…says access, innovation, skills devt remain Microsoft focus in Africa

By Emeka Aginam

Admitting that software software piracy is still high around the world despite regulation, the President, Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois, has expressed optimism that cloud services could help curb the problem of piracy.

Courtoiswho stated this yesterday in a press conference in Lagos after he had several meetings with their local partners including the Lagos State Government also told news men that access, innovation, skills development, connectivity remained their major focus in Nigeria and the rest of the African countries.

With the shift to cloud based service, he said that people are going to be using much more secured systems doing their businesses.

Nothing that cloud undermines the very notion of software piracy, he said that Microsoft was building secured infrastructure for their customers around the world.

Although he did not disclose economic loss to software piracy globally, he said that, “Piracy is still high around the world. There is no need to deny the fact. But with the paradyn shift to cloud services, your business activities are secured”, he said.

From left: Chief of Staff, Microsoft International, Casey McGee; President, Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois; and Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane, at the press meeting with President, Microsoft International held yesterday at the Microsoft Office, in Lagos

With the new world of cloud computing, he acknowledged that piracy is a big threat to the consumer. It is the biggest threat that you have,” he said, explaining that pirated software do not have security patches and upgrades associated with a legal copy.

In another development, Philippe Courtois further disclosed that access, skill development and innovation remained Microsoft key focus regarding 4Africa initiative.

It would be recalled that Courtois had in his visit to Nigeria in 2014 disclosed that Microsoft has invested $75 million in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and other African countries in the areas of access, innovation, skills development, youth empowerment; software development; digital curriculum, skills among others.

The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, according to him focuses on three critical areas of development for the continent including world-class skills, access and innovation.

He further explained that Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative is a new effort through which the company has been actively engaging Africa to improve its global competitiveness.

The 4Afrika Initiative is built on the dual beliefs that technology can accelerate growth for Africa

Microsoft, according to him was committed to accelerate capacity building and skills development across the continent through 4Africa initiative. We want to empower African youth, entrepreneurs, developers, and business, he added.

Meanwhile, the President of Microsoft International as part his visit to Nigeria had visited the Lagos State Government to discuss among other things how to use technology to build the state.

Piracy

17/5/2016