9th March, 2020
Mrs Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, Head, Brand and Reputation, Google Sub Sahara Africa, said the company would train 20,000 women across Africa in 2020 as part of its commitment to African women.
She stated this at a ‘Women Will’ event organised in partnership with Google to mark the 2020 International Women’s Day on Monday in Lagos.
Women Will is a Google initiative to create opportunities for women in Africa.
Aderemi-Makinde said 5,000 women would be trained in 17 cities across Africa, including Abeokuta, Abuja, Ado Ekiti, Ibadan, Yaba, Uyo and five other cities in Nigeria.
She said through the programme, Google would empower the initial 5,000 women with Entrepreneurship, Workplace Readiness, Leadership and Technology Skills, starting with an empowerment drive in March and April.
According to her, another group of 15,000 women would be trained on the continent through community-driven initiatives via Women Will across Sub-saharan Africa.
“On International Women’s Day in 2019, Google announced the launch of Women Will, Google’s initiative to create opportunities for women, in Africa under the Grow with Google umbrella.
“Since then, we have reached more than 10,000 women across eight countries and 26 communities. With 26 chapters across Africa.
“Women Will has helped create access to networks, skills and opportunities for women across the continent,” she said.
Referencing a 2012 World Development Report, she said women accounted for 40 per cent of the global labour force and were more likely to work in less productive sectors than their male counterparts.
Aderemi-Makinde said a similar report by United Nation Women also showed that women were more likely to be unemployed than men.
According to her, based on historical data, 2017 global unemployment rates stood at 5.5 per cent for women relative to 6.2 per cent for men, and this is projected to remain unchanged till 2021.
She said empowering women in the economy and closing gender gaps were key to achieving the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development goals.
Aderemi-Makinde said Google, through the programme, hoped to achieve gender equality, promote full and productive employment and decent work for all and reduce inequalities.
According to her, Google remained committed to providing a platform for women to achieve their potential and to grow.
She said since 2016, Google had trained young people and SMEs in Africa via the Digital Skills for Africa programme to help them find jobs and grow their businesses.
“Our digital skills training has been offered in 29 countries across Africa, with over 60 per cent of trainees having confirmed recording business growth, starting new businesses, finding jobs or growing in their current jobs.
“To date, we have trained more than five million people, 48 per cent are women of which 60 per cent have recorded impacts in their jobs, careers and businesses,” she said.