About this opportunity
The MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training Programme is back for its eighth phase, and this round is designed around women. Phase 8 will train 3,000 female owners of micro businesses across Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano and Gombe states, equipping them with practical, tech-driven and digital skills they can apply straight to their businesses.
The programme has been running since 2018 through seven successful phases in collaboration with Google, Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, Cisco, Meta and Microsoft, reaching 29 states and the FCT. In that time 15,362 young microbusiness owners have completed the training.
Phase 8 runs for five weeks using blended learning. You move through self-paced online modules, join instructor-led sessions and masterclasses from seasoned entrepreneurs, and finish with a capstone project challenge. Participants also receive data support so that learning does not stall for connectivity reasons.
The strongest incentive is at the end of it. The top 100 participants receive up to N1,000,000 each in equipment grants, drawn from a N100,000,000 fund. Applications close on 11 October 2026.
What you receive
- Five weeks of free blended learning built around self-paced online modules, instructor-led sessions, masterclasses and a capstone project challenge
- Up to N1,000,000 in equipment grants for the top 100 participants, from a N100,000,000 fund
- Data support during the programme to keep your learning experience seamless
- Practical ICT and digital business skills you can apply directly to your business
- Training delivered with the support of partners including Google, Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, Cisco, Meta and Microsoft
Who can apply
- Be a Nigerian woman aged 18 to 35
- Own and manage a micro business that has been operational for no more than two years
- Run the business in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano or Gombe state
- Be available for a five week blended-learning programme
Who should not apply
- Male applicants are not eligible for this phase
- Applicants outside the six participating states are not eligible
- Businesses that have been operational for more than two years are not eligible
Documents to prepare
- Complete all compulsory fields on the online application form
- Read and accept the terms and conditions and the privacy policy shown on the application form before submitting
How to apply
- Open the application portal at https://mtnictandbusinessskills.mtn.ng/mtn-foundation
- Fill in every compulsory field on the form, since incomplete applications are not confirmed
- Read and accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy, then tick the acceptance box
- Continue through the form and submit before the closing date of 11 October 2026
- Read the full programme details at https://www.mtn.ng/mtnf-ict/
Selection process
- Applications are submitted through the MTN Foundation training portal
- Participants are trained over five weeks, with the programme reaching 3,000 women across the six states
- The top 100 participants are selected to receive equipment grants from the N100,000,000 fund
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Who is Phase 8 for?
Female Nigerian microbusiness owners aged 18 to 35 whose businesses are no more than two years old and located in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano or Gombe state.
Does the programme cost anything?
No. The training is free and participants receive data support during the programme.
How much can I receive?
The top 100 participants receive up to N1,000,000 each in equipment grants.
When does training happen?
Phase 8 runs for five weeks using blended learning that mixes online modules with live sessions and masterclasses.
Important disclaimer
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