By Ayomide Otitoju
The MTN Foundation has successfully concluded the seventh phase of its ICT and Business Skills Training Programme, graduating 5,980 young entrepreneurs and formally inducting them into its growing alumni network of digitally empowered business leaders.
The Phase 7 closing ceremony, held Wednesday at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and participants to celebrate youth empowerment and enterprise development.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the event as more than a graduation ceremony, calling it a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. “We do not merely confer certificates today. We celebrate capacity built, confidence strengthened, and futures deliberately designed,” he said, urging graduates to lead Nigeria’s digital and economic transformation under the pillars of youth empowerment, economic diversification, and digital innovation.
A highlight of the ceremony was the awarding of equipment grants worth N300 million to 600 top-performing micro-businesses, aimed at boosting operational capacity, enterprise growth, and job creation.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, encouraged graduates to view themselves as drivers of national prosperity. He emphasized that Nigeria’s economic growth relies not only on large corporations but also on millions of small businesses growing innovatively across communities. Oyedele highlighted ongoing economic reforms designed to simplify tax processes, reduce compliance burdens, and create an enabling environment for micro and small enterprises.
Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Mallam Surajudeen Yakubu described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, cultivating a new generation of digitally equipped entrepreneurs. Executive Director Odunayo Sanya noted that over 15,000 youths have participated since the programme’s inception, stating, “By equipping young Nigerians with high-demand digital skills, we are cultivating a workforce ready to compete globally. This initiative demonstrates that Nigeria’s greatest resource is its people, not oil.”
Participants shared the transformative impact of the training. Abuja-based caterer Adenike Akintola said the programme had revolutionized her business operations: “Before now, I did not track my sales because I needed a data analyst. Now, the Data for Business Growth track has helped me manage inventory, track customers, and balance accounts. It has really been helpful.”
The MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training Programme continues to serve as a flagship initiative, equipping Nigerian youths with practical digital and business skills to enhance productivity, sustainability, and long-term economic impact.
