Microsoft Nigeria in partnership with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) recently  hosted the Microsoft NGO Connection Day Nigeria 2011 in Abuja.

The two day networking and information-sharing event brought together non-profit organisations from across the country to an interactive ICT capacity-building program enabling participants to learn more about Microsoft’s technologies and opportunities for non-profit organisations. Seventy-eight participants representing sixty-five NGOs from various states across the country attended the forum.

“Nigeria’s non-profit institutions play a significant role in Nigeria’s communities as they connect citizens with diverse services that they would otherwise have had no access to,” the  Paradigm Initiative Nigeria’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, said, adding that , “Many of these NGOs work in rural areas or with underserved groups that could benefit by employing the use of ICT tools. Building on Microsoft’s support to NGOs around the world, the Microsoft NGO Connection Day Nigeria 2011 will help fill a huge gap that will improve organizational efficiency while also helping many non-profits save cost. ”

The Microsoft NGO Connection Day featured training sessions and technical demonstrations of Microsoft products such as Windows Live and Internet Explorer 9. There were also sessions on the Microsoft Digital Learning Curriculum and Social Media Tools. During the 2-day workshop, participants had the opportunity discuss technology use in their work, learn more about relevant technology tools and establish a faster online presence that helped make information regarding their services available to a broader audience. Participants came from several states such as Abia, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Delta, and Anambra as well as the FCT.

Emmanuel Onyeje, General Manager Microsoft Anglophone West Africa who spoke at the closing ceremony said, “We know that access to technology alone is not enough. That’s why we’re committed to supporting NGO’s by increasing access to IT services, solutions, and training to help them use technology to expand their reach, improve their services, and accelerate their impact”.

The main highlight of the event was the Tech4Dev Award, an award presented to the NGO that demonstrated the best use of technology in their development work. Twenty-two participants entered for award which saw the White Ribbon Alliance for Nigeria emerge as winner for their proactive use of IT tools for communications, organisation management and internal processes. They were presented with a certificate at the closing ceremony.

An elated Jayne Arinze-Egemonye who represented White Ribbon Alliance for Nigeria at the Workshop said “We are very pleased to be recognised for our use of IT tools in our work. Information technology has made us more efficient and improved our service delivery.”