The MTN Foundation has unveiled its sixth phase of the ICT and business skills training capacity-building program under its youth development initiative. This innovative endeavor is aimed at equipping young entrepreneurs and business owners, aged between 18 and 35 years, with the essential skills needed to succeed in the modern digital economy.
Odunayo Sanya, the Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, unveiled this new phase and emphasized its focus on empowering young entrepreneurs across the nation. The targeted states for this phase include Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe. These states have been carefully selected to ensure a wide-reaching impact on budding entrepreneurs from diverse regions.
Recognizing the vital role that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in building a robust and sustainable economy, MTN Foundation is dedicated to empowering the next generation of business leaders. Sanya highlighted that as a technology company, MTN is committed to providing youth with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Sanya further elaborated on the details of the program, revealing that the sixth phase will encompass a five-week online training in collaboration with industry giants Microsoft and Meta. The training will cover vital ICT and business skills, equipping participants with the tools needed to establish and nurture successful enterprises.
One of the notable highlights of this phase is the provision of an equipment grant totaling N90 million for the top 300 participants upon the program’s completion. This financial support is designed to empower these entrepreneurs to kick-start their ventures with confidence and competence.
Since its inception, the MTN Foundation’s ICT and business skills initiative has gained momentum, completing five successful phases. Collaborations with respected organizations such as Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, CISCO, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have led to impactful training in 16 states across Nigeria. This comprehensive approach reflects MTN Foundation’s commitment to nurturing a generation of digitally savvy entrepreneurs capable of driving the nation’s economic growth.
As the sixth phase of this training program commences, it is evident that MTN Foundation’s dedication to youth empowerment and capacity building remains unwavering. The convergence of cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial skills promises to pave the way for a new wave of success stories within Nigeria’s business landscape.
