Microsoft, through its 4Afrika Initiative, is supporting over 2000 micro, small and medium-scale enterprises at the SME Clinic 2020 programme by SME by Techpoint.
At its core, Microsoft 4Afrika has supported the digital transformation of startups, SMEs across Africa.
Most recently, it’s entered into partnerships with FirstBank, Vodacom Business Nigeria and MTN Nigeria, to provide their SME customers with access to technology, skills development resources, business networks and an educational platform.
The partnership with SME by Techpoint further outlines 4Afrika’s vision to turn today’s ideas from Africa through the power of technology into solution, and the increasing roles to be played by SMEs.
“In our experience, SMEs are most in need of six things which are essential for their scalability and sustainability: access to finance, access to markets, access to affordable technology, access to information, skills and services,” said Soromfe Uzomah, Head, Strategic Partnerships, Microsoft 4Afrika.
“Together with our partners, we provide SMEs access to all of these, through initiatives such as Microsoft for Startups, MySkills4Afrika, Microsoft Virtual Academy, Biz4Afrika and Interns 4Afrika. On our educational platforms, our training content is tailored to suit the different growth stages of an SME,”
At the SME Clinic, taking place on the 29th February 2020, 4Afrika will support the training of small businesses on the various ways they can automate their business processes and use technology to scale.
About Microsoft 4Afrika
The 4Afrika Initiative is Microsoft’s business and market development engine in Africa. Since launching in 2013, 4Afrika has over the years been very active in Nigeria and across the continent. It aims to unlock and accelerate Africa’s potential to create technology not only for the continent but for the world.
In seven years, the 4Afrika initiative has reached 1.7 million small and medium businesses, supported more than 300 startups, 12 accelerator partnerships, upskilled 108,000 Africans in Microsoft Cloud Society, placed 926 interns with 176 partners with an 85% retention rate, and produced 2,073 graduates from 19 Skills Labs, with an 85% employment rate. The initiative has been recognised by the International Finance Corporation as a best practice example of developing skills in sub-Saharan Africa.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.
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