Have you ever thought about the number of initiatives Google has taken in African countries? From hackathons to accelerators to boot camps. One way or the other, each one of us can attribute a part of our success to Google whether through its initiatives or products like the search engine. It is one of those innovative organizations that never stops reinventing themselves and making themselves useful no matter the generation or trend in vogue.
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Google continues to invest in tech in Africa, encourages research and create safe spaces for people to share ideas, creativity and innovation. As part of its mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, Google is dedicated to improving people’s lives through information and technology.
In their commitment to ensuring more people have access to skills they need to succeed in a digital world, Google has created its first Developers Space in Lagos. The Google Developers Space is a hub for African developers, entrepreneurs, and startups. Previously referred to as the Google Launchpad Space, it is specifically designed to create an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.
Speaking on the space as the next fulfilled goal Google set, Juliet Ehimuan, Country Director at Google Nigeria said:
“This space is the next step to our support for developers across the continent. From our commitment to training 100,000 developers across Africa and the launch of developer merchant support in the Google Play store, making it possible for developers to earn money through apps they build. We are excited to continue our journey with the African startup and developer communities”.
According to CEO, Sundar Pichai, the goal of the Google Developers Space is to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa and the Space serves as a place to house the efforts from the Launchpad Accelerator Africa program in line with a pledge he made in July 2017
The Developer Space is expected to provide the following benefits:
- Give African startups and women in tech the opportunity to come together to discuss the potentiality of technology in Africa;
- Facilitate training and support developer meetups, experts office hours, women in tech, startup programs (outside of Launchpad);
- Partner events that support the wider entrepreneur and developer ecosystem; and
- It would also ensure empowering people through digital skill training.
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The Space
The Google Developer Space is said to be a 120-seating capacity hall with meeting rooms, lounge/café and other facilities open to the tech community.
According to Onajite Emerhor, Launchpad Accelerator Africa’s Head of Operations, the Space will be available for individual use code labs, boot camps, startup-related programs, hackathons, tech events and training, as well as other Google initiatives. For use, individuals and entities are to apply online through a Person of Contact (POC) who is in charge of booking of organization and management of the Space.
Since its inception in 2018, Google has accelerated 47 startups in 17 African countries, in which Nigeria is inclusive. The Google Launchpad Accelerator will continue and kick off in May 2020 at the Developer Space.
On growth and progress, Steve Maraboli said:
“The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.”
– Steve Maraboli
Featured Image Source: Techpoint Africa
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Google has always been there for us in Africa from day zero, most of their innovation has really helped us and make life easier as well