The MTN Foundation says it has graduated 5,980 young Nigerians in ICT and business skills under Phase 7 of its ICT and Business Skills Training Programme, as the company positions digital capability and entrepreneurship as key levers for inclusive growth across the country.
The beneficiaries completed a curriculum designed to strengthen digital, financial and entrepreneurial capacity, with a focus on helping participants build sustainable ventures. The programme, launched in 2018 and moved online in 2020, has now trained 15,962 young Nigerians across about 30 states, with the foundation saying it has invested over ₦1 billion in the initiative alone.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Executive Director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mrs Odunayo Sanya, said the training reflects MTN’s “shared growth” philosophy and its goal of reaching underserved communities.
“At MTN, we do believe that we’re only as good as the people that we serve. Our vision really is that we envision a Nigeria where no community is left behind. Nigeria, 774 local governments, 36 states, and the FCT, and that’s a lot of work,” she said.
Sanya added that the foundation funded by up to one percent of MTN Nigeria’s annual profit after tax has invested about ₦33 billion in community projects over 22 years, reaching nearly 4,000 communities and 520 local governments. She said the foundation plans to expand its support, with increased focus on female entrepreneurs.
The Chairman of the foundation, Dr Mosun Belo-Olusoga, represented by Mallam Surajuddeen Yakubu, described the graduation as more than a ceremony, calling it a marker of resilience and a signal of growing youth-led enterprise.
“Today is more than a celebration, it is a celebration of resilience, a celebration of courage, and a celebration of possibility that we all represent,” he said, adding that the foundation intends to continue supporting participants beyond the training to help them scale.
The event also placed the graduates’ next steps within Nigeria’s evolving fiscal and MSME policy environment. Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said the initiative aligns with reforms aimed at easing the burden on small businesses and encouraging formalisation.
He outlined incentives for micro and small enterprises, including a zero per cent corporate income tax for companies with turnover below ₦100 million and assets not exceeding ₦250 million, as well as exemptions for informal businesses earning below ₦12 million annually. “One of the most important features of the reforms is the deliberate focus on micro and small enterprises. Number one, there is a zero percent corporate tax rate,” he said.
Oyedele urged participants to formalise their businesses, keep proper records and separate personal and business finances, arguing that transparency and discipline improve access to credit, investment and government support.
Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii, said Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem faces an estimated ₦20 trillion financing deficit, noting that government alone cannot close the gap. He called for deeper collaboration with the private sector to unlock capital, skills and market access.
Odii commended the foundation for training entrepreneurs and providing equipment support worth ₦300 million to 600 beneficiaries, adding that SMEDAN will support participants to formalise their ventures and access both financial and non-financial resources. He also said a policy review is underway to reshape MSME support strategies for the next five years, with business owners expected to contribute to the framework.
