Mr. Will Poole, Microsoft Corporate Vice President

My profound thanks Ms Constantine Obuya, Executive Director of the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology; Louis Otieno, GM, Microsoft East and Southern Africa; Invited Guests; Our Dear Graduates; Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am pleased to join you all today to celebrate the successful completion of the ICT, Entrepreneurship and Life Skills training program. This is a moment that I feel is special and important for all of us. It’s important to the country but perhaps most important to the thousands of women who don’t get to use their abilities to the fullest extent in their areas of work.

It is nice to be among fellow entrepreneurs. I started my career 25 years ago as a software entrepreneur. My wife started her career as a marketing entrepreneur. I am now a corporate executive and she is a successful social entrepreneur. You all are just starting, with a lifetime of opportunity ahead of you. I can sense your motivational spirit and that you are raring to pursue your business ideas after acquiring quality training in the program. It is exciting to see you in that high-spirit that shows you are ready to shape your own world of business. As entrepreneurs, that feeling of being in control is great. Knowing you create something from virtually nothing is powerful-this confidence will have a huge impact on driving your business success.

The importance of women’s enterprise in African economy is often glossed over. Some men still find it difficult to accept that women can have a business brain, that women can have the energy and commitment to develop a successful venture. I know women can. I know all of you can. And I bet you do too!

I pay tribute to all female entrepreneurs, who continue creating wealth and jobs despite all the obstacles placed in their way. Today, we congratulate you for acquiring skills that can nurture your business and grow your workplaces.

Dear Delegates: Microsoft is indeed delighted to embark on a sustained social and economic empowerment programme. With Unlimited Potential, Microsoft is committed to helping all people benefit from information and communications technology that is accessible, affordable, and relevant to their needs. In our initial goal of reaching one billion people by 2015, Microsoft is partnering with governments, industry partners, nongovernmental organizations, educators and academics to enable new avenues of social and economic empowerment for the underserved populations of the world.

With particular emphasis on young people, who represent the future of communities, we have focused our efforts on delivering solutions in areas that include: education transformation, fostering local innovation, and enabling jobs and opportunities.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Perhaps you are by now wondering why Microsoft is keen on Transforming Education as one of its key areas of focus. It is important to note that high-quality education is foundation for success growth. There are many challenges to providing high-quality education. These include a lack of consistent, effective and timely curriculum content; a shortage of trained, qualified teachers; and lack of universal access to learning resources.

You may be aware that in some areas across the world the girl-child and women are still being segregated. Some women are not setting up their own businesses firms owing to occupational segregation-where women are over-represented in certain types of low-paid jobs, and under-represented in other sectors, such as science.

As entrepreneurs you will agree with me that tackling occupational segregation is crucial in raising productivity and reducing the gender pay-gap. Encouraging women into higher-skilled, higher-paid jobs and well paying entrepreneurial ventures would help to reduce the current skill shortages across Africa. This would also ensure that women get the opportunity to reach their potential, the potential we know all graduates here have.

Dear Graduates: Following the successful completion of your training, you now have the opportunity to obtain answers to such questions as, “How can I speak to like-minded women?”, “Who can I speak to about my business idea?”, “Who can help me to start and grow my business?” and “What resources are available to help me on that journey?” As many of you will appreciate being able to get such advice and information from someone who is already running their own business is invaluable, particularly when it is another woman who is acting as a positive role model.

As a leading technology company, Microsoft upholds the belief that we need to effectively share empowerment tools. Today, technology is in demand. It is today that entrepreneurs like yourselves need the skills, and it is today that you can start to make your business successful in the competitive marketplace.

As private sector players, we have also noticed that most governments face challenges to foster appropriate environments for business. Generally most sectors have a challenge to enhance competition and target programmes that would overcome market obstacles.

To address some of these challenges, the Kenyan Government has recognised the private sector players as an engine of economic growth. This is a fact that you need to take to your full advantage. We are aware that the Government has a strong commitment to increasing the number of women starting and growing businesses and to ensuring that Government-funded businesses are accessible and appropriately supported.

We are determined to help maximize the skills in the economy and improve their chances in the labor market. Since ICT is required by everyone in every profession, Microsoft is delighted to partner with ACWICT and the Government to help those in rural set-ups to get closer and do business with people they might never see or know.

In conclusion: Microsoft pledges to uphold this special partnership with industry and government stakeholders. We believe that together we can work harder to make things simpler so that people can do more to realize their individual potential everyday.

For the organizers of this special ceremony, we appreciate and commend your commitment. Congratulations!

Best wishes, and thank you all for your attention!

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