries of the programme have proved that given the right skills and opportunities, every individual has the potential to contribute positively to their communities,'' Umar said. Also speaking, the Director of BIITC, Mr Manny Emecheta, explained that about 4,000 Nigerians have benefitted from the programme. He said the beneficiaries were the physically challenged, women in shea butter and weaving businesses, unemployed female graduates and women of grassroots awareness and women in seclusion.

Others are women traders and farmers, fishermen and fisherwomen, women in tie and dye business. He added that last year, the centre extended the training to stigmatised women and children of policemen. He said the programme was funded by Microsoft, which released 90,000 dollars in 2007; 60,000 dollars in 2008 and 70,000 dollars for this year, while the centre co-ordinates the implementation. ``It has opened up new windows of opportunity for beneficiaries and enabled them to increase their market scope with exposure to a wider community of people engaged or interested in their skills,'' he said. He commended the organisation for being a good corporate citizen and for its contribution to Nigeria.
Next >>