The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has partnered with global design platform Canva to train 5,000 businesses in digital marketing, branding and artificial intelligence (AI), in a programme aimed at helping small enterprises improve their visibility and compete for customers.

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, according to a statement from the LSETF.

At least 2,000 participating businesses are expected to become regular users of the platform, with the programme focusing on practical digital skills that entrepreneurs can apply to their daily operations.

The training will cover brand management, AI-assisted design and marketing campaign management. Participants will learn to create branded content, develop reusable design templates, prepare presentations and build marketing materials for their businesses.

They will also be introduced to Canva’s artificial intelligence tools, which allow users to generate content through conversational prompts, as well as tools for managing marketing campaigns across different brands, markets and clients.

LSETF Executive Secretary, Feyisayo Alayande, said access to finance alone was not enough to help small businesses grow without the digital skills and tools needed to attract customers and present their products professionally.

“Beyond access to finance, businesses need the right knowledge and digital tools to grow,” Alayande said.

She added that the partnership would give selected Lagos businesses practical capabilities to create compelling content and communicate their ideas more effectively.

Canva Africa Partnership Lead, Farai Ntuli, said the initiative was timed to help businesses prepare for the busy year-end trading season, when companies in sectors such as hospitality, food, fashion, entertainment, beauty and retail compete for consumer attention.

Ntuli said participants would gain practical tools for producing digital content, designing product packaging, preparing pitch decks and exploring AI-powered workflows.

The programme is also expected to help participating businesses produce tangible materials, including brand kits, portfolios, presentations and marketing assets, rather than limiting the training to theory.

Applications opened on October 9, while onboarding is scheduled for early November. Training is expected to continue until February 2027.

Established in 2016, the LSETF is a Lagos State Government agency established to support employment creation and enterprise development through initiatives targeting entrepreneurs, job seekers and small businesses across the state.

The partnership adds digital marketing and AI skills to the support available to Lagos entrepreneurs as businesses prepare for the year-end sales period.