Microsoft, firm to train 100,000 youths in shoe making

TOWARDS continuing its commitment to empower individuals and organisations to achieve more, technology giant, Microsoft through its Citizenship Program has struck a strategic partnership with leading Nigerian footwear and leather products manufacturing company, Shoe speed and Italian Shoemaker, Scali Shoes to empower 100, 000 Nigerian youths with shoe making skills.

According to Microsoft, the initiative which is designed to help mitigate the country’s unemployment challenge would provide youths with the skills required to unleash their entrepreneurial capacities, thus helping to create jobs for the local economy and lifting many out of poverty.

The leading technology company will upload a Shoe Making Video produced by Microsoft and Shoe speed on Microsoft Aiki portal for a month, where viewers will be trained on how to make shoes. Viewers would be required to make a prototype of the shoe to be able to participate in the campaign. The winners will then be trained by the shoe making experts.

Explaining Microsoft’s motivation for adopting the laudable initiative, Corporate Citizenship Lead, Microsoft Nigeria, Olusola Amusan, said: “Earlier this year, McKinsey and Co estimated youth unemployment in Nigeria at around 50 percent. Our vision at Microsoft Citizenship is to scale the impact of the work that we do around youth and employment – by creating over 100,000 jobs over the next two to three years.’’

Amusan added that International organisations like the United Nations and World Bank have shown strong interest in working with Microsoft to increase the total of young individuals who have skills, so they can have and also create jobs.”