MTN Foundation has announced the opening of applications for the seventh phase of its ICT and Business Skills Training, which will benefit young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and seven states including Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Ondo, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba. The initiative will select 600 participants to share grants and support worth up to N300 million.
According to a statement, applications will be open for four weeks, after which 6,000 applicants will be shortlisted for training. The training will run for four weeks using a blended format of self-paced and instructor-led sessions, followed by a week of Masterclasses with industry experts. The programme is open to Nigerian males and females who own and manage micro businesses that have been in operation for no longer than two years.
The MTN Foundation explained that the top 600 participants from the training will receive post-training support and equipment grants to help scale their ventures. Since the launch of the programme in 2018, a total of 9,384 entrepreneurs across 22 states have been trained, and 500 micro business owners have already received equipment grants to strengthen their businesses.
Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Director at MTN Foundation, Ms Odunayo Sanya, said, “We believe in the power of Nigeria’s youth to lead innovation and transformation. Through this programme, we are providing access to the right tools, skills and resources to help young entrepreneurs succeed and make an impact in their communities. For us, it’s a commitment to nation-building.”
The ICT and Business Skills Training programme was designed to encourage digital transformation and entrepreneurship among young Nigerians, while promoting sustainable business development and youth-led economic growth. Interested applicants are advised to apply through https://apps.mtn.ng/ict-training/ within the application period.