by Rachel Ogbu

Microsoft YouthSpark, a global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years was launched in Lagos on Saturday, March 16.

A partnership established between Microsoft Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps, Mind The Gap and Future Enterprise Support Scheme, Microsoft is creating a platform for youth to learn leadership and life skills that aim to address youth unemployment caused by lack of skills which is one key factor hindering economic growth in Africa.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Olayinka Oni, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa who represented Jeffrey Avina, Director, Citizenship, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said:

“We believe there’s never been a better time to invest in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. Microsoft sees tremendous potential in the youth of this country, and through YouthSpark and the 4Afrika Initiative, we are committed to being an enabler for this generation by helping them get the skills they need to achieve their goals.”

The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General N.T Okore-Affia who was represented by Isaac Obiwumma, Deputy Director, ICT,NYSC National Director HQ, further charged the corp members to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to be the best in their chosen field. In his words, “Not many organizations create opportunities of this nature, and I urge corp members to take seriously this platform created.”

Tayo Olosunde, principal partner E-Green & Coordinator of Mind the gap career mentoring programme, exclaimed:

“Finally, no more excuse! YouthSpark launch in Nigeria has opened up an authentic platform to mind the gap and leapfrog Nigerian graduates. The overwhelming public declaration of commitment by Microsoft is a strong inspiration for us to go through the miles to move more Corp members from the indifference posture, to an aggressive, discerning and self-driven mentality and attitude.”

Also sharing his views, Chude Jidenowo, Executive Director of The Future Enterprise Support Scheme added, he was proud of Microsoft for identifying what is the most urgent problem facing the continent’s young people – jobs. “We speak often of Africa’s demographic bonus, but unless we tackle the issues of unemployment and employability, that will become a demographic burden,” he said.

David Arkless, Manpower Group’s President of Corporate and Government Affairs, says, “Start-ups and small businesses are the backbone of Africa’s economy, and this learning course will encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap to set up a business venture. We are committed to helping new small businesses get off the ground and provide them with the skills to deal with the rigors of competition and day-to-day business tasks.”

The companywide initiative includes Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and other company programs both new and enhanced which covers empowering youth to imagine and realise their full potential by connecting them
with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.

Also in a few months, Microsoft will roll out its Build Your Business program in Nigeria, a comprehensive and interactive training course designed to support aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs. Microsoft will also launch an
employability portal locally, which Nigerian youth will be able to access to help them find jobs.

YouthSpark is tightly aligned to the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, a new investment in the Continent which was announced in Lagos February 2013, to help Africa improve its global competitiveness. By 2016, the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative plans to help place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands of African youth, bring 1 million African small and medium enterprises online, up-skill 100,000 members of Africa’s existing workforce, and help an additional 100,000 recent graduates develop skills for employability, 75 percent of which Microsoft will help place in jobs. These new commitments through YouthSpark in Nigeria will contribute significantly toward delivering on these goals.

Other YouthSpark programs, all of which are available today in Nigeria, include: Partners Network,Academy, DreamSpark, Imagine Cup, and BizSpark. A full list of Microsoft YouthSpark programs can be found at the YouthSpark Hub.