Young Nigerian entrepreneurs collaborating during the MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training.Young Nigerian entrepreneurs collaborating during the MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training.
Sector AgnosticPre-seedSeedRevenue-generating

MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme (Phase 8)

Empowering young Nigerian microbusiness owners with tech and digital skills.

Organizer: MTN Foundation
Deadline: October 11, 2026 (in a month)
Categories: Training & Learning, Funding
Country: Nigeria

Applications are currently open for Phase 8 of the MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training. This program is designed to empower young Nigerian microbusiness owners, aged 18 to 35, with practical, tech-driven, and digital skills essential for business growth in today's economy. Since its launch in 2018, the initiative has successfully completed seven phases, training 15,362 young entrepreneurs across 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory in collaboration with partners such as Google, Oracle, KPMG, and Microsoft.


Program Details

• Duration: The training for Phase 8 will run for five weeks.
• Learning Approach: The program utilizes a blended-learning model that includes self-paced online modules, instructor-led sessions, masterclasses from seasoned entrepreneurs, and a capstone project challenge.
• Participant Support: Data support will be provided to participants to ensure a seamless learning experience and facilitate the application of new skills to their businesses.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Applicants must be Nigerian females between 18 and 35 years old.
• Business Status: Candidates must own and manage a micro-business that has been operational for no more than two years.
• Location: The business must be located in one of the following states: Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano, or Gombe.

Program Benefits

• Equipment Grants: The top 100 participants will receive up to ₦1,000,000 in equipment grants, drawn from a total fund of ₦100,000,000.
• Track Record: Over its previous phases, the program has delivered measurable impact across diverse sectors, helping microbusinesses to scale and adopt digital practices.

Application Information

• Application Deadline: October 11, 2026


The program has a strong history of collaboration with leading organizations, including Google, Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, Cisco, Meta, and Microsoft, to deliver impactful training. For more detailed information and to access the application portal, prospective applicants should visit the official webpage of the MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training (Phase 8).