Google has announced a new set of investments in Africa, reaffirming its nearly two-decade commitment to the continent’s digital transformation.

The latest commitments focus on empowering Africa’s next generation through AI, unlocking opportunities and expanding on the innovation capacity of young Africans. They cover internet connectivity; youth-led learning and innovation; and skills training.

Connectivity

Google is announcing four strategic subsea cable connectivity hubs in the north, south, east and west regions of Africa. This investment creates new digital corridors within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world – ultimately deepening international connectivity and resilience, as well as spurring economic growth and opportunity.

This is the latest addition to Google’s Africa Connect infrastructure program, which sees the company build vital connectivity across the continent: including the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg serving users across the continent, the Equiano cable running along the entire western seaboard of the continent, and Umoja, the first fiber optic route to directly connect Africa with Australia (running through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa).

Google’s investments to date have enabled 100 million Africans to access the internet for the first time, and the Equiano cable alone is expected to increase real GDP this year in Nigeria, South Africa and Namibia by an estimated $11.1 billion, $5.8 billion and $290 million, respectively.

Youth-led learning and innovation

Enabling Africa’s young people to learn, innovate and lead is critical to Africa’s development and economic growth. That’s why Google is today also announcing free one-year subscriptions to Google AI Pro plan for college students (18 or older) across the continent – starting with Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The subscription provides advanced AI to students – from Deep Research, which helps save time with custom research reports and in-depth information from hundreds of sources across the web, to Gemini 2.5 Pro, which provides help with assignments or writing.

Building skills and solutions

Equipping people with AI skills is critical. To date, Google has trained 7 million Africans and plans to train an additional 3 million students, young people, and teachers by 2030. Google is also bolstering local capacity by providing African universities and research institutions with over $17 million in funding, curriculum, training and compute and access to advanced AI models over the past four years – with an additional $9 million planned for the coming year.

On the announcements, Alex Okosi, Managing Director for Google in Africa, said: “Africa’s digital economy holds immense potential, and it will be driven by the talent and ingenuity of its next generation. Today’s announcements, spanning AI education, advanced tools for students, and expanded connectivity, are a unified investment into the upward trajectory of the continent.

“We are committed to providing the foundational infrastructure, the cutting-edge tools, and the financial support necessary for Africa’s youth to innovate, lead, and build a thriving digital world.”

Google’s long term partnership

These announcements are the latest chapter in Google’s long-term investment in the continent, which has delivered on $1 billion of investment. Google’s sustained commitment to Africa has included driving connectivity; training more than 7 million people across the continent in digital skills to support the future workforce; and supporting 153 startups from 17 African nations through the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, helping them raise $300 million and create 3,500 jobs.

AI creates an unprecedented opportunity to benefit everyone, and Google is committed to making that a reality for people, businesses and communities across Africa. Today’s announcements are another example of how Google is continuing to expand connectivity, increase product access and skills across the continent and enable African-led innovation – with more to come.

Shoprite, once a beacon of modern retail shopping in Nigeria, is currently grappling with significant operational challenges as several of its stores across the country face closure or remain understocked.

Investigations reveal that Shoprite outlets in Ilorin and Ibadan have permanently shut down, while other branches, including the popular Ikeja City Mall outlet in Lagos and the Jabi Lake Mall branch in Abuja, are struggling with empty shelves and few customers. The usually bustling shopping spots now resemble shadows of their former selves, with hollow aisles and dwindling merchandise.

A staff member at Ikeja City Mall told our correspondent that the new management is in the middle of tough negotiations with suppliers that have delayed restocking. “Hopefully, when that is completed, things will return to normal,” she said, while also admitting that the impasse has stretched on for months, leaving many workers anxious about the future.

Similarly, workers at the Jabi Lake Mall branch lamented a lack of supplies for over two months, expressing fears about their job security. “Everybody here, our chest is beating because we don’t know what’s happening,” one employee disclosed.

Shoprite first entered Nigeria in 2005 and quickly expanded to multiple cities, employing thousands of Nigerians. However, a combination of rising operational costs, including exorbitant rents such as the reported ₦66 million monthly rent at the Kano Ado Bayero Mall branch, forex challenges, and fierce competition have severely affected the chain’s operations.

Despite the gloomy outlook, Shoprite management insists they are not exiting Nigeria. A spokesperson said efforts are ongoing to resolve the supply chain issues and assured that shelves would be restocked by the end of September.

Still, with two branches already closed and others appearing deserted, shoppers and workers alike are left wondering whether Shoprite can regain its footing and recapture its former dominance in Nigeria’s retail sector.

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has secured regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to lease frequency spectrum from T2 Mobile Limited (formerly 9Mobile), marking a strategic shift in its network expansion plans.

Effective October 1, 2025, MTN will lease 5MHz in the 900MHz band and 15MHz in the 1800MHz band from T2 Mobile for a period of three years.

This move supports MTN’s national roaming agreement with T2, enabling shared infrastructure to manage growing network traffic and improve service delivery

According to MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola, the agreement aligns with the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which emphasizes cost-effective, sustainable growth, industry collaboration, and digital inclusion.

In a related development, MTN Nigeria has announced it will not renew its current spectrum lease with Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (Ntel). That lease—covering 5MHz in the 900MHz band and 10MHz in the 1800MHz band across 17 states—is set to expire on November 29, 2025.

MTN reaffirmed its commitment to investing in infrastructure and strategic partnerships to deliver high-quality, innovative telecom services across Nigeria.