by Isi Esene

The President of Microsoft International, Jean-Phillipe Courtois restated his company’s commitment to Nigeria on Thursday at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos while on a visit to the country.

Courtois who hosted a press briefing in the company of General Manager, Microsoft West East and Central Africa, Hennie Loubser; Microsoft Country-Manager Designate, Kabelo Makwane; Marketing and Operations Director, Awawu Olumide-Sojinrin and Mark Ihimoyan, Consumer and Channel Group Director, said the software company is focused on the global device market, a vision which is highlighted by its recent acquisition of phone giant, Nokia.

“We are transiting from a software company to a device company,” he said. “With the acquisition of Nokia nearing completion, we are gearing up to take the leadership in the devices sector both in enterprise and consumer markets.”

Courtois also on the elevation of Nigeria as a standalone operating market in Africa, a proposal which would take effect in July, the company new operating year.

According to Courtois, Microsoft is working assiduously with the Federal Government in the area of agriculture, education, youth development, employability and more. Microsoft’s imprint in the youth employment sector is evident in its launch of the employability portal, Aiki.ng, a platform set to aid young Nigerians in entrepreneurial training, mentoring with industry professionals and more.

“We are supporting a couple of developers in Nigeria, a few of them I am scheduled to meet at the CcHub today. Eighty per cent of the jobs in Nigeria will require some form of digital literacy and the Aiki.ng project will focus on skills which will also need some form of digital literacy,” Courtois explained.

He said the selection of Chude Jideonwo, the managing partner of Red Media Africa and three others, Akaliza Keza Gara, Tayeb Sbihi and Olivia Mukam as members of the 4Afrika Advisory Council underscores Microsoft’s commitment to Nigeria and the continent at large.

“We have a grand ambition in Africa, that informed our decision to recruit key, influential, forward thinking individuals to help us take decisions and get feedback to shape our direction moving forward on the continent,” Courtois stated.

The Microsoft President later took time to meet with young developers at the CcHub, Yaba, Lagos to reiterate his support for innovation and enterprise in the country.