Facebook Is Headed To Africa

Facebook at some point next year is reportedly set to establish a “community hub space” in Nigeria in an apparent attempt to tap the relatively unharnessed human market in the country.

The facility would be dedicated to the development of budding tech entrepreneurs and engineers, as well as startups, operating as what is known as an “incubator” in Silicon Valley, according to Reuters.

Facebook plans on training 50,000 Nigerians in digital skills. Nigeria is poised to overtake the United States as the third-most populous country in the world by 2050, according to estimates made by the United Nations. The international governing body also predicts that half of the world’s population growth will likely occur in Africa. Nigeria is currently the 7th most populous country in the world, meaning it has plenty of untapped talent potential.

Facebook set up an office in South Africa last year, and reports at the time showed it expressed interest in Nigeria and Kenya. In general, Africa, with an estimated population of roughly 1.2 billion people, could be a huge opportunity for the social media company to strengthen its stronghold on the social media world. The continent is essentially a “final frontier” for one of the world’s largest tech firms.

The social media platform turned tech conglomerate is stretching its influence into all corners of the world and many realms of society. From pizza ordering to launching an internet-supplying drone, Facebook has clearly transformed from a popular way to connect with friends into a world powerhouse. (RELATED: Despite Regularly Giving Away Money, Zuckerberg Adds $9 Billion To Net Worth Every Year)

“In Nigeria, more than 22 million people use Facebook every month and 87% of SMEs say that when they hire, digital skills are more important than where an applicant went to school,” Ebele Okobi, Facebook’s public policy director of Africa, said in a statement provided to The Daily Caller News Foundation. “This demonstrates that the power of digital skills to aid economic growth and development has never been more important.”

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