A new report by Public First has revealed that Google’s tools and services contributed an estimated $1.8 billion to Nigeria’s economy in 2023. The Nigeria Digital Opportunity report, released on Thursday, highlighted how services such as Google Search, Ads, Google Play, YouTube, and Google Cloud significantly boosted the productivity of Nigerian businesses, creators, and workers.

The report noted that Google’s digital skills programs, including its Career Certificates Program, were instrumental in equipping over 1.5 million young Nigerians with new digital skills in 2023 alone. As the country experiences rapid digital development, the report outlined the potential for further growth, especially through advancements in connectivity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI).

A key finding of the study emphasized that every $1 invested in digital technology in Nigeria generates over $8 in economic value. Looking ahead, the report estimated that AI could increase Nigeria’s economy by an additional $15 billion by 2030, with Google’s responsible AI initiatives set to play a pivotal role in this growth.

The report also provided strategic recommendations for policymakers, advocating for cloud-first policies and enhanced digital infrastructure to maximize AI’s potential. It stressed the importance of strengthening STEM education and AI fluency to better prepare Nigeria’s workforce for the future.

Commenting on the report, Olumide Balogun, Google’s Director for West Africa, said, “We’re thrilled to see the positive impact that digital technology is having on Nigeria’s economy. This report underscores the importance of continued investment in digital skills and infrastructure to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s vibrant digital economy.”

Amy Price, Director & Head of Technology Policy at Public First, added, “Nigeria is a digital front-runner in Africa, and tech investment will be a powerful catalyst for further growth and development across the country, especially in connectivity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.”

In 2021, Google announced a $1 billion commitment to accelerate Africa’s digital economy, focusing on improving internet access, supporting local entrepreneurs, and fostering innovation. As part of that initiative, Google’s Equiano fibre-optic cable landed in Nigeria in 2022, connecting West Africa to Europe. The Equiano cable, which has 20 times more network capacity than its predecessor, is expected to increase Nigeria’s internet penetration by 7% by 2025, making internet access faster, more reliable, and affordable.

This investment is also driving Google-funded skills programs that are empowering young Nigerians and entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital economy.

The post Google’s Tools Boost Nigeria’s Economy by $1.8 Billion in 2023 – Report appeared first on Tech Digest News.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), has launched a N100 million AI Fund to support local startups leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for innovative solutions.

The initiative, backed by tech giant Google, aims to foster development, innovation, and well-being in Nigeria by encouraging AI-driven technological advancements.The AI Fund is open to Nigerian-based startups focused on AI solutions with the potential for significant impact.

Selected startups will receive up to N10 million in funding, along with access to Google’s extensive resources, including AI tools, mentorship, and a global network to help them scale their innovations.

To qualify, startups must be headquartered in Nigeria, have at least one Nigerian founder, focus on AI-driven solutions with scalability beyond the local market, and demonstrate early traction and product-market fit with a live product. Applications opened on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and will close on September 25, 2024. Qualified and interested startups can apply here.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, emphasized the significance of the AI Fund: “The AI Fund is a critical step in nurturing homegrown innovation that addresses local challenges and contributes to economic growth. By supporting our startups, we are not only investing in their success but also in the future of Nigeria’s digital economy.”

Dr. Bunmi Ajala, National Coordinator of NCAIR, highlighted the partnership with Google as a reflection of their shared vision for Nigeria’s technological advancement.

“The AI Fund is designed to empower our entrepreneurs with the resources they need to create impactful AI solutions. We are excited to see the transformative innovations that will emerge from this program,” Ajala stated.

Olumide Balogun, Google’s West Africa Director, reiterated the company’s commitment to enhancing digital capabilities across Africa: “Google’s support for the AI Fund is part of our broader mission to enhance digital capabilities across Africa. We are committed to providing Nigerian startups with the tools, mentorship, and resources they need to innovate and succeed on a global stage.”

Google’s involvement in the AI Fund aligns with its broader AI commitments across Africa, reflecting its dedication to fostering technological growth and innovation on the continent.

The post Apply: FG Launches N100 Million AI Fund for Nigerian Startups appeared first on Tech Digest News.

Google’s Hustle Academy has granted a total of N75 million to 15 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Nigeria, along with offering ongoing mentorship and support.

The 15 selected SMBs will benefit from the 75 Million Naira Hustle Academy Fund, providing financial aid, mentorship, and access to essential business tools. These recipients, spanning various industries, showcase the ingenuity of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

In addition to the financial support, 5,300 SMBs successfully completed the Hustle Academy program, highlighting their commitment to enhancing business skills. Since its launch in 2022, over 10,300 entrepreneurs have participated, and the recent graduation ceremony emphasizes the program’s enduring impact.

Tailored to address the unique challenges faced by SMBs in Africa, the Hustle Academy program offers strategic alliances and operational support. This year’s graduation, building on the momentum of last year’s 5,000 graduates, signifies a growing community of businesses dedicated to continuous development and learning.

Commenting on the achievement, Google West Africa Country Director, Olumide Balogun, expressed admiration for the passion and resilience demonstrated by these SMBs.

The Hustle Academy stands as a testament to the transformative power of focused training and resources, not only celebrating the graduation but also recognizing the potential of these businesses to reshape and invigorate the Nigerian business landscape.

The post 15 SMEs owners in Nigeria get N75M from Google’s Hustle Academy appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The Google West Africa presented its new Director for the continent, Mr. Olumide Balogun to the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, as Tech Giant it promised to deepen the collaboration that exists between the two organisations.

Mr. Balogun who led other Google executives to the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters, Abuja, disclosed that the familiarisation visit to NITDA has become imperative because it would restate Google West Africa’s commitments to deepening the partnership.

He said, “I have been at Google for four years, recently now taking over the West Africa Director lead role. And our coming here today is to identify the critical steps that we need to take to jointly actualise the Nigerian President’s initiative to drive 1 million digital jobs because Google cannot thrive in isolation.”

Mr. Balogun revealed that Google have been working on Africa Internet for over eight years. According to him, “In 2015, during our premier developer event, we announced that Google has shifted from being a mobile first company to an AI first company. So, we were quite amused with all the chat GPT conversations.”

While disclosing that Google is currently working on a document that would detail the impact of Artificial Intelligence in Africa which will be launched in University of Johannesburg, South Africa in September, the Director is inviting the NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, to deliver keynote address at the event.

In his remarks, the NITDA boss maintained that he believes that they can create I million digital jobs if they work together to craft a strategy on how to achieve the target.

According to Inuwa, NITDA is positioning Nigeria for accelerated job creation in a digital economy. Saying, “We are looking at the Nigeria Startup Act, which identifies some initiatives such as the talent development that can enable job creation. Nigeria can position itself to bridge the gap because we have youthful population,” he said.

He noted that the government’s responsibility in the ecosystem is to intervene in terms of policies, regulations, and infrastructure where needed, the objectives of any regulation are to help create market, democratize access to services, protect consumers, enhance service delivery, and enable innovation.

“Basically, Regulation can be rule based and non-rule based. Non-rule based is what we advocated for. To allow the ecosystem players to self-regulate themselves, put the standard in place, and we can help to ensure new entrance comply to that standard because what we are after is to have a responsible and ethical views of platforms around the world,” he said.

READ ALSO:Nigeria joins Cisco Country Digital Acceleration programme

Inuwa further disclosed that NITDA is changing people’s mindset about the perspective on government approach to regulation and policy, adding that the Agency is co-creating with the ecosystem in anything it does.

He maintained that Nigeria could position itself to bridge the gap in digital transformation because it has a youthful population. “In 2018, digitally transformed enterprise contributed 18.5% global GDP. It was projected to reach 53.3% this year, that is over 50% of the global GDP. The generative AI is going to add about 7 trillion US dollars,” he said.

While acknowledging that NITDA’s partnership with Google Developers Group has resulted in the training of 150,000 youths in Nigeria, Inuwa noted that, “Presently we have an initiative running here in Abuja at our National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and we want to expand same programme to other states in collaboration with the GDG as well.

“We are looking at how we can build technology development zones in partnership with universities to promote smart manufacturing.”

“Similarly, we are also looking at how to establish the seed investment fund to all the startups to attract investment. Last year, over 626 billion was invested but only 3.5% came to Africa and if you look at our population, we can do more than that; these are some of the ideas we need the stakeholders like you to come work with us on,” he concluded.

The post Google Introduces New West Africa Director to NITDA, Assures more Collaboration appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed his admiration for Google’s N1.2 billion grant, which is aimed at bolstering the President Tinubu administration’s ambitious one million jobs initiative.

During a meeting with Google executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima lauded the announcement of the N1.2 billion grant to support the digital jobs initiative, highlighting its potential to inspire other companies.

“We must think innovatively to generate more employment opportunities. Turning ideas into reality is challenging, and this administration is eager to collaborate with you,” Shettima affirmed.

READ ALSO: NITDA Launches Initiative to Verify NYSC Certificates with Blockchain 

He emphasized Nigeria’s readiness for business and President Tinubu’s dedication to leaving a lasting positive legacy for the nation.

Shettima emphasized that Nigeria’s substantial youth population presents a unique opportunity for the nation to create countless digital sector jobs, citing its large English-speaking populace and its potential to bridge the global talent gap.

“We are actively engaged with partners such as Access Bank and Wema Bank, as well as the Bank of Industry, to empower our youth with digital skills and generate employment.

“We are enthusiastic about collaborating with Google to advance our nation,” Shettima declared.

Mr. Olumide Balogun, the Director of Google, West Africa, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the Tinubu administration’s goal of establishing one million digital jobs. Google pledged over N1.2 billion in grants to support this vision, aiming to equip over 20,000 youths and women with digital skills, empower startups, and foster sector growth.

The post Shettima Praises Google’s N1.2 Billion Grant for Job Creation appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – Google has introduced a new mobile-only feature that makes people more discoverable on Google Search. People Cards allow people to create their presence on Search in the form of a card, which is similar to a Google Search Knowledge Panel that includes all the details they want other people to have about them.

Head of Consumer Apps, sub Saharan Africa at Google, Olumide Balogun, said “whether they’re content creators, business professionals, or just wanting to stand out from the crowd — having an online presence is important. For those without a formal website, or for people who share a name with many others, this is an easy way to create or distinguish their presence on Search.”

Google’s mission has always been to organise information and make it useful and accessible, and we’re now providing a new way – for people who want to be found – to organise information about themselves, right on Search, on their mobile phones,” Balogun added.

Anyone with a Google Account can create a People Card by simply searching for their name and tapping the “add me to Search” prompt. This will lead them through a simple process to add a photo, description, links to social profiles and other information that they’d like others to know about them.

For the initial card creation, a unique phone number is required. One profile card is allowed per Google account and phone number. Additionally, people can report abusive content and impersonation claims through a feedback link directly from the product.

“In the last few years, we have been working with people across the region to better understand how Africans see Search and how we can make it more relevant and work better for the people on the continent,” Balogun further said.

The post Google Unveils New Feature to Allow People Create Online Presence appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – Google today introduced a new mobile-only feature that makes people more discoverable on Google Search.
People Cards allow people to create their presence on Search in the form of a card (similar to a Google Search Knowledge Panel) that includes all the details they want other people to have about them.
“For many people,“ says the Head of Consumer Apps, Sub Saharan Africa at Google, Olumide Balogun, “whether they’re content creators, business professionals, or just wanting to stand out from the crowd — having an online presence is important.

“For those without a formal website, or for people who share a name with many others, this is an easy way to create or distinguish their presence on Search,” he adds. “Google’s mission has always been to organise information and make it useful and accessible, and we’re now providing a new way – for people who want to be found – to organise information about themselves, right on Search, on their mobile phones.”

Anyone with a Google Account can create a People Card by simply searching for their name and tapping the “add me to Search” prompt.

This will lead them through a simple process to add a photo, description, links to social profiles and other information that they’d like others to know about them.

For the initial card creation, a unique phone number is required. One profile card is allowed per Google account and phone number.

Additionally, people can report abusive content and impersonation claims through a feedback link directly from the product.

“In the last few years, we have been working with people across the region to better understand how Africans see Search and how we can make it more relevant and work better for the people on the continent. We built this feature for the millions of influencers, content creators, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, freelancers, or anyone else out there who wants to be discovered,” Olumide continues.

Google has recently introduced several locally relevant features within Search. Job Search Experience, for example, helps people find jobs through Search, while Health Symptom Search makes it easier for users to explore health conditions related to symptoms.

Google has also introduced other features that make it easy to find information on everyday interests like Sports, Recipe, Movies, and Lyrics.

“A critical part of creating for Africa means building in line with the insights we are seeing from the region. We see that people in Africa want a search tool that reflects their real environment and also supports them to succeed as they go about their everyday hustle which is why the People Card creator is in full control of their information at all times; they choose what they would like to make public and if they would like to remove it,” he concludes.

The post Google launches People Cards To Help Africans Who want To Be Found on Google Search appeared first on Tech Digest News.