MTN Foundation Graduates 5,980 Youths, Awards N300m Equipment Grants to 600 Entrepreneurs

MTN Foundation Graduates 5,980 Youths, Awards N300m Equipment Grants to 600 Entrepreneurs

The MTN Foundation has completed the seventh phase of its ICT and Business Skills Training Programme, graduating 5,980 young entrepreneurs and inducting 6,000 participants into its expanding alumni network of tech-enabled business leaders.

Speaking at the closing ceremony held at Abuja Continental Hotel on Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, urging beneficiaries to spearhead the country’s digital and economic transformation.

“We do not merely confer certificates today. We celebrate capacity built, confidence strengthened, and futures deliberately designed,” Shettima stated.

At the event, 600 micro-businesses received equipment grants valued at over N300 million to accelerate enterprise growth and job creation. The Vice President commended the Foundation’s corporate citizenship, emphasizing that sustainable development requires strong public-private collaboration.

He noted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, youth empowerment, digital innovation, and economic diversification remain key pillars of national development.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, encouraged graduates to position themselves as drivers of economic transformation. He highlighted ongoing tax reforms aimed at simplifying processes and reducing burdens for micro and small enterprises.

Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, disclosed that over 15,000 young Nigerians have benefited from the programme since inception, describing it as a movement focused on building the productive backbone of the economy.

The ceremony featured panel discussions and the formal presentation of N300 million in grants to 600 outstanding participants, concluding with the induction of 6,000 beneficiaries into the Foundation’s alumni network.