Google to Train 1m Africans Via Digifyafrica.com, Offline Platform

Google has rolled out programmes greard towards bridging the digital skills and gaps in Africa with the launch of digifyafrica.com platform.

The global technology giant announced on Tuesday the commitment to train one million young Africans in digital skills in the next year.

In realising this commitment, Google is supporting its partner Livity Africa to run two training programs: ‘Digify Bytes’ to give digital skills to young people looking to develop a digital career; and ‘Digify Pro’, a 3-month immersion program for digital specialists.

These programs have already launched in Nigeria, Kenya & South Africa, and will be scaled to reach more people in the next 12 months.

A group of 65 volunteer Googlers from around the world are helping the Livity team with content development, ‘training the trainers’ and, in some cases, delivering the training sessions.

Additionally, today sees the launch of digifyafrica.com - an online-learning portal that will house a range of digital skills courses, available to anyone in Africa - free. The courses are designed to be as “light” as possible so they don’t eat up valuable data. There are nine training courses already available and Google aims to have 50 available by July.

Speaking on the announcement, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, country manager, Google Nigeria said “The internet is at the heart of economic growth and the Digital Skills Program is aimed at helping more Africans play a part in the digital economy. Everyone can succeed online, start a new business, grow their existing one, or share their passion.”

Ehimuan-Chiazor, defined Digify Africa as a new pathway in education, employment and empowerment, proving that by learning and improving digital skills, “one can increase their chances of becoming employed or starting their own business or freelance career in Africa”.

Supporting the initiative, Mr. Daniel Ikuenobe, delivery unit at the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, said that the gesture falls in line with the current administration’s goal to creating employment for the youths through the internet and other platforms.

He said, “We are very excited about what Google is doing as it is in line with the federal Government’s drive to repositioning the youths, create jobs and reduce poverty in the country. Digital literacy or skills upgrade is a sure way to achieving this goal”.

On his part, Mr. Seyi Ogunseye, head, Hardware and Infrastructure at the Office for National Content on ICT (ONC), said, “ONC sees this initiative as laudable because our mandate is to partner companies in the ecosystem to depend local content and job creation. By the time Nigerians have the pre-requisite skills, they will even leverage that, contributing to the internet economy. So, we congratulate Google on this efforts hoping that the aims will be achieved”.

Digify Africa is a digital training initiative delivered by Livity Africa, with support from Google Sub-Saharan Africa, the Rockefeller Foundation and British Council.

The programme is designed to up-skill the next generation of digital talent in preparation for jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities across the continent.

Launched in South Africa in 2014 (and in Nigeria and Kenya in 2016), Digify Africa consists of Digify Pro and Digify Bytes, two programmes that offer real-world practical learning experiences that are delivered by young digital professionals.