Fifteen Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) in Nigeria have been chosen to receive support from Google’s N75 million Hustle Academy Fund.
This was as 5,300 SMBs across Africa on Thursday graduated from the Academy, showcasing their commitment to enhancing their business skills and knowledge.
Since its launch in 2022, over 10,300 entrepreneurs have joined the Hustle Academy program, highlighting its ongoing impact. The Hustle Academy program, designed to address specific challenges faced by SMBs in Africa, provides practical skills and resources to support their growth.
The recent graduation builds on the success of last year’s 5,000 graduates, showing a growing community of businesses dedicated to continuous learning and improvement.
According to the tech giant, the funding initiative aims to provide a combination of financial assistance, mentorship, and business tool access to some of the most promising Nigerian SMBs.
Recipients of the fund, which cut across various industries are: Ifeoma Augusta Anselem – Rae’s Clothing; Femi Bolaji – Wauley Projects Limited; Nafisa Abdulrazaq Sabo – Pinch N’ Dash; Funmilola Moronke Agbayewa – Segunfunmi foods Nigeria Limited; Chigozie Bashua – The Nut Place Limited; John Samuel Andefiki – Kita Farm; Hussaini Aliyu Baba – Lead Way Family Poultry; Aminu Abdulkarim – A.A.K. Shoes.
Others are: Constance Ufuoma Edesiri – Stance Fashion Empire; Chikere Onyinyechi Breakthrough – Clozetsales; Anita Aletor – Rotela Business Synergy; Ojo Femi Christopher – Foodlane ventures; Angela Jidechukwu Nwabueze – Jelapetra Farms Ltd; Eniola Robert – Ennie Wears; and Blessing Akpan – Inyene Agro processing factory Ltd.
Google West Africa Country Director Olumide Balogun commended the passion and resilience shown by these SMBs; saying, they are truly inspiring.
“The Hustle Academy is a testament to what focused training and resources can achieve. We are not just celebrating their graduation today; we are recognizing their potential to reshape and invigorate the Nigerian business landscape,” he said.
Also, founder of Wauley Projects Limited, Femi Bolaji, who is a graduate from Nigeria and one of the 15 fund recipients expressed that the Hustle Academy has equipped them with vital business knowledge, expressing that being selected for the fund is a significant boost that will propel their business forward.
