Worried by the growing rate of employment across Africa, especially in Nigeria and the widening poverty gap, Microsoft has reinstated its commitment to reduce poverty and employment rate through a platform called cloudprenuer. The organisation has also announced that it would no longer provide support for one of its products- Windows 2003, which was launched in April 2013, beginning from July 14, this year.
Speaking at a media parley in Lagos on Wednseday, Director, Small, Midmarket Solutions and Partners for Microsoft Nigeria Limited, Wemimo Adeniyi said that is was high time to empower the youths and accelerate development, thereby ending employment through the use of technology. She added that the programme, which aligns with the organisation’s aims of harnessing talents and investing in youths who are passionate about technology, would enable young Nigerians to contribute significantly to the economy of the continent.
“The initiative would make a lot of meaning, drive capacity building, elevate standard of living and help entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in the area of technology,” he said. The project, being carried out in partnership with Fate Foundation and Maramentor, is expected to help grow new businesses and existing businesses in its three years. Speaking about the life-end for Windows 2003, Chief Technology Officer for the organisation, Olayinka Oni said that the package is no longer a safe heaven for users.
Oni said that it was normal for the organisation to announce the life-end, since it would no longer provide security, updates, contents and other features for the package. “Things are changing rapidly and we want our users to move to any of our new packages which would guarantee their security, allow them to compete globally, reduce cost and comply with global standard” Oni said.
The firm’s Business Group Director, Cloud Enterprise, Oluyomi Alarape said that there wouldn’t be a shift on the decision of the organisation over the product life-end. “ Users still have till July 14th to migrate and we are doing our best to ensure awareness,” he added.
