Lagos, Nigeria – HP Inc. is accelerating its push toward global digital inclusion with a renewed focus on Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), following the success of the ‘Skills for Business – Bootcamp-in-a-Day’ held yesterday, July 16, at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event, co-hosted by HP Inc., Google Hustle Academy, and Upskill Universe, brought together Nigerian entrepreneurs eager to embrace AI-powered tools and digital marketing techniques that can transform their businesses in today’s tech-driven economy.
“Entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Africa are already leading change within their communities,” said Gori Yahaya, CEO of UpSkill Universe. “We understand the challenges SMEs face as they navigate a difficult business landscape, the prevalence of AI, and rapidly changing customer behavior. Through collaboration with HP Inc. and Google, we see an immense opportunity to empower businesses with the practical tips, tools, and technology—including AI – they need to grow, scale, and succeed.”
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Emmanuel Eze, Country Sales Manager for HP Africa,
Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Eze, Country Sales Manager for HP Africa, reiterated HP’s global commitment to digital equity, noting that Nigeria’s vibrant youth and entrepreneurial population make it a strategic pillar in the company’s vision to digitally equip 150 million people globally by 2030.
“We keep looking at how we can make more people inclusive in our world today—the digital world. We see the gap every day, so programmes like this equip the people. You are providing tools, knowledge, training. And why we are training more people—remember, our projection is to get 150 million people digitally equipped by 2030. So, this is a perfect alignment for us,” Eze told Daily NewsTap in an exclusive interview.
Central to the bootcamp was the HP LIFE platform—an online learning program that introduces users to AI, digital skills, and business growth strategies tailored specifically for SMEs.
“HP LIFE is a programme tailored to entrepreneurs—young entrepreneurs—to help them upskill their talent and get them ready for future work,” Eze said. “Going through those programmes equips you and prepares you to be a better business manager and helps you grow in the market space.”
The one-day event is part of a broader Skills for Business program, which aims to train 10,000 African SMEs, including 9,000 in Nigeria and 1,000 in South Africa, by providing access to digital marketing courses, business tools, and AI learning pathways.
Participants engaged in hands-on sessions, covering topics from customer engagement to online visibility, and were onboarded into a continued learning journey via HP LIFE and Google Hustle Academy. Upon completing a series of online modules within a set timeframe, attendees will be officially recognized as “trained.”
“The Google Hustle Academy training reshaped how we connect with customers online,” shared one SME from Lagos. “These skills make a real difference for us.”
Organizers say the program not only delivers knowledge, but also acts as a springboard for economic inclusion in a digital-first world.
With the Lagos event drawing strong attendance and enthusiastic participation, HP’s mission of equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with future-ready tools is gaining momentum—and Nigeria is firmly at the center of that charge.