Microsoft and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, parent company of pan-African banking group Ecobank, have committed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support digital transformation efforts across Africa.
The MoU is being positioned to help drive digitisation of processes within specific sectors including bursary disbursements and school fee collections in the education sector; market shop and small vendor municipality collections, vehicle and driving licensing as well as eVisa and ePassport fee collections.
According to a statement from the companies, the agreement also supports the implementation of a comprehensive e-skills and a digital literacy programme. Other key areas such as land registration and fee collections in the municipal and hospital services are all expected to see some tremendous modernisation.
The collaboration ensued from increasing pressure on African cities due to urbanisation and the need to provide services that will ensure a healthier and safer environment, delivered in a fair, open and sustainable manner, the statement continued.
Both companies have agreed to collaborate in sharing best practice and technical guidance to government workers or citizens who will be using the applications regularly.
“At Microsoft, our aim is to help societies digitally transform, from the single consumer to entire government departments,” said Amr Kamel, General Manager, Microsoft. “Any nation properly supported by technology can transform into an intelligent ecosystem, capable of engaging with its citizens, empowering employees and optimising operations to vastly improve lives.”
Ecobank Group CEO Ade Ayeyemi said: “Microsoft is a globally recognised brand. We are delighted to partner with Microsoft to move faster on our digital transformation strategy- the main focus of which is to increase financial inclusion in Africa.”
Source : ITWEBAFRICA
