Google and the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA Secretariat have launched a new initiative that will equip thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs in Nigeria and across Africa with essential AI and digital skills. The AfCFTA Digital Inclusion Entrepreneurship Programme, delivered through the Google Hustle Academy, is designed to help businesses expand, compete, and trade more effectively across the continent.
SMEs generate nearly 80 of jobs in Africa, yet many still lack the digital capabilities needed to operate efficiently and access wider markets. The new programme aims to close this gap by offering free, action-focused training with AI-powered tools and localized content that reflects current market realities. It also builds on the foundation established by the Google Hustle Academy, which has already supported more than 18,000 SMEs across African countries since 2022.
The initiative directly supports AfCFTA's broader objective of empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as key drivers of the continent's economic integration. It also aligns with efforts to strengthen participation among women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural farmers, and other groups central to Africa's economic transformation.
