MTN, Microsoft, and Meta Set to Empower 3000 Entrepreneurs

MTN, in collaboration with Microsoft and Meta, is set to empower 3,000 entrepreneurs with digital skills as part of its focus to help build sustainable businesses in Nigeria. This project is a corporate social responsibility of MTN Nigeria, carried out through the MTN Foundation.  In this ongoing working partnership with Microsoft and Meta, MTN Foundation has effectively begun phase 6 of its 2023 training and empowerment of 3000 young Nigerian entrepreneurs on ICT and diverse business skills.  Upon the completion of this five-week virtual training, which will be a mix of instructor-led and self-paced learning,  The programme, which commenced on September 4 and is expected to end on October 12, 2023, will see the top 300 participants each receive part of the N90,000,000 equipment grant by MTN.

Highly Recommended For You: Get Ahead in the Digital Economy with MTN ICT Equipment Grant Worth N90 Million

The training will equip 3,000 entrepreneurs with the business and technological skills needed to build sustainable businesses, but only 300 of the participants will share the N90 million equipment grants meant for the best-performing participants upon the completion of the training. However, all 3,000 participants will be trained in modules that include digital skills, artificial intelligence, and digital advertising, among others.

Odunayo Sanya, the executive secretary of the MTN Foundation, while speaking on the importance of the training, said,

In Nigeria today, there are a lot of businesses run by young people who require skills to sustain and upscale these businesses. The training we are delivering aims to equip our entrepreneurial youths with technological skills that they can in turn use to grow their businesses.

In an effort to properly inform the public on the importance and benefits of the training to the participants in particular and the Nigerian economy in general, she went on to say

As a technology company, we are committed to empowering young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, and we’re constantly seeking ways to bridge the gap between our youths and the skills they require to thrive in a digital world. We will continue to partner with other organisations in this quest.

On the other hand, the country manager of Microsoft Nigeria, Ola Williams, said,

Entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s economy. According to PwC Nigeria, SMEs account for 96 per cent of businesses and 84 per cent of employment in the country. This adds up to a contribution of 48 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP—no small amount. It’s these industrious and resourceful business owners we want to see succeed, but digital skills can be a major stumbling block to growth. By enabling SMEs with the right skills, we are creating opportunities not only for growth but employment for many people in Nigeria and the rest of the continent.

Also, the director of public policy - Anglophone West Africa at Meta, Adaora Ikenze, expressed satisfaction with the tripartite arrangement when she said,

At Meta, we strongly believe that small businesses play a critical role in driving economic growth and development, and as such, we are committed to supporting them.  We are proud to have invested in programmes that are specifically designed to provide small businesses with the resources they need to grow and succeed, and by partnering with organisations such as the MTN Foundation, we are able to have a direct and positive impact on the local economy. We invite small business owners to tap into these programmes and resources to transform their businesses and thrive in the digital economy.

You will remember that the past five editions of the MTN ICT training were done in collaboration with Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, CISCO, Google, Meta, and Microsoft.  This sixth phase is aimed at young business owners in the following states of

• Ebonyi
• Edo
•  Ekiti
• Kebbi
• Niger and
• Yobe.

MTN Foundation, since the commencement of the initiative,  has trained over 4,000 youths across 16 states in Nigeria, including

• Abia
• Adamawa,
• Akwa-Ibom
• Anambra
• Borno
• Cross River
• Imo
• Jigawa
• Kaduna
• Kano
• Katsina
• Kogi
•  Lagos
• Nasarawa
• Oyo and
• Rivers.

The MTN Foundation is a corporate social investment trustee of MTN Nigeria. Reference the official website for details and updates on its programmes and activities.

• Image Source: Tech Economy
• Quotes Source: Business Day

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