HP, UpSkill Universe Launch Free AI Training for 55,000 SMEs – Innovation Village

HP and UpSkill Universe have launched a free artificial intelligence training programme aimed at helping 55,000 small and medium-sized businesses across Nigeria and South Africa integrate AI into their everyday operations.

The AI Skills for Business Programme was announced in Lagos on September 3, 2026, as part of an effort to move African SMEs beyond simply knowing about artificial intelligence to actually using it to solve business problems.

The initiative builds on an existing partnership between the two organisations. In 2025, UpSkill Universe partnered with HP and Google on a broader digital skills programme that reached more than 40,000 SMEs.

This year’s programme shifts the focus specifically to AI and expands the target by another 15,000 businesses.

The push comes as many small businesses are still struggling to move from AI awareness to practical adoption. A recent study found that nearly 70% of SMEs remain in the early stages of AI adoption, while only 9% have integrated AI into their business operations.

For many SME owners, the challenge is therefore no longer simply accessing information about AI. It is understanding how to turn the technology into something useful for everyday tasks such as customer service, marketing, administration and business decision-making.

Moving SMEs From AI Awareness to Practical Use

Gori Yahaya, Founder and CEO of UpSkill Universe, said the programme was designed to close the gap between learning about AI and applying it.

“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,” he said.

The programme will run across three stages, with each…