Google trains 1m Africans in digital skills in 11 months (photos)

Google today announced that it has reached the 1 million milestone in its Digital
Skills programme.

On the 16th of April 2016, the company committed to training 1 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.

The 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.
The Web is a driver of economic
growth, and is transforming society as a whole. People must be equipped, through training and reskilling to make use of the tools, and take advantage of it for entrepreneurship, employment and e-inclusion,” says Google Nigeria country Manager Juliet
Ehimuan-Chiazor.

Our goal with this and previous 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.
A digitally skilled Africa is good for
everyone – for our economy, for
entrepreneurs and individuals. And
yes, good for internet companies like
Google.
“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.
“As we expand this initiative to reach
more local areas across the continent,
we hope to see more impact in
everyday lives of Africans.”
Bunmi Banjo – Head of Brands and Digital
Skills at Google Nigeria
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.
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 recently at The George, Lagos.