Google trains 1 million Africans on digital skills

Google has declared that it has reached the 1 million milestone in its Digital Skills programme and committed itself to training of one million Africans on digital skills within a year.

The Country Manager Google Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos, Wednesday, adding that with 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, who are looking to better understand how to take advantage of the web across Africa.

She added that Google would 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,” Ehimuan-Chiazor said.

She said that it was also to give people access to better employment and/or the skills to start their own businesses.

Ms Bunmi Banjo, Growth Engine & Brand Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa said, “Having 1-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.