Microsoft pledges support for Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda

01.06.2008

Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, on Friday pledged to support President Umaru Yar'Adua's seven point agenda.

It said the support would be in the area of developing the information technology infrastructure in Nigeria.

The General Manager of the company for Anglophone West Africa, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzokwu made the pledge during a visit to the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr John Odey.

Mba-Uzokwu said ``Microsoft was 100 per cent ready to align with the seven point agenda'', once the country's strategy for education improves in software development and ICT curriculum.

He said since 2000 when Microsoft established its presence in Nigeria, the company had placed emphasis on training and development of the information technology infrastructure in Nigeria.

The general manager gave an upbeat assessment of the "Partners in Learning agreement'' with the Ministry of Education.

Under the agreement, he said, Microsoft was expected to build capacity in the teaching community and train teachers in the area of developing digital literacy curriculum.

"Part of the training involves getting into competition on how to use ICT to deliver content in subjects.

"I am happy to tell you that yesterday in Ghana, A Nigerian emerged tops at the Innovative Teachers Award, which is part of the agreement, '' he said.

In his response, Odey said bringing technology infrastructure to under-serviced areas around Nigeria had remained a major thrust of the ministry.

"For Microsoft to have expressed the same interest is for us is a big opportunity to pull our synergy together,'' he said.

The minister pointed out the benefits of using Microsoft software and learning tools in government ministries, agencies and departments.