How Microsoft plans to scale Africa's home-grown talent
The Managing Director for Microsoft West Africa’s African Development Center, Gafar Lawal, says the newly commissioned center will help to groom talent in West Africa. He joins CNBC Africa to discuss their plans to achieve this.
Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:11:29 GMT
Disclaimer: The following content is generated automatically by a GPT AI and may not be accurate. To verify the details, please watch the video
AI Generated Summary
- The three-pronged vision behind the African Development Center focusing on talent expansion, product innovation, and ecosystem contribution
- The progress made in recruiting engineers and developers, engaging students in technical training, and exceeding recruitment targets
- Africa's strategic importance for Microsoft's business model due to its youthful population and untapped talent potential
Microsoft has set its sights on scaling Africa's home-grown talent through its African Development Center. Gafar Lawal, the Managing Director for Microsoft West Africa's African Development Center, sheds light on the vision behind the project and the progress made so far in achieving its goals. The center aims to address challenges in talent expansion, product innovation, and ecosystem contribution in West Africa. Focusing on three key missions, Microsoft is working towards developing a pool of skilled engineers and developers, nurturing local product ideas with global impact, and upscaling technical talent in the region. With a commitment to invest $100 million in the first five years of the project, Microsoft has already exceeded its initial targets by recruiting over 570 engineers across Africa and engaging close to a thousand developers and students in technical training. Africa's strategic importance lies in its youthful population and untapped potential, making it a prime location for innovation and talent acquisition. Microsoft recognizes the world-class talent present in Africa and aims to leverage it to drive product innovation and technical excellence. As Microsoft continues its journey to empower African talent, the African Development Center stands as a beacon of hope for nurturing the next generation of tech innovators in the region.
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