Google says it has trained one million Africans across Africa under its Digital Skills Programme in the last 11 months.
The Country Manager Google Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor said this in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday.
“On April 16, 2016, Google committed itself to training of one million Africans on digital skills within a year.
“Today, it confirmed that it has reached its target early, 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 Digital Skills 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,” she said.
Ehimuan-Chiazor said that the Digital Skills programme offered 89 courses through the online https://digitalskills, withgoogle.com/ portal, and Google worked with 14 training partners covering more than 20 countries to offer face to face training.
She said that the programme would also be addressing needs for small business owners looking to better understand how to take advantage of the web across Africa.
According to her, Google will add web-focused skills training for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Africa as part of this initiative.
“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,” Ehimuan-Chiazor said.
The Google country manager said that their goal with this and previous web training initiatives were to enable more people across the continent better understand how to leverage the Web tools for growth.
She said that it was also to give people access to better employment or the skills to start their own businesses.
“A digitally skilled Africa is good for everyone, for our economy, for entrepreneurs and individuals. And yes, good for internet companies like Google,” she said.
Ms Bunmi Banjo, the Growth Engine & Brand Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa said “Having one-million digitally skilled young people in Africa is good for everyone.
“If young people have the right skills, they will build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent.
“As we expand this initiative to reach more local areas across the continent, we hope to see more impact in everyday lives of Africans,” she said. (NAN)
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