A new initiative aimed at bridging the artificial intelligence skills gap among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa has been launched. The AI Skills for Business Programme, powered by HP LIFE (the HP Foundation’s free global training platform) and delivered by UpSkill Universe, is designed to equip small business owners with the practical AI skills they need to grow their businesses in an increasingly digital economy.
The programme builds on last year’s successful Skills for Business Programme, which reached over 40,000 SMEs across Nigeria and South Africa. That pilot initiative, delivered in partnership with HP and Google, focused on equipping SMEs with digital tools to thrive. This year, the ambition has expanded significantly—to deliver verifiable business impact to a further 55,000 SMEs through targeted AI skill-building.
Bridging the AI Gap
While awareness of artificial intelligence has grown rapidly across the continent, confident, everyday use by small business owners has not kept pace. A recent study revealed that nearly 70% of SMEs remain in the early stages of AI maturity, and only 9% have embedded AI in their day-to-day operations, strategy, and decision-making. This means many businesses are not yet generating results that translate into tangible business growth.
The AI Skills for Business Programme is built specifically to bridge this gap. It aims to equip SMEs with the AI skills they need for reporting, decision-making, risk management, improving customer experience, and optimising operations in today’s evolving digital landscape.
A Multi-Tiered Approach to Learning
The programme offers a structured, multi-tiered learning pathway:
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Self-Paced AI Courses: 55,000 SMEs will be onboarded to HP LIFE and complete at least three courses to demonstrate AI skills development at scale.
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Virtual Facilitator-Led Sessions: From the initial cohort, 5,000 SMEs will take part in 90-minute virtual sessions built on HP LIFE’s training content and applied to real business challenges. Every participant will walk away with a specific AI tool to test in their business within 30 days.
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Intensive Bootcamp: The 50 top-performing SMEs will be selected to attend a “Build Your Business with AI” Bootcamp. This intensive programme will include business audits, guided mentorship, and a 90-day action plan designed to boost AI confidence by 50% and help participants implement at least one AI-driven process.
Priority for Youth and Women-Led Businesses
Priority access will be given to youth and women-led businesses, with a target of 40% of participants from these groups. This reflects a deliberate effort to ensure that the benefits of AI adoption are distributed equitably across Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Voices from the Programme
Speaking about the initiative, Gori Yahaya, Founder and CEO of UpSkill Universe, emphasised the importance of practical, accessible training for small businesses.
“Small businesses across Nigeria and South Africa already have the ambition to deploy AI in their day-to-day operations. What they lack is access to quality training tailored to their needs, and guidance on how to deploy it consistently,” Yahaya said. “Building on our successful partnership with HP, we have designed the AI Skills for Business Programme to move our engagement from reach to impact by giving 55,000 business owners free, practical AI skills training they can apply from day one. Africa’s next wave of business growth is already being powered by AI, and together with HP, we are making sure small businesses are part of it.”
Yesh Surjoodeen, Managing Director for Southern and Central Africa at HP, added: “After reaching more than 40,000 small business owners last year, we are proud to continue our work with UpSkill Universe. From the energy of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs to the resilience and ingenuity of South Africa’s small businesses, we see every day that technology alone is not enough. Business owners need the practical skills, confidence, and support to turn technology into opportunity.”
HP Employees to Mentor Graduates
HP employees will serve as mentors to guide bootcamp graduates in executing their 90-day AI action plans, ensuring that participants receive ongoing support as they implement AI solutions in their businesses.
How to Apply
Registration is now open, and SMEs can apply at life-global.org/go/upskill. Live sessions begin this month, with the first bootcamp scheduled for January.
