AI Might Be the Long-Awaited Boost for African Small and Medium Enterprises - Gori Yahaya, CEO of Upskill Universe
In an exciting development, Gori Yahaya, the founder and CEO of Upskill Universe, predicts a rise in the use of AI agents among African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) over the next two years. These AI agents are not just chatbots, but tools that can execute tasks such as thanking customers and scheduling follow-up messages automatically.
However, the adoption of AI among African SMEs has been slow due to several barriers. These include limited digital infrastructure, such as cloud computing and data centers, a lack of resources and risk aversion, difficulty attracting and retaining AI talent, security concerns, data fragmentation, and financial constraints to invest in AI training data and technology implementation.
To address these challenges, programs like Skills for Business with HP and Google’s Hustle Academy are making significant strides. These initiatives aim to close the skills gap, promote inclusive participation, foster innovation ecosystems, help SMEs navigate security and operational risks, and support locally relevant AI solutions.
By providing targeted training to help SMEs and entrepreneurs acquire practical AI and digital skills, these programs aim to make AI more accessible and practical for African businesses. They also aim to help businesses better understand and apply AI responsibly, retain talent, and create new career opportunities within Africa, countering the brain drain by engaging Africans in cutting-edge AI development.
Moreover, these initiatives empower SMEs to adapt AI tools to their interests and languages, making technology more accessible and practical on the ground. They educate SMEs on safe and effective AI adoption, helping them build business cases for AI investments, and provide skills to optimize digital and cloud use, advocating for affordable solutions.
A success story from a Lagos-based textile entrepreneur named Choma illustrates the transformative potential of these programs. After attending a five-day Hustle Academy bootcamp, Choma learned to automate customer service and create a content calendar with AI, resulting in a 65% increase in her revenue.
Upskill Universe, through its programs, helps organizations worldwide, including thousands of SMEs in Africa, get comfortable with technologies like data analytics, AI, and e-commerce. By changing the perception of AI among African SMEs, particularly those in the informal sector, and by addressing the barriers to AI adoption, Upskill Universe is paving the way for a more AI-driven future in Africa.
References: [1] African Development Bank Group [3] UNCTAD [5] World Economic Forum
- Gori Yahaya predicts that the integration of artificial intelligence in African small-businesses will escalate over the next two years, with AI agents performing tasks such as customer interaction and scheduling.
- Financial constraints, limited digital infrastructure, and risk aversion are among the obstacles hindering African small-businesses from adopting AI, but programs like Skills for Business with HP and Google’s Hustle Academy aim to tackle these challenges by providing targeted education and self-development.
- To promote personal growth and create new opportunities in AI development, these initiatives offer training to equip African businesses with practical AI and digital skills, helping them responsibly apply AI, retain talent, and build a more AI-driven small-business landscape across Africa.
