Google’s Hustle Academy has granted N75 million in financial support to 15 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone as the academy celebrates its 10,300 graduates since its 2022 launch. This year alone, the program trained 5,300 entrepreneurs, up from 5,000 graduates in 2022. The recent graduation event in Abuja highlighted the program’s ongoing impact on Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Google’s West Africa Country Director, Olumide Balogun, emphasized the academy’s role in providing SMBs with essential resources, such as financial aid, mentorship, and business tools, to tackle the challenges unique to their sector. “This year’s graduation builds upon the momentum established with last year’s graduates,” Balogun said, adding that the additional N75 million Hustle Academy Fund will support 15 standout SMBs selected for their growth potential and commitment to innovation.

The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, underscored the program’s alignment with national goals of job creation, poverty alleviation, and rural industrialization. Odii highlighted SMEDAN’s conditional grant scheme, which offers funds to small businesses contingent upon job creation, aiming to foster employment and economic growth across localities.

The Hustle Academy program represents a comprehensive initiative designed to equip Nigerian entrepreneurs with the tools and insights they need to excel, showcasing Google’s commitment to bolstering local business capacity and fostering sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.