Google has announced that 5000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa will be receiving free training to help their businesses thrive via the newly launched Hustle Academy.
Teju Abisoye, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen.
Google Hustle Academy is a boot camp-style training program designed to help entrepreneurs and small businesses owners position their businesses for investment opportunities and build viable business models for the future.
The Hustle Academy is a practical educational program with interactive activities and instruction by subject matter experts. It also provides access to a global network of mentors and alumni.
“The Google Hustle Academy Program is a laudable initiative that will help improve business prospects and also create the impact we desire at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. I recommend this program to business owners and SMEs, to improve results and growth in Lagos business ecosystem,” Abisoye said.
According to Abisoye, Business owners will undergo five days of hands-on training and receive 3000 hours of training on fundamental aspects of the business to help them navigate the challenges faced by SMEs in Africa. The training curriculum includes strategic growth sessions including business growth strategy, building digital marketing roadmaps, discovering and evaluating funding routes, and how to pitch for success among other topics.
“SMEs are the engine that drives growth for any economy. In Africa, SMEs account for around 80% of jobs and are a significant source of economic growth. To grow the economy and increase employment, small businesses must have access to the right tools, training, and funding to scale up.
The Hustle Academy’s mission is to assist entrepreneurs to navigate the business challenges they face by providing them with the appropriate tools and knowledge,” says Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, Head of Brand and Reputation, Sub-Saharan Africa.
The program is open to businesses that have been in operation for more than a year, have developed a business strategy and defined their product or service offering, and are aiming to grow. They must also have made a profit in the previous 12 months or be within 1-3 months of breaking even.
Since 2017, Google has been providing digital skills training in Africa, and while there has been a measurable success in growing these skills, SMBs need more hands-on support. A core intent of the Hustle Academy is to support SMBs with the right skills, resources, and access to thrive and grow.
“We hope that through the Hustle Academy training this year, we will be able to assist 5,000 SMEs and entrepreneurs across Africa take their business to the next level and find ways to scale our efforts to help even more businesses going forward,” added Aderemi-Makinde.
Interested and qualified businesses can apply to join the program at g.co/hustleacademy.
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