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DIGITAL MARKETING

Africa to benefit from US$1bn investment in digital infrastructure

By our News Team | 2021

In what will be a boon to digital marketing initiatives, the planned investment will include enabling more affordable internet access.

Google has announced a plan to invest US$1bn over five years to support Africa’s digital transformation. 

The investment focuses on enabling fast, affordable internet access for more Africans; building helpful products; supporting entrepreneurship and small business; and helping non-profits to improve lives across Africa. 

Google made its announcement the recent Google for Africa event, held virtually and livestreamed around the continent.

A subsea cable called Equiano will run through South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria and St Helena island to connect the continent with Europe. It will help bring faster internet to more African consumers and lower connectivity costs.

Financial services will be a beneficiary

Google boosts digital marketing

Hybrid: Photo by James Wiseman @ Unsplash

Google has collaborated with Kenyan mobile network operator Safaricom to support the launch of the first ‘Device Financing’ plan in Kenya. It will thereafter expand this initiative across Africa with telecommunications partners like Airtel, MKOPA, MTN, Orange, Transsion Holdings, Vodacom and others. These partnerships will help millions of first-time smartphone users gain access to quality, affordable Android smartphones.

Google will also invest in startups in Africa by providing cash awards and hands-on support. This is in addition to Google’s existing support through the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa. This initiative has helped more than 80 African startups with equity-free finance, working space and access to expert advisers over the last three years.

The announcement expands Google’s ongoing support for Africa’s digital transformation and entrepreneurship. In 2017, it launched its Grow with Google initiative, with a commitment to training 10-million young Africans and small businesses in digital skills. To date, Google has trained over six million people across 25 African countries. 

 

Source: Bizcommunity and Google

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.