Google announced the launch of an online portal to help 500,000 Africans acquire digital skills

Google has announced the launch of an online portal to help 500,000 Africans acquire digital skills that’ll enable them build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent.

The online portal is home to 89 online lessons on a wide range of digital subjects including web analytics, social media management and mobile marketing.

The lessons are available in English and French, and in the near future in Portuguese, and people (read: anyone) who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Online Proficiency.

“We hope the portal will enable more people in more African countries to make the most of the web,” said Bunmi Banjo, Head of the Africa Digital Skills Program.

The launch of the online portal is hot on the heels of the success of Google’s Digital Skill Africa program which was launched in April 2016.

Through the program, Google sought to train 1 million Africans in digital skills within a year, and six months after, half a million Africans have been trained.

The online portal will ensure the remaining half a million Africans, those willing to learn but were unable to attend face-to-face training sessions, are trained.

“Helping people in Africa take advantage of the web is a task for everyone, and we’re very grateful to the many partners and collaborators that have given their support and played important roles in helping to get the program this far. We hope that through this and similar programs, Africans will begin to reap greater benefits from the internet,” Bunmi added.