FG gets Google N1.2bn support to create jobs

On Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima received some Google executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Shettima also praised the N1.2 billion funding offered by the IT behemoth to promote the “Tinubu administration’s one million jobs initiative.”

According to the Vice President, the announcement of the donation was laudable and worthy of imitation by other companies.

“Let’s think outside the box to expand career opportunities.” We must walk the walk. It’s simple to pontificate, but it’s much more difficult to put all of your ideas into action. I want you to know that our government is eager to work with you.

“Nigeria is prepared to do business.” “The President we currently have wants to leave a legacy that Nigerians will be proud of for many years,” the Vice President added.

Shettima remarked of Nigeria’s young population, “We have a unique chance to harness the potential of our massive youth population to create millions of employment in the digital economy.”

“We have more English speakers than many African and other countries.” We missed the agricultural and industrial ages, and now we are in the knowledge-driven post-industrial era. We have the potential and a one-of-a-kind chance to address the expected global talent shortage.

“Access Bank is doing a lot in terms of digital skills, training 1,000 adolescents to provide job prospects.” On this project, we are collaborating with Wema Bank, the Bank of Industry, and other partners. We are willing to collaborate with Google, and we will work closely with you for the benefit of our country,” he continued.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Olumide Balogun, Director, Google West Africa, stated that the business was pleased about the Tinubu-led administration’s aim of creating one million digital employment and was committing over N1.2 billion in grants to assist the programme.

He stated that the plan would teach digital skills to over 20,000 youngsters and women in order to enhance their lives while also allowing multiple firms to thrive and create thousands of employment in the area.

Google Africa’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, Charles Murito, for his part, stated that the business remained committed to investing in digital infrastructure across the continent, emphasising that digital transformation on the continent could be the driver of the targeted technological jobs.

In terms of Africa’s potential, Murito stated that “Google cannot achieve its goals and objectives if it does not cover Nigeria properly.”