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Canon Central & North Africa and Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) Celebrate the Graduation of Season 2 of ‘Women Who Empower' Programme in Nigeria

Canon Central & North Africa and Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) Celebrate the Graduation of Season 2 of ‘Women Who Empower' Programme in Nigeria

Al Bawabaa day ago

Canon Central and North Africa (Canon-CNA.com), a leader in imaging solutions, in collaboration with Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), proudly celebrated the graduation of the second season of 'Women Who Empower', — an initiative designed to equip women with practical skills in photography, videography, and printing.The graduation ceremony which took place in Lagos at Hive by Zen, the creative studio of Canon Ambassador and renowned lifestyle photographer Emmanuel Oyeleke, marked another milestone in Canon's mission to empower women in the imaging industry through skill-building, mentorship, and community engagement. Running from April 22 to June 5, 2025, Season 2 offered a holistic training experience built on three core modules: Photography, Printing, and Content Creation. The Canon-led curriculum was delivered by Ambassadors Emmanuel Oyeleke and Daniel Ehimen, a celebrated Nigerian cinematographer and director, through hands-on sessions, portfolio development workshops, and practical experiences — including newly introduced photo and video walks to enhance real-world learning.'As part of our 'Kyosei' philosophy, we believe in nurturing communities through collaboration and shared growth,' said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director, Canon Central and North Africa. 'The success of Season 2 of 'Women Who Empower' reflects Canon's dedication to advancing diversity, education, and empowerment within Africa's creative economy. Seeing these women grow their skills, confidence, and networks affirms the importance of long-term, meaningful partnerships like the one we have with WISCAR.'The closing event featured a vibrant portfolio exhibition where each participant presented their work—ranging from evocative photographs and striking prints to compelling video stories—demonstrating the depth of learning and creativity developed during the program.Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, stated, 'We are proud to see this initiative evolve and grow. Season 2 not only aligned with the International Women's Day theme 'Accelerate Action', but it also translated that message into tangible outcomes. These women now carry forward the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape the future of the imaging and creative sectors in Nigeria.'Two participants received special recognition for their exceptional performance, creativity, and engagement throughout the programme. Their work stood out for its originality, technical proficiency, and storytelling impact.Oluwayemisi Rosemary Onadipe, a visual storyteller and one of the standout participants, said: 'Before this program, I relied solely on natural light to capture images. But through this experience, I gained clarity on how to use artificial lighting to enhance both the quality of my subjects and the final outcome. I also acquired the technical knowledge to use a Canon camera for videography — something I had only ever done with my phone before. The mentorship and hands-on exposure I received through Canon and WISCAR have completely transformed my creative approach. I'm walking away not just with skills, but with a renewed sense of purpose.'Rasaq Adedoyin Muibat an aspiring content creator, added: 'Learning directly from industry leaders like Emmanuel and Daniel was a dream come true. Every session broadened my understanding of the media space, empowered me to do more, be more, and most importantly, drove me closer to my vision as a creative professional and team lead.'The 'Women Who Empower' campaign marked a significant milestone in empowering women in the printing and imaging sectors. As Canon continues to champion diversity and inclusion, initiatives like 'Women Who Empower' demonstrate the power of partnerships in driving positive change. With plans for future collaborations and programs, Canon remains committed to its mission of empowering individuals and communities through innovation and creativity.
Canon which has more than 63% of women occupying leadership roles in the Middle East and Africa HQ, has been championing empowerment initiatives for many years as demonstrated by its various diversity and inclusivity programs.

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Canon Central & North Africa and Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) Celebrate the Graduation of Season 2 of ‘Women Who Empower' Programme in Nigeria
Canon Central & North Africa and Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) Celebrate the Graduation of Season 2 of ‘Women Who Empower' Programme in Nigeria

Al Bawaba

timea day ago

  • Al Bawaba

Canon Central & North Africa and Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) Celebrate the Graduation of Season 2 of ‘Women Who Empower' Programme in Nigeria

Canon Central and North Africa ( a leader in imaging solutions, in collaboration with Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), proudly celebrated the graduation of the second season of 'Women Who Empower', — an initiative designed to equip women with practical skills in photography, videography, and graduation ceremony which took place in Lagos at Hive by Zen, the creative studio of Canon Ambassador and renowned lifestyle photographer Emmanuel Oyeleke, marked another milestone in Canon's mission to empower women in the imaging industry through skill-building, mentorship, and community engagement. Running from April 22 to June 5, 2025, Season 2 offered a holistic training experience built on three core modules: Photography, Printing, and Content Creation. The Canon-led curriculum was delivered by Ambassadors Emmanuel Oyeleke and Daniel Ehimen, a celebrated Nigerian cinematographer and director, through hands-on sessions, portfolio development workshops, and practical experiences — including newly introduced photo and video walks to enhance real-world learning.'As part of our 'Kyosei' philosophy, we believe in nurturing communities through collaboration and shared growth,' said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director, Canon Central and North Africa. 'The success of Season 2 of 'Women Who Empower' reflects Canon's dedication to advancing diversity, education, and empowerment within Africa's creative economy. Seeing these women grow their skills, confidence, and networks affirms the importance of long-term, meaningful partnerships like the one we have with WISCAR.'The closing event featured a vibrant portfolio exhibition where each participant presented their work—ranging from evocative photographs and striking prints to compelling video stories—demonstrating the depth of learning and creativity developed during the Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, stated, 'We are proud to see this initiative evolve and grow. Season 2 not only aligned with the International Women's Day theme 'Accelerate Action', but it also translated that message into tangible outcomes. These women now carry forward the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape the future of the imaging and creative sectors in Nigeria.'Two participants received special recognition for their exceptional performance, creativity, and engagement throughout the programme. Their work stood out for its originality, technical proficiency, and storytelling Rosemary Onadipe, a visual storyteller and one of the standout participants, said: 'Before this program, I relied solely on natural light to capture images. But through this experience, I gained clarity on how to use artificial lighting to enhance both the quality of my subjects and the final outcome. I also acquired the technical knowledge to use a Canon camera for videography — something I had only ever done with my phone before. The mentorship and hands-on exposure I received through Canon and WISCAR have completely transformed my creative approach. I'm walking away not just with skills, but with a renewed sense of purpose.'Rasaq Adedoyin Muibat an aspiring content creator, added: 'Learning directly from industry leaders like Emmanuel and Daniel was a dream come true. Every session broadened my understanding of the media space, empowered me to do more, be more, and most importantly, drove me closer to my vision as a creative professional and team lead.'The 'Women Who Empower' campaign marked a significant milestone in empowering women in the printing and imaging sectors. As Canon continues to champion diversity and inclusion, initiatives like 'Women Who Empower' demonstrate the power of partnerships in driving positive change. With plans for future collaborations and programs, Canon remains committed to its mission of empowering individuals and communities through innovation and creativity. Canon which has more than 63% of women occupying leadership roles in the Middle East and Africa HQ, has been championing empowerment initiatives for many years as demonstrated by its various diversity and inclusivity programs.

Orange Maroc modernizes its network with Ericsson: a strategic partnership for next-generation connectivity
Orange Maroc modernizes its network with Ericsson: a strategic partnership for next-generation connectivity

Al Bawaba

time2 days ago

  • Al Bawaba

Orange Maroc modernizes its network with Ericsson: a strategic partnership for next-generation connectivity

Orange Maroc has taken a major step forward in strengthening its network infrastructure by signing a strategic agreement with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to modernize and expand its core network. This landmark partnership reflects Orange Morocco's commitment to delivering high-performance connectivity, in the lead-up to the launch of 5G, fully aligned with the National Strategy 'Digital Morocco 2030' this collaboration, Orange Maroc will integrate cutting-edge technologies, including Ericsson's dual-mode 5G Core and Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution, specifically designed to support cloud-native 5G applications. This modernization will significantly boost Orange Maroc's network capacity and enhance the customer experience, while allowing the company to build a scalable network architecture in anticipation of the 5G for greater connectivityThrough this strategic partnership, Orange Maroc will introduce the Ericsson Cloud Core Policy Controller, ensuring high scalability, better network resilience along with new business models. The telecommunications operator will also extend its network with additional IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Ericsson Packet Core sites to strengthen Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services and deliver reliable 4G and 5G services, such as the enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), video games, and industrial connectivity modernization also includes improvements to the automation and orchestration of the native cloud-based infrastructure, through strategic software upgrades to Ericsson Network Manager, Orchestrator, and Network IQ Statistics, tools already leveraged by Orange Maroc to monitor its network operations. Hendrik Kasteel, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Maroc, says, "Orange Maroc places innovation and customer satisfaction at the heart of its strategy. This partnership with Ericsson strengthens our commitment to delivering a more powerful and reliable network that meets the growing digital needs of Moroccans. By modernizing our infrastructure, we are accelerating our ability to deploy 5G and support Morocco's digital transformation, fully aligned with the vision of the national strategy 'Digital Morocco 2030.'Majda Lahlou Kassi, President of Ericsson Morocco and Vice President of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, says: "At Ericsson, the success of our customers is at the core of our mission. We are proud to support Orange Maroc in this major transformation, aiming to address fast-changing connectivity needs and provide a robust, scalable and sustainable infrastructure. This project reflects our constant commitment to creating value for our partners while contributing to Morocco's digital development." With more than 20 years of collaboration between Orange Maroc and Ericsson, this new project further strengthens Orange's position as a telecommunications operator committed to network excellence. By anticipating future connectivity needs and investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, Orange Maroc reaffirms its key role in supporting Morocco's economic and social growth through digital innovation.

Private Cloud: A Strategic Enabler — and Mindware's Role in Accelerating Adoption in Middle East and Africa
Private Cloud: A Strategic Enabler — and Mindware's Role in Accelerating Adoption in Middle East and Africa

Al Bawaba

time2 days ago

  • Al Bawaba

Private Cloud: A Strategic Enabler — and Mindware's Role in Accelerating Adoption in Middle East and Africa

As digital transformation accelerates across industries, private cloud has become a vital infrastructure model for organizations seeking the flexibility of cloud computing with the control of on-premises systems. It's especially critical in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, where data sovereignty, compliance, and performance are non-negotiable. Private cloud offers dedicated resources, enhanced security, and customizable configurations — making it ideal for hybrid and multi-cloud strategies. In the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Mindware is a key enabler of this shift, helping partners and customers deploy and scale private cloud environments with confidence. Mindware's Private Cloud Strategy Mindware's private cloud strategy is built around three pillars: ecosystem enablement, platform automation, and regional customization. At the heart of this is the Mindware Cloud Marketplace — a platform that automates provisioning, billing, and management of cloud services across private, public, and hybrid models. It supports white-labelled storefronts for partners and integrates with major hyperscalers, allowing seamless access to cloud-native services and infrastructure. Mindware complements this with a full suite of professional services — including cloud assessments, migration, optimization, and managed services. These services help partners evaluate their current environments, define cloud strategies, and execute seamless transitions to private or hybrid cloud models. Strategic Partnerships with Hyperscalers Mindware has established deep partnerships with the world's leading hyperscalers, enabling it to deliver best-in-class private cloud solutions. As a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), Mindware supports Azure Stack deployments that bring Azure services to customer data centers. It offers enablement programs, licensing support, and technical workshops to help partners build hybrid cloud solutions. Mindware is also an authorized AWS distributor and supports AWS Outposts — a fully managed service that extends AWS infrastructure and services to on-premises locations. The company helps partners achieve AWS Advanced Tier status and provides access to AWS Skill Builder and APN enablement programs. Through its partnership with Google, Mindware enables the deployment of Google Distributed Cloud (Private Cloud), which allows enterprises to run Google Cloud services in disconnected or edge environments. Mindware also supports Anthos-based hybrid cloud architectures. As a regional distributor for Oracle, Mindware supports Oracle Cloud@Customer — a private cloud solution that delivers Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services, including Autonomous Database, directly into customer data centers. Mindware helps partners achieve OCI Specialization and provides co-branded go-to-market support. These partnerships are not just transactional — they are strategic. Mindware works closely with each hyperscaler to align on regional priorities, co-develop enablement tracks, and deliver joint marketing campaigns. Infrastructure Technology Partnerships In addition to hyperscalers, Mindware partners with leading infrastructure vendors to deliver validated private cloud architectures that combine compute, storage, and networking with cloud-native orchestration and security. It distributes Dell's PowerEdge servers and PowerStore storage systems, and plays a key role in promoting Dell APEX — a flexible, as-a-service infrastructure model that enables customers to deploy private cloud with consumption-based pricing. APEX allows businesses to scale infrastructure on demand while maintaining full control over data residency and compliance. Mindware also supports Lenovo's TruScale Infrastructure-as-a-Service platform, which provides on-premises private cloud capabilities with cloud-like flexibility. TruScale enables customers to pay for what they use, while Lenovo manages the infrastructure lifecycle — making it ideal for organizations seeking predictable costs and operational simplicity. In North Africa, Mindware partners with Cisco to deliver private cloud-ready networking and compute solutions. This includes Cisco UCS servers and software-defined networking through Cisco ACI, which supports scalable, policy-driven infrastructure for private cloud environments. These partnerships allow Mindware to offer end-to-end private cloud solutions — from hardware to cloud services — tailored to regional needs and compliance requirements. Value-Added Services and Regional Impact Mindware's role extends beyond distribution. It acts as a strategic orchestrator, aligning vendor capabilities with partner needs and customer outcomes. 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Looking Ahead Private cloud is more than a deployment model — it's a foundation for agility, resilience, and innovation. With its strong vendor relationships, regional presence, and partner-first approach, Mindware is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of private cloud adoption in MEA. Whether through its marketplace automation, hyperscaler integrations, or infrastructure partnerships, Mindware continues to redefine what it means to be a value-added distributor in the cloud era.

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