Nokia has partnered with Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), a social innovation centre in Nigeria to embarked on an academy program called ‘Nokia/CCHub Growth Academy’ aimed at accelerating top Nigerian mobile software companies in growing their companies on regional and international levels.
The Growth Academy will provide intensive continuous hands-on support to help approximately thirty (30) early stage mobile technology start-ups grow into high growth businesses and build world class mobile applications for the Nokia platform regionally and globally.
The first programme of the Growth Academy started on May 10th and will run till end of July 2012. Ten (10) mobile technology startups have been selected to participate in the maiden programme. Participating startups are expected to launch world class mobile apps on the Nokia platform with full marketing support by Nokia in a period of three months.
The programme is in three parts; Training, Development and Launch of world class mobile apps for Nokia platform. Selected participants will undergo hands-on and technical training to launch mobile apps. Futurice, a leading global mobile software company from Finland with expertise in mobile application development and user driven design will have several face to face sessions with the participants in Nigeria and also provide constant online support and mentoring to the participants during the Growth Academy
“At Nokia, our objective with the Growth Academy is to support local talent in developing their skills and in growing their companies. Our aim is to integrate them into both regional and global markets and ensure future funding for growing their companies,” Teemu Kiijarvi, the Head of Ecosystem and Developer Experience for Nokia West Africa, said.