Lagos Canva training is set to equip 5,000 businesses with practical skills in digital marketing, branding and artificial intelligence following a partnership between the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and global design platform Canva. The initiative aims to help small businesses improve their online visibility, develop professional marketing materials and compete more effectively in an increasingly digital economy.
According to a report published on October 19, the one-year partnership will provide eligible nano, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with free access to Canva Business and at least four virtual training sessions designed to strengthen their digital capabilities.
The programme also aims to encourage at least 2,000 participating businesses to become regular users of the platform, demonstrating that the initiative seeks not only to introduce entrepreneurs to digital tools but also to encourage their continued use in everyday business activities.
Lagos Canva Training to Strengthen Digital Marketing
The training will cover several areas, including brand management, AI-assisted design and marketing campaign management, with participants expected to learn how to create branded content, develop reusable design templates and produce promotional materials that reflect their businesses professionally.
Through the programme, business owners will also learn to create presentations, portfolios, social media graphics and marketing campaigns, which could help them communicate their products and services more effectively to potential customers.
For many small businesses, hiring professional designers or marketing specialists for every promotional activity can be expensive, particularly when they operate with limited resources and must prioritise essential expenses such as stock, rent, transportation and staff salaries.
By learning to use Canva’s design tools and templates, entrepreneurs could handle some routine marketing tasks themselves while maintaining a more consistent visual identity across their online platforms and other promotional materials.
The programme will also introduce participants to Canva’s artificial intelligence features, which can support content development and simplify certain design processes when users provide suitable instructions and review the results carefully.
However, business owners will still need to understand their target audiences, communicate accurate information and maintain the quality of their marketing materials to ensure that technology supports their business objectives rather than replacing sound marketing decisions.
Partnership Aims to Reach 5,000 Lagos Businesses
The partnership comes ahead of the year-end trading season, when businesses in sectors such as fashion, food, hospitality, beauty, entertainment and retail often compete for increased consumer attention and spending.
During this period, attractive product presentations, timely promotions and effective online communication can help businesses reach prospective customers, although their success will also depend on pricing, product quality, customer service and the strength of their overall marketing strategies.
LSETF Executive Secretary Feyisayo Alayande said access to finance alone cannot guarantee business growth without the knowledge and digital tools entrepreneurs need to reach customers and present their products professionally.
Her remarks underline the importance of combining financial support with practical training, particularly for small businesses that may have limited experience using digital platforms to promote their products and manage their brands.
Canva Africa Partnership Lead Farai Ntuli also highlighted the timing of the initiative, explaining that the partners want business owners to apply the skills during the busy trading season, including in areas such as digital content, product packaging, presentations and marketing materials.
The programme will therefore focus on practical outputs that participating businesses can use in their operations, rather than relying solely on theoretical instruction or general introductions to digital technology.
Applications and Training Schedule
Applications for the programme opened on October 9, while onboarding is scheduled for early November, with training expected to continue until February 2027.
Eligible businesses interested in participating should check the official announcements from LSETF for application requirements, selection details and further instructions before submitting their applications.
The one-year partnership reflects a broader effort to help Lagos entrepreneurs improve their business capabilities through digital skills development and access to modern design tools.
If participants apply what they learn consistently, the initiative could help more businesses strengthen their branding, organise their promotional activities and reach customers through digital channels.
Ultimately, the success of the programme will depend not only on how many businesses enrol but also on whether participants continue using the skills and tools after training, improve their marketing practices and achieve meaningful results in their day-to-day operations.
