Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Microsoft on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to complement African governments’ efforts to modernise and raise the standards of the continent’s major cities through state-of-the-art digital solutions.
The MoU will see the modernisation of sectors that will have the most immediate and significant impact for African countries, according to a statement by the pan African lender.
The sectors include bursary disbursements and school fee collections in the education sector; market shop and small vendor municipality collections, vehicle and driving licensing as well as e-visa and e-passport fee collections.
Ecobank said the agreement also supported the implementation of a comprehensive electronic 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 statement said.
The bank said 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.
“At Microsoft, our aim is to help societies digitally transform, from the single consumer to entire government departments,” the General Manager, Microsoft, Amr Kamel, said.
“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,” he added.
As a means of ensuring the effective modernisation of key areas in government, Microsoft and Ecobank would collaborate in sharing best practice and technical guidance to government workers or citizens who will be using the applications regularly.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank, 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.”
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