Google kicks off digital skills for Africa programme in Aba 

Google Nigeria has announced the launch of the Google Digital Skills for Africa programme in Aba and other local communities in the state.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Eldorado Hotel and Events Centre, Aba.

Google’s Digital Skills for Africa programme offers training courses to help individuals develop and grow digital skills, find jobs and advance in their careers.

The programme provides free online courses, tools, and in-person digital training to students, educators, job seekers and businesses.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics,  the unemployment rate in Nigeria as at December 2017 was 18.8% (16 million people) and under-employment, 21.2%.

“The youth make up 60% of Africa’s unemployed, developing digital entrepreneurship and creating new job opportunities for them is critical to Africa’s transformative growth,” Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, Google’s head, brand and reputation, in sub-Saharan Africa said.

“We’re doing this because we believe that more needs to be done to empower young Africans to succeed in the digital world.”

The Digital Skills for Africa initiative was launched in 2016 with the technology company committing to 1 million young Africans in one year.

Chris Ezem, secretary to the state government who represented the governor at the event, said: “The government of Abia state is excited to have Google introduce the Digital Skills Training to the business community and local manufacturers in Aba, Abia State; that that will drive business expansion, help to increase sales and create employment opportunities in Abia state.

“The world is now a global place as a result of information technology and Abia through the Digital Skills Training by Google will be able to key into the digital narrative, giving Aba, the commercial hub in Nigeria, the needed visibility.”

Onyebuchi Nwigwe, president of the association of tailors and fashion designers in the state, said: “The association is opened to receive the training from Google because they know that as fashion designers and tailors they will be able to properly compete with their counterparts across the world after they have adopted and introduced the digital skills to their business models.”