The MTN Foundation has trained over 2,000 young Nigerians in digital and business skills under its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills and Training Programme.
Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Mrs Odunayo Sanya, said the programme was designed to equip young entrepreneurs with skills relevant to their business needs.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and supporting young entrepreneurs with simple digital tools can improve productivity and long-term growth,” she said.
Sanya explained that the seventh cohort of the programme focuses on helping Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) adopt digital tools to enhance productivity and sustainability.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), SMEs account for over 90 per cent of businesses in Nigeria and employ a significant portion of the country’s workforce.
The Foundation said the programme followed a call for applications in September 2025, which attracted over 5,000 entries from Nigerians aged 18 to 35.
Selected participants are currently undergoing a five-week virtual training programme, which is scheduled to end in February 2026. The training began with a general onboarding session and covers four business tracks, focusing on practical digital solutions for small businesses.
Participants come from sectors such as food services, fashion, retail, logistics, beauty, and printing. They are being trained on affordable digital tools suitable for small and early-stage enterprises.
Sanya said the programme emphasises gradual digital transformation, encouraging participants to digitise basic operations and scale up over time.
The sessions are facilitated by Business Analyst and Digital Transformation Expert, Mr Babajide Jolaolu-Kehinde, who said automating repetitive tasks helps small businesses save time, reduce errors, and improve efficiency.
He introduced tools such as WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business for customer engagement and MTN’s MoMo API for digital payments. Using case studies, Jolaolu-Kehinde demonstrated how digital tools can help small businesses expand their customer base and increase sales.
The Foundation added that participants will continue to access learning materials and recorded sessions throughout the programme, ensuring ongoing support for their business growth.
