Abuja, Nigeria — The MTN Foundation has successfully concluded Phase 7 of its ICT and Business Skills Training Program, marking another major milestone in its ongoing effort to strengthen youth entrepreneurship and digital inclusion across Nigeria.

The program equipped 5,980 young entrepreneurs drawn from eight states with practical knowledge in digital tools, business management, and entrepreneurial strategy. According to organizers, the initiative is designed to help participants improve productivity, scale their enterprises, and adapt to an increasingly digital economy.

At a well-attended closing ceremony in Abuja, participants, facilitators, and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the completion of the training. The event highlighted success stories from beneficiaries who demonstrated significant improvement in their business capabilities over the course of the program.

A key moment of the ceremony was the recognition of 600 top-performing participants, who received awards, tools, and business support equipment aimed at further strengthening their entrepreneurial ventures. Organizers noted that the recognition was intended to reward excellence while encouraging continued innovation and commitment.

The event also featured an interactive panel session focused on overcoming fear in entrepreneurship, where experts and business leaders shared practical advice on resilience, confidence-building, and navigating common challenges faced by startups and small business owners in Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape.

Stakeholders at the event commended the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development, stressing that empowering young people with ICT and business skills is essential for driving sustainable economic growth and digital transformation.

A symbolic highlight of the ceremony was a collective pledge by participants to apply the knowledge gained responsibly and use their skills to create positive impact within their communities and businesses.

The MTN Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to continued investment in youth empowerment programs, stating that initiatives like this remain central to its vision of building a more inclusive and digitally enabled economy in Nigeria.