Facebook, will open a “community hub space” in Nigeria next year to encourage software developers and technology entrepreneurs and become the latest technology giant to pursue a training programme in fast-growing Africa.
According to the technology giants, Nigeria is Facebook’s largest market in the African continent and the move to open the community hub space will consolidate gains already made in Africa’s biggest economy and most promising technology market.
The U.S. social media company said the centre would host an “incubator programme” to help develop technology start-ups, while it will also train 50,000 Nigerians in digital skills.
Africa’s rapid population growth, falling data costs and heavy adoption of mobile phones rather than PCs is attracting technology companies looking to attract more users.
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Facebook did not provide details of the period over which its planned training would take place in Nigeria.
“We understand the important role Facebook plays here in Nigeria with developers and start-ups and are invested in helping these communities,” Emeka Afigbo, its regional head of platform partnership, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Facebook also said that the training which is aimed at software developers, entrepreneurs and students would be offered in cities including the capital, Abuja, Port Harcourt in the South South, in the South East and Kaduna in the North West.
Last year Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg visited technology companies in Lagos and President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
His foundation also provided $24 million to Andela, which trains software developers.
