Tech Collaboration Sparks 'Skills for Business' Initiative for 10,000 African Small and Medium Enterprises, Backed by UpSkill Universe, Google, and HP.
UpSkill Universe Launches Skills for Business Programme to Empower African SMEs
In a bid to support the growth and success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, UpSkill Universe has launched the Skills for Business programme. This new initiative, developed in partnership with Google and HP Inc., aims to equip 10,000 SMEs in Nigeria and South Africa with essential digital and business skills.
The programme is designed to address the challenges faced by SMEs in Africa, such as the rise of AI, fast-evolving customer behavior, and a tough business environment. It focuses on practical, hands-on, action-oriented learning, providing training in key areas like artificial intelligence (AI), digital marketing, and e-commerce. These tools are crucial for SMEs to boost productivity and online growth.
Central to the Skills for Business initiative is access to HP LIFE, the HP Foundation's free global online business skills training platform. This platform is accessible in eight languages, making it accessible to a wide range of SMEs across Africa.
Google is also participating in the programme, bringing valuable expertise in digital strategy and growth tailored for small businesses. Kristy Grant, Head of B2B & Brand Marketing at Google SSA, stated, "Small businesses are a driving force for progress across Africa, and it's important for them to have access to the right skills and tools to grow."
The programme prioritizes inclusivity, aiming for at least 50% of participants to be women-owned businesses. Michele Malejki, Global Head of Social Impact at HP Inc. and Executive Director of the HP Foundation, expressed that the Skills for Business program is about empowering entrepreneurs to access the future of work.
UpSkill Universe will oversee the programme's implementation and coordinate collaboration with key partners. The training will be complemented by expert-led virtual workshops hosted by Google and UpSkill Universe to help SMEs expand their customer reach, enhance operations, and build long-term business success.
The Skills for Business programme underscores how strategic partnerships can accelerate Africa's digital transformation and drive economic growth. HP has been working to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people by 2030, and this programme is a significant step towards that goal. Gori Yahaya, CEO of UpSkill Universe, stated that the programme aims to equip businesses with practical insights, tools, and technologies including AI they need to grow, scale, and succeed.
The Skills for Business programme builds on the prior success of Hustle Academy Business Bootcamp, which had supported over 15,000 SMEs across Africa since 2022. The programme's objectives include directly training 10,000 SMEs and indirectly impacting over 59,000 individuals by the end of 2025.
In summary, the Skills for Business programme is a collaborative, impactful initiative to digitally empower African SMEs, equipping them with critical business tools and knowledge for sustainable growth in the digital economy.
- UpSkill Universe, Google, and HP Inc. have collaborated to launch the Skills for Business programme, aiming to train 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria and South Africa.
- The programme provides practical, action-oriented learning in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital marketing, e-commerce, and personal growth, to help SMEs boost productivity and online growth.
- Access to HP LIFE, the HP Foundation's free global online business skills training platform, is central to the programme, offering training in eight languages for increased inclusivity.
- Google is contributing valuable expertise in digital strategy and growth tailored for small businesses, and has expressed the importance of equipping SMEs with the right skills to grow in Africa's tough business environment.
