Education, ICT, Africa, MENA: Bill Gates recently took the opportunity of the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum Africa 2006 to announce his company’s plan to train 45 million African citizens in ICT over the next four years.

Through education in ICT, Bill Gates hopes that Africa will go on to enjoy considerable economic growth. In this he was joined at the Government Leaders Forum by ex-President Bill Clinton. Both stressed not only the role of educational programmes but also the power of combining ICT with public-private partnerships in empowering Africa and all developing countries. They each foresaw a vibrant and strong future for the continent.

Turning to specifics, Bill Gates identified the type of organisation with which he envisaged Microsoft working: local and global organisations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

In Mr. Clinton’s opinion: "Technology has expanded opportunities of millions of people around the world and - whether expanding access to information, education or healthcare or increasing the collective power of individuals - it has an important role to play in creating a thriving, competitive Africa…The efforts I've seen from Bill Gates and companies like Microsoft, in partnership with governments, NGOs and other private-sector organisations, are helping Africa in its push to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals."