Microsoft Nigeria, in partnership with Mara Mentor and Fate Foundation, has launched a CloudPreneurs initiative – a cloud start-up academy that seeks to develop and empower start-ups in the country on how to become entrepreneurs using cloud technologies.
The CloudPreneurs initiative will also empower youths with an interest in technology and in the long run, reduce unemployment.
Unveiling the initiative to the media in Lagos, Wemimo Adeniyi, director, Small, Mid-market Solutions and Partners at Microsoft Nigeria, said while 1,000 entrepreneurs will begin the journey, only the top 20 will get mentorship and seed capital.
“The CloudPreneurs initiative will identify and develop start-ups. It will also empower youths that are creative and passionate about technology. It will help to reduce unemployment among Nigerian youths,” she said.
She said the initiative was in line with the company’s 4Afrika initiative’s plan to create over 100,000 jobs in Africa, saying it will also raise the level of awareness and education on cloud technology services in the country.
The project, which commenced on Thursday, March 19, 2015, is targeted at engaging 1,000 entrepreneurs in cloud technology. Applicants can now start online registration on a platform that will shut down after the 1000th qualified application is received.
The initiative will be leveraging on Mara Mentor’s platform, a strategic decision which Olamide Amosu, head of marketing, said was aimed at offering those that were not selected an opportunity to be able to find mentors on the Mara Mentor platform.
“We will be connecting participants to mentors. We are offering mentoring opportunities, and a medium for interaction. We are going all the way with the participants.
“The idea is to have these people on our programme because we are constantly enabling people through our platform. This means even if you don’t make the final cut, you can still get linked to somebody through our platform. Even if you don’t have a business, you can still learn from other people on our platform,” Amosu said.
Fate Foundation on the other hand will be taking part in the selection and interview stages. According to Fate Foundation’s director, Habiba Balogun, the CloudPreneurs initiative has the capability of alleviating poverty and creating wealth.
DAN OJABO
