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Microsoft kicks off LEAP Engineering Acceleration Program with Ten Female Software Engineers
Ten female Software Engineers from Nigeria have been admitted into Microsoft LEAP Engineering Acceleration Program (LEAP).
Led by the Global Innovation Team at Microsoft (Redmond, USA), and sponsored by Kevin Scott, chief technology officer at Microsoft, LEAP is an immersive 16-week program that provides female individuals with experiences through project management and development courses.
The program combines traditional classroom learning with hands-on engineering projects.
Skills development remains at the heart of Microsoft’s mission to empower everyone to achieve more.
Through a combination of strategic partnerships, trainings, real-world experiences and online classrooms environments, we have been able to provide future skills to those entering the industry and those already in the workforce.
The LEAP finalists were selected at a hackathon hosted in June, where each participant was immersed in a one-week intensive programme comprising two-day classroom work, two-day hacking and the final day for presentation of their solutions.
Now each participant is to receive 4-weeks classroom training on Software Support Engineering and 12-weeks hands-on projects training involving real life scenarios at a partner organization.
During the training period, the participants will also be mentored by the engineering team in Nigeria (Lagos) and Redmond (USA).
“We believe that contributing to human capital development, empowering the youth, and creating opportunities for individuals and organisations will cultivate an environment that allows for growth of the knowledge-based economy,” says Akin Banuso, country manager at Microsoft in Nigeria.
The company says rapid digital transformation across industries has changed the way we work and live, as technological advancements spanning artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning have entered the mainstream – accelerating the journey to transform economies, and ultimately redesigning the future of work.
Following the LEAP program, participants will get an opportunity to take up employment at Tek Experts, a partnering company for the program.
“As a technology company, we are acutely aware of the responsibility we have to ensure all workers have a path to gain relevant skills – no matter where they are in their careers.
“For this reason, we will continue to – in partnership with non-profit organisations, government bodies, learning institutions and other entities – to empower those already in the workforce with the capabilities needed to ensure financial stability, economic prosperity and opportunities for personal growth,” concludes Banuso.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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