Google Trains 1Million Africans in Digital Skills In 11 Months

Today, 16th of April 2016, Google announced that it has reached the 1 million milestone in its Digital Skills programme and has set itself to train even more Africans in digital skills in the coming year.

In addition to the new target, Google is extending its commitment to the #digitalSkills4Africa programme by assisting local communities further in several ways. First, Google will provide offline versions of its online training materials to reach individuals and businesses in low access areas where it is unable to hold physical training sessions. Additionally, Google will provide offline versions of the content in languages like Hausa, Swahili and IsiZulu.

“ The Web is a driver of economic growth, and is transforming society as a whole. People must be equipped, through training and re-skilling to make use of the tools, and take advantage of it for entrepreneurship, employment and e-inclusion. A digitally skilled Africa is good for everyone – for our economy, for entrepreneurs and individuals. And yes, good for internet companies like Google ” says Google Nigeria country Manager Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor.

According to her, the goal of the web training initiatives is to enable more people across the continent better understand how to leverage the Web tools for growth – to give them access to better employment and/or the skills to start their own businesses.

“ Having 1 million digitally skilled young people in Africa is good for everyone. If young people have the right skills, they’ll build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent ” says Bunmi Banjo, Growth Engine & Brand Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa.

L – R: Smart Akande, Legal Adviser, Office of SSA to the President on sustainable development goals, Moni Udoh, Director ICT, Ministry of Communication, Bunmi Banjo, Head of Brands and Digital Skills at Google Nigeria, Ife Adebayo, Special Assistant, Innovation & Entrepreneurships, office of the Vice President at the Google Digital Skills for Africa 1M Milestone Announcement that held earler today at The George, Lagos.

L – R: Oluwamayowa Oshidero (Ibadan), Vanessa Morris (Lagos), Tele Williams-Aina (Lagos), Vanessa Mbaramah (Coutonu) , Segun Abodunrin (Lagos), beneficiaries of the Google Digital Skills for Africa Training at the Google Digital Skills for Africa 1M Milestone Announcement that held recently at The George, Lagos.

The Google digital Skills programme offers 89 courses through the online https://digitalskills.withgoogle.com/ portal, and Google works with 14 training partners covering more than 20 countries to offer face to face training.

The programme will also be addressing needs for small business owners, who are looking to better understand how to take advantage of the web across Africa. Google will add web-focused skills training for SMEs across Africa as part of this initiative.