Author Archives: Google Africa Blog

YouTubeBlack Africa Creator Week- Supporting and Celebrating African Creators

Back in June, we announced a $100 million fund to center and amplify Black voices and perspectives on YouTube, alongside a commitment to doing better as a platform to protect Black creators, artists and users. Since then, we’ve been doing a lot of work behind-the-scenes to bring these commitments to life because we believe when we center Black and other diverse voices, we reflect back the power of our global community.


As part of this commitment, we are hosting our first virtual Africa Creator Week from Monday 23 - Friday 27 November dedicated to engaging, educating and inspiring African creators on the platform. This region-wide virtual initiative is aimed at demonstrating our growing commitment to creators and artists in the region.


Highlights for the 1-week program include expert-led masterclasses with sessions on content strategy, channel optimisation, monetisation and brand partnerships for creators to learn the tips and tricks to grow their channels and be discovered by an engaged community. Creators will also hear first-hand from top creator, Mark Angel during Creator Talks, a session to spotlight one outstanding creator from the community, sharing their YouTube journey through a casual interview format. We will also host a Creator Panel featuring four creators across verticals to foster peer-driven open conversations, creator collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The Africa Creator Week will conclude with a two-hour virtual celebration event to celebrate African creators and creativity on Friday, November 27 at 5pm GMT. The event will have music performances by Fireboy, Niniola, Reekado Banks, Sauti Sol, Sho Madjozi with dance showcases from Dream Catchers, Ikorodu Bois, Triplet Ghetto Kids. Hosted by YouTube Creator, Akah Bants. The event is opened to everyone and will be live streamed on the Google Africa YouTube channel. Click here for the livestream link and set your reminders!
This week, we’re also celebrating African creators whose channels have reached new milestones. Congratulations to Beauty and style creator, Dodos, makeup and beauty creator Kay Ngonyama and Tech YouTuber Eric Okafor on attaining 100k subscribers and receiving their Silver Creator Awards. These creators and others continue to use YouTube to express themselves and give a voice to Africa’s stories.
Overall, we’ll be building some positive engagement on the vibrancy of the creator ecosystem, and our commitment to black creators in the region.




Posted by Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube



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Celebrating Ghanaian Contemporary Art with Google Arts & Culture

Editor's note: Today we hear from Odile Tevie, Director, Nubuke Foundation. Read about Nubuke Foundation's ongoing partnership with the Google Arts and Culture to showcase Ghanaian art and artists. 

Nubuke Foundation has been an arts community anchor in Accra, Ghana for the past 15 years. The multifacetedness and breadth in our programming is a response to the audiences and creative communities who visit our space in the East Legon of Accra. The audiences are a reflection of the neighborhood; migrant communities, academia, middle income communities with focus on schools and in particular young primary and secondary school children and families.

In order to preserve Ghanaian culture and share it with the world, Nubuke Foundation has partnered with Google Arts & Culture to give a global audience the opportunity to virtually experience contemporary art from Ghana. As the first Ghanaian partner to come onboard on Google Arts & Culture, we are thrilled to share over 270 artworks and 9 online exhibits shining light on Ghanaian contemporary art and artists. Our goal is to continue to fuel the creative communities through our new bespoke gallery space in Accra and now also virtually on Google Arts & Culture.

Family Room (Abusua Asaso), Gideon Appah, 2017

James Town Fishing I, Jonathan Kwegyir Aggrey

The Choir,  Ayimaa-Kankam Marjorie

Menkronso Kwesida (Psalm Sunday), Patrick Tagoe-Turkson

 

We first partnered with Google Arts & Culture in 2015, collaborating on the 89plus Residency Program at Google Arts & Culture Lab. Twenty one artists participated in a workshop at the foundation and explored the synergies of technology and art. After the workshop, artist Elisabeth Efua Sutherland was invited in residence at the Google Arts & Culture Lab in Paris, where she presented a performance involving virtual reality, sculptures, dance and developed a performance based on an ancient Akan mythological character from Ghana involving virtual reality, sculptures, dance and sound

From today, you can explore what makes Ghanaian contemporary art so unique from the comfort of your home. Start by discovering the archives of one of Ghana's pioneering photographers James Barnor who covered the declaration of Ghana’s independence at the Old Polo Grounds in Accra, among other important national assignments. See how artist Musah Yussif experienced the COVID-19 lockdown and zoom into the details of his portrait series titled The Saints.’ Delve into Winfred Nana Amoah’s mixed-media portraits of women from his hometown of Hohoe as well as portraits of waste collectors from Accra’s Nima through the collage figurations of artist Rufai Zakari. Learn more about our Young Ghanaian Artist Programme through the artworks of Gideon Appah, Eric Gyamfi and Kwame Asante Agyare. Or visit the coast of Ghana through the paintings of Jonathan Kwegyir Aggrey.


As we embark on this new virtual chapter, we look forward to sharing stories from Ghana’s contemporary art scene and engaging with new creative communities. Art is a celebration of life and a snapshot into our shared history, heritage and identity. We hope you will enjoy exploring our collection on Google Arts & Culture.



Author: Odile Tevie, Director, Nubuke Foundation
Nubuke Foundation is the first Ghanaian partner on the Google Arts & Culture.

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The opportunity for “Digital Sprinters”

People around the world are confronting once-in-a-generation challenges: a global pandemic, an economic downturn of unprecedented proportions, rising demands for equity, and dramatic strains on financial resources.

The rain from this perfect storm is falling hardest on emerging markets. In many cases, they’re struggling to manage the pandemic with fewer public health resources and also suffer from greater economic vulnerabilities. Yet emerging markets also have some of the most vibrant economies and greatest entrepreneurial energy in the world. With the right policy frameworks, they can become ideal launching pads for future innovation. This challenging moment may be exactly the right time for these economies to pursue ambitious digital transformation, using their immediate recovery efforts to develop sustainable economic gains.

Nearly a third of U.S. small business owners are using digital tools to save their business during the COVID-19 crisis. In emerging markets too, digital technologies are often providing a lifeline: a plus-size clothes designer in Manaus, Brazil, a musical instruments maker in Istanbul, Turkey and an owner of a guest house in Durban, South Africa have all been able to survive by using digital technologies and online commerce.



Becoming “Digital Sprinters”
We call these emerging economies “Digital Sprinters” because, by becoming more digital, they have the potential to sprint ahead toward economic development. Based on our experiences, we believe governments and the private sector should focus on four key areas, as detailed in a report we're releasing today:



  • Physical capital: this is about digital connectivity and infrastructure. It’s not just about investment but also how infrastructure is managed.
  • Human capital: countries need a comprehensive approach to worker training, economic security, entrepreneurship, and combating discrimination.
  • Technology: increasing the use of data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, which empower the growth of next-generation technologies and unlock future growth. This means new opportunities alongside new questions about how best to harness these technologies.
  • Competitiveness: policies that promote competitive and open markets, interoperable regulatory standards, and tax regimes that are predictable and based on international standards.

Our recommendations reflect just one perspective on public policy frameworks for digital transformation. We hope that the report will help advance conversations about digitally-driven growth among governments, civil society, international organizations, academic institutions and entrepreneurs.

Potential economic gains
The economic potential from digital transformation is huge. A new study finds that, by 2030, digital transformation could generate as much $3.4 trillion of economic value in these Digital Sprinter markets. At a country level this translates to 25 percent of GDP in Brazil, 31 percent in Saudi Arabia and 33 percent in Nigeria, to name a few examples.


Emerging markets face a watershed moment today. As COVID-19 is disrupting world order and breaking supply chains, emerging markets have an opportunity to transform and emerge as stronger players. We hope these reports published today can play a part in helping decision-makers take advantage of these opportunities.



Posted by Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs.

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e-Conomy Africa 2020: Understanding Africa’s $180B internet economy future


Genetic scientists study human DNA to better understand medical conditions and how to treat diseases. But their research is often based on samples that don’t actually reflect the world’s population. Around 80 percent of the human DNA used in genetic studies is from people of European descent. This means that researchers are often unable to study and address conditions that affect global ethnicities.

In January 2019, Abasi Ene-Obong, a young tech engineer from Nigeria, founded 54gene with the aim of making gene studies more representative by increasing access to African genomic data—which currently accounts for less than 3 percent of all genetic data sets. After securing two rounds of funding, 54gene has gone on to complete a fully resourced biobank in Lagos, crucial to support academic research, drug development, and disease detection.

Ene-Obong’s story is just one example of how talented African entrepreneurs are creating new opportunities across the continent. As a new report from Google and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) shows, the startup ecosystem is helping drive Africa’s internet economy towards a projected value of $180 billion by 2025, or 5.2 percent of the continent’s GDP.

We collaborated on the report—titled ”e-Conomy Africa 2020: Africa’s $180 billion internet economy future”—to highlight the strengths and challenges of the internet economy today, and to better understand where it might go in the future. Here are some other things we learned.





Startups in Africa are progressing and reaching new milestones
According to Partech Ventures Africa, African tech startups reached a new milestone in 2019 with $2.02 billion of equity funding raised. That’s 74 percent more than in 2018, and represents an average deal size of $8.08 million.

At the forefront of the internet economy’s growth are startups in sectors like financial technology (fintech), e-commerce, health, e-logistics, e-mobility and food delivery. Fintech leads the way in terms of funding, receiving 54 percent of all African startup investment in 2019. This indicates high investor trust, which is significant given the sector’s important role serving unbanked and financially excluded Africans.

One example is the Nigerian digital payments and commerce platform Interswitch, which received $200 million in equity funding from Visa in 2019, as well an IFC investment of $10.5 million. These investments came at a time of big growth for the electronics payment market, and, as a result, Interswitch has helped transform the infrastructure of Nigeria’s banking system, while extending its services to 23 other countries.

E-commerce startups have also shown strong growth, thanks to improved digital payment services and a rise in mobile technology and payment channels. In 2019, e-commerce accounted for $134 million in funding across 30 deals--a 36 percent increase in the number of deals compared with 2018. With COVID-19-mandated lockdowns in countries across the continent, consumers have quickly gotten much more used to e-commerce, and their new online shopping behavior may well extend beyond the pandemic.




Young developer talent is shaping the future
The African developer scene boasts 700,000 professional software developers, many of them trained through university programs, others self-taught.

There’s an enormous amount of talent, but these developers need help to find jobs and take their ideas forward.

Coding classes, like those offered by Google, Decagon, Gebeya and others, are helping close knowledge and skills gaps, while professional communities continue to grow. There are more than 160 active Google Developer Groups and 200 Developer Student Clubs in Sub-Saharan Africa, offering training and support to help developers meet job requirements. And since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program has worked with 47 startups from 17 African countries—helping them develop products and build successful companies and products. One of the 2016 global accelerator graduates, Nigerian fintech startup Paystack, was recently acquired by Stripe for over $200 million.

IFC is also playing its part to advance digital skills development, making investments in regional startups and accelerators that cultivate tech talent. Gebeya—a company IFC supports in Ethiopia—has trained over 500 young software developers, most of whom are women, and is providing seed funding to 30 graduates to pursue their own digital ventures. IFC investee Flat6Labs is fostering tech entrepreneurship (and women entrepreneurs in particular) by directing early stage funding to startups in both Egypt and Tunisia.

Whether it's helping startups grow, training developers or providing tools for small businesses, both Google and IFC are committing to bringing the benefits of technology to millions more people across this extraordinary continent. We invite you to read the report and learn more about the opportunities unfolding throughout Africa’s thriving internet economy.





Posted by Nitin Gajria, Regional Director, Sub-saharan Africa, Google Africa and Sérgio Pimenta, Vice President, Middle East & Africa, IFC


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Cybersecurity Month: Providing helpful resources for parents, teachers & students to navigate the digital world

The Cyber Security Awareness Month is observed in October across the world annually and was created to ensure that every individual stays safe and secure online. According to UNICEF, millions of children are at a heightened risk of online threats as learning and daily activities move increasingly online during lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.


As part of our commitment to help kids and families stay safe online, especially during this period, we’re excited to announce a few initiatives happening this month.







Online Safety Webinars for Parents and Families
The online safety webinars are designed to help parents learn about helpful and find digital wellbeing tips to navigate the online world with their kids safely . The training content covers tips for setting digital ground rules for the family, helpful resources for discovering and managing family friendly content, and protecting simple solutions for protecting the family´s online privacy and security. Parents can also find quick links to learn about safety tools like Family Link, Youtube Kids, & Digital wellbeing.   To register for the webinars across SSA, please visit goo.gle/onlinesafety


Localizing Online Safety Awareness through fun and informative Story Books
In continuation of our work to make it simpler for children to learn how to be safe while online, we have partnered with children's author, Nomthi Odukoya to create an online safety story book, titled How to be Safe Online, for families with children aged 10 to 16 years old.
This book simplifies the basics of digital citizenship and safety so children can explore the online world with confidence. Children can learn important safety tips including tips on how to communicate effectively online, tips on how to spot scams and phishers, how to safeguard valuable personal information, how to spread positivity online, tips for disempowering cyberbullying, and how children can to escalate to a trusted adult when they face difficulties online.

The stories have also been adapted to local Kenyan, Nigerian and South African names, to make it easier for kids to relate with the story better. We are working with educational partners to share free copies across Sub Saharan Africa to families and institutions with kids aged between 10 and 16 years old.

We invite you to download the e- version for advanced readers aged 8 and above on the Read Along app. Download the read along app to get started


Scaling the Online Safety Learning in Schools
On the heels of the launch of our online safety education curriculum in Nigeria, we are pleased to announce new plans, in partnership with the South African Western Cape Education Department to launch an online safety curriculum guideline for grades 8 to 12. The guidelines which will be integrated into the Life Orientation subject will be announced at a virtual event today, 21st of October, 2020. We invite you to register to attend here.

More than ever before, the need to help more people understand and practice online safety practices is crucial especially for families with children, who have been learning either virtually or through a hybrid of in person and virtual training. We understand this, and remain committed to building, developing and investing in tools and projects to help families stay safe.

To learn more about our resources to keep you and your family safe, please visit the Google Safety Center.




Posted by Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, Head, Brand & Reputation, Sub-Saharan Africa

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Mashujaa: Celebrate the communities of Kenya with Google Arts & Culture

Editor's note: Today we hear from Ambassador Dr Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, Republic of Kenya



Today in Kenya we’re celebrating Mashujaa Day, or National Heroes Day, and honoring the remarkable people who have shaped our nation. We are shining the spotlight on a pantheon of cultural and folk heroes, and how their superpowers continue to be the strength and heartbeat of not only the communities from which they came, but all of Kenya. We need days like these to remind us how our shared heritage and our diversity unites us as people, and it is therefore with great pride that I unveil the second chapter of the online project Utamaduni Wetu: Meet the People of Kenya, created in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya, Google Arts & Culture and the creative agency Shujaa Stories.



Originally launched in 2019, Utamaduni Wetu: Meet the People of Kenya is Google’s most ambitious digitization project to date in Africa, and one of the first digital content features on the subject of Kenyan communities. Everyone can now explore over 10,600 high-resolution photographs, 170 expert-curated exhibits, 80 Street Views of 16 sites and learn more about the intangible heritage and stories of the country’s 44 communities officially registered by the government. The exhibits shine light on the regions, history, traditions, morals, worldview and wisdom of Kenya’s communities, some of whose stories—usually passed on through oral history—have been written down and shared online for the first time.





Today, on Mashujaa Day, I am delighted to announce that we now have at least one superhero for each of our 44 communities, and I invite you to explore their stories on Google Arts & Culture. Originally conceived by the late Masidza Sande Galavu and Jeff Muchina of Shujaa Stories, the first 21 heroes were unveiled at an exhibition at the National Museums of Kenya and online as part of Utamaduni Wetu: Meet the People of Kenya. Now, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia, the Director General of the National Museums of Kenya, a dedicated team of researchers, curators, academics and young creatives has worked to bring 40 more stories to life. They have travelled far to get first-hand knowledge of the communities and passionately researched, documented and illustrated a total of 61 heroes spanning cultures, generations, gender and geography.


The government’s collaboration with Google Arts & Culture has democratised access to Kenya’s rich heritage and enabled more people to discover our culture and human connections in new, exciting and interactive ways. It has also encouraged real-life visits to the country’s museums, monuments and heritage sites.


I encourage you to read each of the stories, and be inspired by the achievements and bravery of each superhero. They are a celebration of the values and the heritage of the peoples of Kenya and of our unity in diversity. I would like to echo the words of the great author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who said, "The peoples of Kenya have an incredible richness of history and culture. Learning from what we already have, from all the communities, is the way into the world."


Posted by Ambassador Dr Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, Republic of Kenya



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Mashujaa : Les communautés kenyanes à l’honneur grâce à Google Arts & Culture


Aujourd’hui, au Kenya, nous célébrons Mashujaa Day, la Journée nationale des Héros, l’occasion de rendre hommage aux personnalités d’exception qui ont façonné notre nation. Gros plan sur un panthéon de héros issus du monde de la culture classique et populaire, pour montrer comment, par leurs super-pouvoirs, ils continuent d’incarner la force et le cœur non seulement des communautés dont ils sont originaires, mais de l’ensemble du pays. Nous avons besoin de jours comme celui-ci pour nous rappeler que notre patrimoine commun et notre diversité font de nous un peuple, et c’est donc avec une grande fierté que je dévoile le deuxième chapitre du projet en ligne Utamaduni Wetu : À la rencontre du peuple kényan, créé en collaboration avec les musées nationaux du Kenya, Google Arts et culture et Shujaa Stories.


Initialement lancé en 2019, Utamaduni Wetu : À la rencontre du peuple Kényan est le projet de numérisation de Google le plus ambitieux à ce jour en Afrique, et l’un des premiers à proposer des contenus numériques sur le thème des communautés kényanes. Chacun peut désormais découvrir plus de 10 500 photographies en haute résolution, 129 expositions organisées par des experts et 80 Street Views de 16 sites et en savoir plus sur le patrimoine immatériel et l'histoire des 44 communautés que compte officiellement ce pays. Les expositions mettent en lumière les régions, l’histoire, les traditions, la morale, la vision du monde et la sagesse des communautés du Kenya, dont certains récits, généralement transmis oralement, ont été transcrits et mis à disposition en ligne pour la première fois.


Aujourd’hui, en cette Journée de Mashujaa, je suis ravi d’annoncer que nous avons désormais au moins un super-héros pour chacune de nos 44 communautés, et je vous invite à découvrir leurs portraits sur Google Arts et culture. Conçus à l’origine par feu Masidza Sande Galavu et Jeff Muchina de l’agence de création Shujaa Stories, un groupe de jeunes designers et écrivains qui ont créé les animations de super-héros, les 21 premiers héros ont été dévoilés lors d’une exposition dans les Musées nationaux du Kenya et en ligne dans le cadre du projet Utamaduni Wetu : À la rencontre du peuple Kényan. Aujourd’hui, sous la direction du Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia, directeur général des musées nationaux du Kenya, une équipe motivée de chercheurs, de conservateurs, d’universitaires et de jeunes créateurs a permis de donner vie à 40 autres histoires. Ils ont parcouru un grand nombre de kilomètres pour acquérir une connaissance de première main des communautés. Ils ont ensuite mené des recherches, documenté et illustré avec passion un total de 61 héros hommes et femmes de toutes cultures et de tous âges, originaires de régions différentes.


La collaboration entre le gouvernement et Google Arts & Culture a permis de démocratiser l’accès au riche patrimoine du Kenya et à faire découvrir notre culture et les liens qui nous unissent de manière innovante et interactive. Il a également encouragé les internautes à se rendre dans les musées, à visiter les monuments et les sites du patrimoine kényan.


Je vous encourage à lire toutes les histoires. La bravoure et les prouesses de chacun de ces super-héros sont une source d'inspiration pour nous tous. Ils mettent à l’honneur les valeurs et l’héritage des peuples du Kenya ainsi que notre unité dans la diversité. Je voudrais me faire l’écho des paroles du grand écrivain Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, lorsqu’il disait : « Les peuples du Kenya ont une histoire et une culture d’une incroyable richesse. Notre faculté à apprendre à partir de ce que nous avons déjà, qui nous a été transmis par toutes les communautés, c’est la voie qui nous permettra de nous ouvrir au monde. »


Poste par Amb. (Dr.) Amina C. Mohamed, Secrétaire d’État aux sports, à la culture et au patrimoine, République du Kenya

Celebrating teachers leading in crisis and lifting others up on World Teacher’s Day

Today, October 5th, teachers all over the world are celebrated for their efforts to leave no one behind and democratise access to education. The service of teachers and the profession as a whole directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 - ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. 

 
This year due to Covid-19, we’ve witnessed education disruption at a scale and pace never before seen in the world. Teachers have had to come up with innovative ways to keep learning going and students engaged; parents in many cases have had to step up to play the roles of teachers at home, in addition to being primary caregivers. For this reason, UNESCO’s theme for World Teachers Day 2020 - “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future” is not only especially relevant, but adequately captures the role teachers have had to play in ensuring learning continuity and support for their students. 



Katherine, a Director at Little Lambs Schools in Eldoret, Kenya had to lead her school through the storm at the onset of the pandemic and transition quickly to virtual learning using G Suite for education. With the selfless work of the school’s teachers such as Thomas - not only were the students at the school able to keep learning, but they were able to empower the wider community through a paid community learning programme using G Suite for education. Through the revenue generated from the virtual community learning program, Little Lambs school was able to keep teacher salaries paid and operations going during the pandemic. 




Little Lambs Schools’ story, and many other stories of schools and teachers reimagining education in times of crises, show how education has the power to empower people, communities and improve the overall economy. Last month, we announced our commitment to help 500k students and 25k teachers get back on their feet through G Suite for education virtual learning tools and training programs such as Teach from Anywhere - we are excited to see the impact of these programs so far and look forward to supporting the progress of many more teachers and learners across the continent. Finally, to all teachers and parents turned teachers, going above and beyond to keep children learning, Happy World Teachers Day.



 
Posted by Agnes Gathaiya, Country Director, Kenya 

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Happy Independence Day, Nigeria: 5 ways to join the virtual celebrations

Editor’s note: Today we hear from Folorunsho Coker, Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). Read about the NTDC's ongoing partnership with Google to enable the recovery and growth of the Nigerian tourism industry.




Today, October 1st 2020 marks the 60th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria and the annual celebration shines light on what we are known for: our rich and diverse cultural heritage, spectacular nature, bustling cities and our welcoming spirit. Often referred to as the heartbeat of Africa, our population of more than 200 million people is putting the country on the world map through music, art, literature and a vibrant technology scene.


The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has since 2017 designed programs to accelerate the growth of domestic tourism in Nigeria. As a vital frontier of economic development, we have supported initiatives promoting diverse indigenous cultural heritages and traditions to empower peace and development for different ethnic groups. As 2020 has posed several challenges for locals and global travellers alike, we are excited to announce a new and dedicated program with Google to enable the recovery and growth of the tourism industry in Nigeria - with a focus on exploring Nigeria for domestic travellers. The holistic program tagged 'Explore Nigeria' will include tourism-specific digital skills training, ongoing support for small businesses in Nigeria, and a new virtual collection by Google Arts & Culture called ‘Tour Nigeria’.



Today, we invite you to explore the true spirit and essence of Nigeria, from the historic, cultural and heritage sites to sun-kissed coastlines, beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, natural springs, the grandeur of festivals, wildlife and magnificent plateaus. Whether it’s your first encounter with Nigeria or you are rediscovering our heritage, we encourage you to virtually tour the country through the ‘Tour Nigeria’ collection with over 400 photographs, 12 online stories, 10 Street Views of iconic sites. And if you’re still aching for more, you should check out the YouTube travel recommendation series featuring some of the country’s top influencers. This is the first phase of a long-term partnership with Google Arts & Culture which aims to digitize, preserve and share Nigeria’s rich culture with Nigerians and the world. From the north, south, east and west, it is our goal to collaborate with Google Arts & Culture on using their technologies to document Nigeria’s past, present and future for generations to come. 



From the comfort of your couch, I invite you to join me in getting the virtual celebrations started with these five experiences on Google Arts & Culture:


 1.    Explore Nigeria YouTube series  
To help plan your next Nigerian adventure, we have invited , Bukola Wahab (Shawttynat), Funmi Oyatogun, Ibe Kenneth (MaziIbe_), Ibrahim Salawu (Unilag Olodo), Oluwatosin Ajibade (Olorisupergirl) and Pamilerin Adegoke (Uncle Pamilerin) and Yemisi Odusanya (Sisi Yemmie) to share their most memorable holiday and what not to miss. Let them guide you through what to see, taste, smell, feel and listen to.  



2.     Climb to the top of Mount Patti 
With the help of Street View, you can now explore the lush green Mount Patti which looks over the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Benue. Start by making your way to the famous baobab tree which is known to possess mythical values. Continue to The Lugard Rest House which today is a mini museum of Nigeria’s colonial past. Finish off your tour at the iconic view point and take in its magnificence.
Image: Mount Patti, Adedotun Ajibade, from the collection of Tour Nigeria

3.     Put your knowledge to the test 
Did you know that Nigeria is the world’s most populous black nation, has the third biggest film industry, Africa’s oldest dye pit and is home to Afrobeat music? Step back in time to learn about Nigeria’s ancient kingdoms and colonial past by visiting ten sites with Street View including Lagos National Museum and Tinubu Square. Fast forward by exploring 15 facts you need to know about Nigeria and put your knowledge to the test. 
Image: Kofar Mata dye pits, Adedotun Ajibade, from the collection of Tour Nigeria 

 
4.    Experience the most colourful festivals
Experience the true spirit of Nigeria’s people by virtually taking part of one of the many festivals celebrated throughout the year. Each of the more than 250 ethnic communities celebrate their culture through music, dancing, masquerades, competitions and traditions. We invite you to join thousands of fishermen competing to catch the largest fish at the Argundu festival, watch the spectacular Durbar horse parade in Kano and learn about Nigeria’s naval history at the 200-year old Yauri Rigata festival. 
Image: Dancers at the Rigata Festival, from the collection of Tour Nigeria 



5.    Spot a butterfly and visit the natural wonders
From the north, south, east to the west, Nigeria has an exceptional biodiversity and boasts of an abundance of fauna and flora. Having one of the world’s largest diversity of butterflies, photographer Adedotun Ajibade invites you to join him in exploring the most colorful ones through this online exhibit. Ever wanted to visit the Awhum Caves of Enugu, the Farin Ruwa falls of Nasarawa, the Osun Osogbo sacred grove of Osun state, and the Wikki Warm spring of Bauchi staIf? Discover 14 spectacular natural wonders and be inspired to plan your next adventure. See you out there! 
Image: Axiocerses harpas butterfly, Adedotun Ajibade, from the collection of Tour Nigeria



Curious to see more? Check out g.co/explorenigeria, download the free Google Arts & Culture app for free Google Arts & Culture app for Android or iOS.



Posted by Folorunsho Coker, Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.


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Supporting the growth of the Tourism Industry in Africa

After months of isolation while living in quarantine, travel is the leisure activity that I miss the most. And I’m not alone. While no one can say with certainty when tourism will recover, people are starting to dream again of getaways whether closer to home or to remote destinations. As more and more people go online to search where and when they can travel, accelerating the digitalization of the tourism sector will be key to adapting to the new tourism reality. 


This is why we’re excited to partner with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to develop an online Acceleration Program to train UNWTO Member States' tourism ministers, top travel associations and tourism boards on a range of digital tools to engage travellers at home, and encourage future travel when possible. Today, ahead of World Tourism Day, the organizations hosted the first UNWTO & Google Tourism Acceleration Program focused on insights from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. 


Tourism is the backbone of many economies around the world. As data from UNWTO shows, tourism represents 9% of global trade for Africa, and 1 in 10 jobs directly and indirectly. Technology can foster new and better jobs and business opportunities for tourism in Africa while improving the overall wellbeing and prosperity of the region. Moreover, the tourism sector drives inclusive growth, as women make 54% of the workforce while in Africa they represent 69% of the workforce ; this is the highest share among world regions.

Africa is home to 30% of the world’s population, where hundreds of million of new users are coming online every year. Google Search is one of the places Africans go when researching and booking travel.


Our travel data insights and tools , available on our Think with Google site, can help tourism authorities and businesses identify new trends in consumer preferences. For example, as people increasingly search for local and outdoor tourism, businesses can react to these changing needs by doing marketing campaigns that highlight nature destinations, and they can prepare for an uptick in last-minute bookings.


In fact, an analysis of Search trends in Sub-Saharan shows that interest for travel and tourism is gradually recovering:



South Africa Travel Search Trends

Google Search data shows some encouraging signs of increased interest in tourism in South Africa:





Kenya Travel Search Trends
The top three questions users asked Google globally related to travel conducted in July comprised “When can we travel again,” “when will international travel resume,” and “when will it be safe to travel again.” while top questions in August were related to where and when we can travel “right now”. In fact, 45% of the top 100 questions related to travel focused on the impact of COVID-19, the need to travel as soon as possible and travel safety.

Travel Demand by Counties





Nigeria Travel Search Trends
Since Nigeria announced the intention to reopen its borders to international travel on August 29th, search interest for travel has grown.

Travel Search Demand by State




While this World Tourism Day marks a uniquely challenging period for tourism, it’s also an opportunity to prepare and find new ways to engage with would-be travellers. We remain optimistic about the travel industry’s future and its potential to drive inclusive growth in Africa.


Posted by Doron Avni, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Markets

Helping Africa restart the economy

Many economies in Africa are beginning to reopen and trying to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We want to help businesses, jobseekers, educational institutions and others as they grapple with the "new normal" and begin to rebuild. 






Supporting African businesses
Small businesses have been hardest hit in this period. Many of them have had to figure out quickly how to pivot their operations to a ‘digital-first’ approach. We have set up a digital hub providing free tools and resources for businesses and individuals, and we’ll be helping 500,000 small businesses get online or improve their digital presence through Google My Business. Once people can find them on Google and Google Maps, these businesses will be able to connect with millions of customers every month.


We’re also launching a tool that helps people to put together a marketing kit for their business. Using information from their Google My Business profile it helps businesses keep customers informed with their latest news, create custom posters and social posts.


SMB owners are experts when it comes to local customers, but are often less knowledgeable about finding new markets and everything that entails: culture, buying trends, export legalities, and payment options for their product in other countries. Our free Market finder tool is aimed at helping businesses across Africa to reach new customers around the world. The tool, which includes updated insights for negotiating a covid and post-covid environment, helps with localisation, international payments and logistics, so you can effectively reach global customers who may be looking for your products or services.






Helping jobseekers
Millions of people across the continent in formal and informal jobs have been impacted and are looking for new work opportunities. We want to help them to acquire new skills. 


Starting in November, we’ll be providing $750k in IT support scholarships through Google.org, focused on underserved communities and job seekers who can't afford data. This 5-course certificate includes an innovative curriculum designed to prepare you for an entry-level role in IT support. 


Job seekers can access our Grow with Google training portal to help grow your career or business at your own pace, with flexible and personalised training courses designed to build your confidence and help you thrive.



Supporting educational institutions and upskilling teachers
This year we experienced educational disruption at a scale we've never seen before. And back to school will look different for many as schools adopt a hybrid physical and virtual learning model. Through Google for Education we are working with partners across Africa to help deploy our suite of education products in schools to help 500,000 students continue learning.


Technology can make distance learning easier and more accessible. To help teachers keep teaching we aim to give 25,000 educators from across the continent access to free online training sessions and resources, such as Teach From Anywhere.



We are also giving a $250k grant to organisations in Nigeria to provide fellowships, distance learning programs and remote education tools to boost literacy for children in low-income schools across the country. 




Assistance to vulnerable populations 
Google.org will be providing $3 million in grants to nonprofits that support education, entrepreneurship and women empowerment. 


We are giving a grant of $1M to GiveDirectly Kenya to help 500 women living in informal settlements who have lost their sources of income due to COVID-19. The grant is aimed at helping them to start their own businesses or find new ways of supporting themselves financially.


In South Africa, we are supporting the Youth Employment Service to provide twelve-month employment opportunities and digital skills to black young people in South Africa through a $500k grant. 


We are also donating $500,000 to the Praekelt Foundation to help train micro and small businesses in Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria. 



The impact of Covid-19 will continue to be felt for a long time, in Africa and around the world. We’ll continue to do our part to help businesses recover and grow, help more people prepare for jobs, and support students, teachers and underserved communities. In doing so, we hope to continue to play a part in helping to create economic opportunity for everyone.



Posted by Nitin Gajria, Director, Sub-Saharan Africa.


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