A post by US Mission Nigeria on X has renewed attention on Google’s decision to establish its first Google Developers Space in Africa in Lagos, Nigeria, a move that marked a major moment in the company’s engagement with African developers and startups. The post, shared under the hashtag #ThisWeekinUSNigeriaHistory, recalled how Google opened the space to support Nigerian tech talent and the wider startup ecosystem.
Google announced the launch in January 2020, stating, “Today, we launched our first Google Developers Space on the African continent, in Lagos, Nigeria.” The company explained that the Google Developers Space was created as a hub for African developers, entrepreneurs and startups, and that it would also house the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa programme, which was designed to help early stage companies scale.
The launch was linked to an earlier promise made by Google leadership. “Back in 2017 our CEO, Sundar Pichai, made a commitment to African entrepreneurs to start the Launchpad Accelerator Africa program and launch a space to house these efforts in Nigeria,” Google said. According to the company, the Developers Space was “the realisation of that commitment,” providing a place where entrepreneurs, developers, mentors, venture capitalists and investors could connect and collaborate.
In setting up the Lagos facility, Google said it worked closely with local partners to reflect the needs of the African tech ecosystem. The company partnered and co-located with Impact Hub Lagos and also worked with a Nigerian firm, Spacefinish, to design an environment intended to foster collaboration and innovation. Google said this approach helped ensure the space was relevant and accessible to the local community.
At the time of the launch, Google announced that access to the Developers Space would be free. “Starting today, members of the African tech community can use this Space for free,” the company said. It added that the facility would support developer meetups, training sessions, experts’ office hours, Women in tech events, startup programmes outside Launchpad, partner events that support the wider entrepreneur and developer ecosystem, and Google initiatives focused on empowering people through digital skills training.
Google also shared figures showing the reach of the Launchpad Accelerator Africa programme. Since it kicked off in 2018, the company said it had worked with 47 startups from 17 African countries, including Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. According to Google, these startups “have collectively raised millions of dollars in investment, and created hundreds of jobs,” highlighting the programme’s economic impact.
In the years following the launch, Google’s engagement with Nigeria and Africa has continued through related initiatives. Launchpad Accelerator Africa later evolved into Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa, which has remained active, with Nigerian startups regularly selected in recent cohorts. Reports from 2024 and 2025 cohorts show Nigerian founders among participants building solutions in fintech, health technology, climate and artificial intelligence, receiving equity free support, mentorship and access to global networks.
Developer community activity connected to Google initiatives has also remained visible. Google Developer Groups continue to organise meetups and technical sessions across Nigeria, while DevFest events held in Lagos and other cities in recent years have attracted thousands of developers for workshops, talks and hands on learning. These events align with Google’s earlier aim of supporting community led learning through the Developers Space and related programmes.
Google has also expanded its focus on digital skills and AI in Nigeria. In recent announcements, the company highlighted new investments and partnerships aimed at training developers, students and small businesses, with Nigeria identified as a key market. Reports on AI adoption and digital skills training show increasing participation by Nigerians, reflecting demand for the type of opportunities the Developers Space and its connected programmes were created to support.
Providing broader context at the time of the launch, Google said it runs programmes such as Google Developer Groups and Women Techmakers to support developers with training aligned to real life job requirements. Community groups also engage in activities like Study Jams, which Google described as study groups for developers. The company said there were 173 active Google Developer Groups in Africa hosting meetups, workshops and DevFests, with more than 100 DevFest events held across the continent in a year.
Google also said Africa was home to 135 Developer Student Clubs, which are university based groups for students interested in Google developer technologies. Its Women Techmakers initiative, aimed at enabling women in technology to thrive through visibility, community and resources, was described as having over 150 chapters across 25 African countries.
Reiterating its outlook, Google said Africa’s startup ecosystem is growing and added, “we’re looking forward to working with startups and other players in the ecosystem from across the continent at the Space,” underlining the continued relevance of the Lagos Developers Space within its broader Africa strategy.
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