Microsoft offers $1Bn cloud subscription, office365 to NGOs & CSGs

Towards increasing the productivity of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups (CSGs), leading technological company, Microsoft is offering $1billion dollar Cloud subscriptions and Office365 to these groups.

The cheering news was delivered at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja by Kabelo Makwane managing director, Microsoft Nigeria represented by Opeyemi Olaniran, premier field engineer manager, at Microsoft at the just concluded Tech4Good program organised by Microsoft Nigeria in partnership with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN).

Speaking through Olusola Amusan, citizenship manager, Microsoft Nigeria, said the global initiative was created to empower nonprofit organizations, especially those whose vision aligns with that of the United Nations.

Amusan said that, “The Tech4Good day is an annual event which was formally known as the NGO Connection Day, it further restates our commitment to providing technology for the social good. Also, Nigerian based Nonprofits have access to the $1billion dollar cloud offering that Microsoft is giving out to nonprofits in the world, and the power of Office365 which helps them to be more efficient and productive in their work.”

Commenting on the program, Gbenga Sesan, executive director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, said that the Tech4Good platform had given PIN the opportunity to further project its interest in technology.

“We are a non-profit social enterprise interested in technology, and this is an opportunity for us to encourage other non-profit to learn more about technology.”

Speaking on the power of social media on the NGOs and its relevance in their communications plan, Olamide Egbayelo, digital media manager, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, advised NGOs to be more strategic.

While helping the NGOs present strengthen their focus, Egbayelo said that, “In determining the role of social media in our communications plan, we need to consider who our target is. Usually my first question to NGOs is: ‘what is your aim as a nonprofit organization? Who are you targeting?’, Some will say they are targeting everybody; that is absolutely impossible, because there are over 7billion people in the world, over 3billion people on social media and over 2billion active people on the social media. You cannot target everybody, but you can target a particular audience to make that much impact.”

She also touched on the power of digital marketing for non-profits, adding that, “Having identified your target audience, you need to come up with a content plan to make your social media messaging deliberate and concise. Also bear in mind that your social media page is your brand, as such as you are not only targeting your, audience but also your donors.”

Microsoft Office 365 for Non-profits is free and accessible by all, it includes all Office offerings Online, 1TB OneDrive Cloud Storage, Email up to 50GB capacity, Skype with HD capability, and Yammer the corporate social network; it gives the amazing Microsoft Office experience and the confidence of a trusted cloud.

With access to the latest Office applications as well as other cloud-based productivity services, all your productivity needs are met.