Small and medium-sized businesses contribute 46% of Nigeria’s GDP. However, most still rely on traditional ways of buying and selling.
Even with PoS and digital payments, many struggle to operate digitally, let alone use AI.
To bridge that gap, Gori Yahaya, CEO of Upskill Universe, in partnership with the HP Skills Foundation, launched the second edition of the AI Skills for Business Programme.
The AI Skills for Business Programme
The free programme will train 55,000 SME owners across Africa to use AI in their businesses. It reserves 40% of spots for women and youth, who make up the bulk of the population.
Over 81% of Nigerian SME owners already run their businesses on mobile phones. AI is in these phones. Yahaya agrees that it isn’t about awareness, but “it’s not happening anywhere near as much” in their businesses.
Research shows that over 70% are familiar with AI, and only 9% use it in their business.
One reason is the belief that you need specialists to use it when it’s “the most accessible tool in history.” A taxi driver, for example, already holds data that can predict busy routes and increase revenue; he just doesn’t see it as AI.
For others, it’s about not wanting to change the status quo. “I am not technical. This business was handed over to me.” Yahaya believes those who hold on to that will be left behind.
A real-life example shared with Condia is Mbuotidem Anaka, who struggled with costing for her herbal cookie business. After the training, she began prompting ChatGPT for recipe formulation and yield estimation, which increased her revenue.
The programme runs on three levels. First, a free, self-paced course on HP LIFE, the HP Foundation’s training platform. Second, a live, 90-minute facilitator-led workshop for 5,000 participants. And a three-day ‘Build Your Business with AI’ bootcamp, with business audits and mentorship, for 50 top performers—those with functioning businesses ready for AI implementation.
It is optimised for reach. The first edition had about 40,000 businesses. The HP Life website boasts 3.3 million learners across about 200 countries.
The future outlook
About 70% of SME owners have reported revenue growth after the training. Yahaya recounts the story of a fashion entrepreneur in Nairobi, Kenya, who had to respond to the same customer queries all day. After the training, she gained an understanding of what to build and was able to free up her time.
HP Foundation, in collaboration with Upskill Universe, plans to hold more sessions because it believes SMEs are agile and tend to move faster than bigger organisations.
Reports support this: employees use AI tools earlier than management tends to adopt them.
