Google is extending its product offering in Nigeria with the launch of new range of products in the country’s commercial capital, Lagos. The products which include, Google Map for Nigeria, Posts with Google, Gboard, Google Street View, Launchpad Accelerator and the YouTube Go, were launched at the Google Nigeria Digital Citizenship summit held in Lagos on Thursday.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of Google, Sundar Pichal (photo), who is on his first visit to the country, explained that the products demonstrate Google’s interest in one of the world’s fastest emerging tech markets. “For people to take advantage of digital opportunities, acquiring the right skills and tools is only part of the equation. Today, we're sharing news about how we're making YouTube, Search and Maps more useful and relevant for Nigerian users,” he said.

According to Pichai, as part of its commitment to Nigeria and Africa, Google has trained over one million Africans in major digital skills and the company is committing over $20 million in the next few years for nonprofit organizations in Africa. The U.S technology giant also plans to provide $3 million in equity-free funding to African entrepreneurs and will train over 100,000 software developers across the continent, with an initial focus on Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. The training sessions will be offered in local languages including Swahili, Hausa and Zulu and 40% of trainees will be women.

“Nigeria needs digital skills training for its youths and Google is focusing on digital skills training in the whole of Africa, to empower Africans to write software codes for their local economies. We have commenced the Google Launchpad Accelerator Space training in other regions of the world where we train technology startups on digital skills and we are starting the Google Launchpad Accelerator Space training in Lagos,” Pichal explained.

Anita Fatunji