Thousands of SMEs across Nigeria and other African countries can now access free training to develop AI and digital skills through the ‘AfCFTA Digital Inclusion & Entrepreneurship Programme,’ launched by Google and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and powered by the Google Hustle Academy.
SMEs generate nearly 80% of jobs across Africa.
The programme aims to address the digital skills gap by providing entrepreneurs with AI-based solutions and training relevant to current market needs.
Since 2022, the Google Hustle Academy has supported over 18,000 SMEs across the continent.
Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said:
“The Programme aligns with the transformative goal of the AfCFTA, particularly outlined in the Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, to position MSMEs, women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural farmers, and other stakeholders as key drivers and beneficiaries of the AfCFTA. It is the demonstration of our commitment to fostering digital inclusion and empowering MSMEs to trade under the AfCFTA using digital technologies.”
The programme will be delivered in English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.
It includes three core modules: Cross-Border Digital Trade, co-created with the AfCFTA Secretariat, which teaches entrepreneurs to navigate markets, adapt products, and manage cross-border payments and logistics; Cloud for Small Businesses, which covers the use of Google Workspace and Google Cloud to improve efficiency and security; and AI for Productivity, which offers practical skills to automate tasks, create marketing content, and analyse customer data using tools such as Google Gemini. UpSkill Universe will manage programme delivery.
The programme is open to SMEs that have been operating for at least six months and are based in selected AfCFTA member states, including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.
Training will begin in November 2025 and run in 25 cohorts until June 2026.
Featured image credit: UpSkill Universe
