As part of a strategic alignment with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy and SME Development agenda, the MTN Foundation has officially launched the seventh phase of its ICT business skills training. The initiative, which commenced in January 2026, aims to equip over 2,000 entrepreneurs with the digital “survival kit” required to scale in a rapidly formalizing market.
1. The SWOT Pivot: Assessing the 2026 Landscape
Led by business analyst Babajide Jolaolu-Kehinde, the opening sessions introduced participants to the SWOT framework (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). In the current economic climate, the “Weakness” identified by most Nigerian SMEs is the reliance on manual, paper-based operations, which limits visibility and growth.
2. The Digital “Quick Wins”: Practical Tools for Traders
The training moved beyond theory, demonstrating how simple, low-cost digital migrations can yield immediate results for local traders:
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Record Keeping: Moving from handwritten ledgers to basic spreadsheets to enable real-time tracking of sales performance and customer behavior.
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Payment Integration: Shifting from “cash-only” models to mobile transfers and online payment options to reduce friction and improve security.
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Market Expansion: Utilizing WhatsApp Business and online marketplaces to reach customers beyond immediate physical locations.
3. Strategic Formalization
A core objective of the programme is to help SMEs align with government efforts to formalize the sector. By adopting digital tools, small businesses generate the data required to access credit, prove turnover, and transition from the informal to the formal economy. Trainers emphasized that digital records reduce errors and provide the “verifiable truth” that banks and investors demand.
4. Sustained Mentorship
The five-week virtual programme is not a one-off event. Organizers confirmed that the training will be followed by mentorship and follow-up workshops to ensure that the adoption of at least one digital improvement—be it an online order channel or a digital inventory system—becomes a permanent fixture of each business.
The Bottom Line
The MTN Foundation’s 7th ICT phase is a direct intervention in Nigeria’s long-term economic development. By converting 2,000 “paper-based” traders into “data-driven” entrepreneurs, the initiative is helping build a more resilient, transparent, and scalable SME ecosystem for the future.
