MTN Foundation begins training of 2,000 Nigerian Entrepreneurs in Digital Business Skills
MTN Foundation has launched the seventh phase of its ICT business skills programme, bringing digital training to over 2,000 small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs across Nigeria. The initiative, which supports the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy and SME Development agenda, aims to help traditional businesses transition from paper-based operations to digital systems.
The virtual training programme, which began in early January and runs for five weeks, focuses on practical digital tools that small businesses can implement immediately from mobile payment systems to customer tracking and online marketing.
Business analyst Babajide Jolaolu-Kehinde, who led the opening sessions, introduced participants to the SWOT framework for business assessment and emphasized a core principle: “Hope is good, but action and systems make growth happen.”
The training addresses a challenge many Nigerian SMEs face: limited visibility into their business performance. Trainers showed how digital adoption even simple steps like switching from handwritten records to spreadsheets or accepting mobile transfers instead of cash can transform operations.
Real-world examples included traders who expanded their customer reach through WhatsApp Business, online marketplaces and digital order channels, moving beyond their immediate physical locations to serve wider markets.
“Paper-based records restrict what you can see about your sales and customers,” facilitators explained. “Digital tools give you real-time data, reduce errors and open doors to growth.”
Programme and partnerships lead Temiloluwa Oyekanmi emphasized that the training is just the beginning. Follow-up workshops and mentorship sessions are planned to ensure participants can sustain their digital transformation journey.
Each entrepreneur has been encouraged to adopt at least one digital improvement, with the broader goal of formalizing and scaling Nigeria’s SME sector, a key pillar of the country’s economic development strategy.
As Nigeria continues positioning itself as a digital economy leader in Africa, programmes like this represent grassroots-level investment in the entrepreneurs who will drive that vision forward.
