Tech Partnership: UpSkill Universe Collaborates with Google and HP to Introduce 'Business Skills' Program for 10,000 African Small and Medium Enterprises.
UpSkill Universe, Google, and HP Inc. Launch Skills for Business Programme in Africa
UpSkill Universe, in partnership with Google and HP Inc., has announced the launch of a new digital and business skills training initiative called the Skills for Business programme. The programme aims to equip 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria and South Africa with essential practical skills to drive business growth and economic development in the digital economy.
The Skills for Business programme is designed to provide entrepreneurs with practical tools and expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital marketing, and e-commerce. It also aims to help SMEs adapt to fast-changing digital landscapes, including the rise of AI and evolving customer behavior, enabling them to grow, scale, and succeed in increasingly competitive markets locally and globally.
The programme prioritizes inclusivity, actively targeting women-led SMEs and broadening access to digital entrepreneurship skills. It will offer over 30 hands-on training modules, covering areas like leveraging AI for productivity, mastering digital marketing, and launching into e-commerce.
The focus areas of the training include unlocking growth with hands-on, practical learning modules in AI, digital marketing, and e-commerce. The training will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining self-paced online courses via HP LIFE (HP’s free global business skills platform) and expert-led virtual workshops co-delivered by Google and UpSkill Universe. The emphasis is on action-driven learning, enabling immediate application of skills to business operations and growth strategies.
HP Inc. and the HP Foundation are committed to driving Africa's digital transformation and economic growth through strategic partnerships like the Skills for Business programme. HP has been working to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people by 2030, and they are proud to back the Skills for Business programme.
Google, on the other hand, is contributing expertise, resources, and delivering virtual workshops alongside UpSkill Universe. Kristy Grant, Head of B2B & Brand Marketing at Google SSA, stated that small businesses are a driving force for progress, and it's crucial for them to have access to the right skills and tools to grow in the digital landscape.
UpSkill Universe will oversee the programme's implementation and coordinate collaboration with key partners. The programme is developed in partnership with Google, HP Inc, and UpSkill Universe.
The Skills for Business programme is a free training initiative, responding to African SMEs’ challenges in navigating complex business environments and the digital skills gap crucial for survival and growth in fast-evolving markets. It is also intended to benefit the broader economy by enhancing the capacity of SMEs, which constitute about 80% of employment in Africa.
The programme is set to directly train 10,000 SMEs and indirectly reach another 59,000 individuals by the end of 2025. It complements past initiatives like the Google Hustle Academy Business Bootcamp, which has supported over 15,000 SMEs across Africa since 2022.
One SME from Lagos shared that the Hustle Academy training reshaped their online customer connection, making a real difference for their business. Gori Yahaya, CEO of UpSkill Universe, stated that the programme aims to provide practical tools for success in the digital economy and access to various courses on HP LIFE. Michele Malejki, Global Head of Social Impact at HP Inc. and Executive Director of the HP Foundation, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the Skills for Business programme in driving Africa's digital transformation and economic growth.
- Through the Skills for Business programme, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa will receive essential training in AI, digital marketing, and e-commerce, aiming to help them adapt to fast-changing digital landscapes and succeed in the digital economy.
- This initiative, a partnership between UpSkill Universe, Google, and HP Inc., prioritizes education-and-self-development, offering over 30 hands-on learning modules, and focuses on technology as a means to drive business growth and economic development in the digital economy.
