Google has included Nigerians in
its plans to get 10 million people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) trained in
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the next five years.
Speaking at the Google for
Nigeria event in Lagos, yesterday Google global Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
Sundar Pichai said the ICT firm wants to do more to support African
entrepreneurs in building successful technology companies and products.
He stated that, “We also want to
invite nonprofits from across the continent to share their ideas for how they
could impact their community and beyond. So we’re launching a Google.org Impact
Challenge in Africa in 2018 to award $5million in grants. Any eligible
non-profit in Africa can apply, and anyone will be able to help select the best
ideas by voting online.”
“We’re giving $2.5 million in
initial grants to the non-profit arms of African start-ups, Gidi Mobile, and
Siyavula, to provide free access to learning for 400,000 low-income students in
South Africa and Nigeria. The grantees will also develop new digital learning
materials that will be free for anyone to use.’’
He further explained that, ‘’the
Google’s global Launch-pad Accelerator programme will provide more than
$3million in equity-free funding, mentorship, working space and access to
expert advisers to more than 60 African start-ups over three years.’’
‘’Intensive three-month programs,
held twice per year, will run out of a new Google Launchpad Space in Lagos–the
programme’s first location outside of the United States.’’
“For people to take advantage of
digital opportunities, acquiring the right skills and tools is only part of the
equation. Online products and services–including ours–also need to work better
in Africa.
‘’Today, we’re sharing news about
how we’re making YouTube, Search and Maps more useful and relevant for Nigerian
users,” he added.
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