Google to provide grants for 500,000 SMBs, 25,000 teachers

A technology firm, Google, has said that it would help businesses, job seekers, educational institutions and vulnerable populations as they grapple with the “new normal” and begin to rebuild and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis locally and across the continent.

Google’s initiatives will address the need for funding, training and services across identified sectors, including support for 500,000 Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) and 25,000 teachers.

Google Nigeria Country Director, Juliet Ehimuan, who stated this at a webinar with the title: “Economic Recovery: Helping Africa Restart the Economy,” yesterday, said the support includes a partnership with the Nigerian Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Ehimuan said the partnership would provide support for youth-owned SMBs, adding that it would also provide support for job-seekers in Nigeria to help them acquire marketable skills through certification and training programmes, and involve supporting programmes that will enable and improve access to quality education across the region.

On his part, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said the government had planned to create an enabling environment that would promote youth and economic development in Nigeria.

He said the ministry’s partnership with Google in Nigeria was critical at this period and “we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on SMBs’ recovery, enhancing the skills of job-seekers and supporting the education sector.”

Dare noted that one of the abiding lessons of COVID-19 is the importance and dominance of technology.

“This is where our youths play well. This Google partnership comes at time most appropriate to help ratchet up support for our enterprising youths across Nigeria,” he stressed.