Microsoft’s commitment to cloud services adoption in Nigeria has received further boost with the granting of $35,000 grant to the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies to support an independent study on the Gaps in Data Privacy and Security.
However, after an extensive review to receive an endorsement from the European Union’s data protection authorities, Microsoft has assured of its continued effort to ensure strict compliance with the highest data protection and security standards worldwide for cloud services while espousing the socio-economic benefits that the accelerated adoption of cloud services would bring to Nigerian businesses and governmental agencies.
Following the U.S National Security Agency (NSA) Snowden leakage saga where sensitive security information became public knowledge, governments and companies have become wary especially of entrusting private vital information to a third party.
Accordingly, the funding by Microsoft would among others, focus on how concerns on data privacy, security of data, data sovereignty/ localization and management should be approached to ensure that these fundamental apprehensions do not slow down the adoption of cloud services in Nigeria.
For the purpose of the research, the focus, according to Microsoft would basically be on SMB/SME and education sectors considering that cloud computing can potentially enable SMEs significantly boost the nation’s economic growth.
Speaking on the software giant’s commitment to the penetration and development of ICT in the country, the Country Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane said the company has in its 14 years of operation in Nigeria directly and indirectly contributed in no small measure to the Government’s objective of creating jobs and wealth.
“Microsoft’s extensive programs for Academic Institutions via its Partners in Learning (PIL) program under which it also has the Worldwide Education and Innovative Teachers Forum, YouthSpark and programs on eLearning requirements for academia and students have been enabling the digitization of relevant educational content and information and classroom experience on mobile devices and social media leveraging cloud computing”, he said.
Speaking on the research, Kabelo said this independent research which will be publicly available on NIALS’ and Microsoft’s websites amongst others will add to the body of knowledge on Gaps in Data Privacy and Security, the socio-economic benefits of accelerated adoption of cloud services, the potential of cloud computing services to transform and accelerate the growth of SMEs and the Education Sector in Nigeria and ultimately the Nigerian economy. He hopes that this research will additionally promote independent and objective research on key technology and policy issues and trends, public awareness of important IT trends such as cloud computing and related issues and greater understanding of the IT industry.
He also stated that Microsoft and NIALS are excited about this strategic partnership which they both consider a great opportunity for their organisations and one they are keen to further extend. The partnership is important to Microsoft as a thought leader on key technology and policy issues and developments including cloud computing.
Also speaking, Professor Adedeji O. Adekunle, the Director-General (DG) of NIALS stated that the Microsoft-funded research by NIALS will frame the key legal and policy issues that are critical enablers of cloud computing.
This includes the right legal and policy environment to support and mandate improved broadband speeds amongst others to grow cloud services which is critical as low bandwidth and slow connectivity hinder cloud adoption.
He further said that this research would also define and identify the transformation opportunity created by cloud computing including the accelerated rollout of e-government services across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and highlight how cloud computing is being broadly adopted in developed markets.


However, after an extensive review to receive an endorsement from the European Union’s data protection authorities, Microsoft has assured of its continued effort to ensure strict compliance with the highest data protection and security standards worldwide for cloud services while espousing the socio-economic benefits that the accelerated adoption of cloud services would bring to Nigerian businesses and governmental agencies.
Following the U.S National Security Agency (NSA) Snowden leakage saga where sensitive security information became public knowledge, governments and companies have become wary especially of entrusting private vital information to a third party.
Accordingly, the funding by Microsoft would among others, focus on how concerns on data privacy, security of data, data sovereignty/ localization and management should be approached to ensure that these fundamental apprehensions do not slow down the adoption of cloud services in Nigeria.
For the purpose of the research, the focus, according to Microsoft would basically be on SMB/SME and education sectors considering that cloud computing can potentially enable SMEs significantly boost the nation’s economic growth.
Speaking on the software giant’s commitment to the penetration and development of ICT in the country, the Country Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane said the company has in its 14 years of operation in Nigeria directly and indirectly contributed in no small measure to the Government’s objective of creating jobs and wealth.
“Microsoft’s extensive programs for Academic Institutions via its Partners in Learning (PIL) program under which it also has the Worldwide Education and Innovative Teachers Forum, YouthSpark and programs on eLearning requirements for academia and students have been enabling the digitization of relevant educational content and information and classroom experience on mobile devices and social media leveraging cloud computing”, he said.
Speaking on the research, Kabelo said this independent research which will be publicly available on NIALS’ and Microsoft’s websites amongst others will add to the body of knowledge on Gaps in Data Privacy and Security, the socio-economic benefits of accelerated adoption of cloud services, the potential of cloud computing services to transform and accelerate the growth of SMEs and the Education Sector in Nigeria and ultimately the Nigerian economy. He hopes that this research will additionally promote independent and objective research on key technology and policy issues and trends, public awareness of important IT trends such as cloud computing and related issues and greater understanding of the IT industry.
He also stated that Microsoft and NIALS are excited about this strategic partnership which they both consider a great opportunity for their organisations and one they are keen to further extend. The partnership is important to Microsoft as a thought leader on key technology and policy issues and developments including cloud computing.
Also speaking, Professor Adedeji O. Adekunle, the Director-General (DG) of NIALS stated that the Microsoft-funded research by NIALS will frame the key legal and policy issues that are critical enablers of cloud computing.
This includes the right legal and policy environment to support and mandate improved broadband speeds amongst others to grow cloud services which is critical as low bandwidth and slow connectivity hinder cloud adoption.
He further said that this research would also define and identify the transformation opportunity created by cloud computing including the accelerated rollout of e-government services across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and highlight how cloud computing is being broadly adopted in developed markets.
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