The MTN Foundation has opened applications for the eighth phase of its ICT and Business Skills Training Programme, targeting young Nigerian women who own and manage microbusinesses across six states.
The 2026 Phase 8 edition is expected to train 3,000 female microbusiness owners in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano and Gombe states, with participants set to receive five weeks of digital and business skills development.
The programme will combine self-paced online learning, instructor-led training, business masterclasses and a capstone project, while participants will also receive data support throughout the training period.
Beyond the training, the programme offers a major equipment grant opportunity for its highest-performing participants, with the top 100 participants eligible to receive up to ₦1 million each from a total ₦100 million equipment grant fund.
The MTN Foundation said the grant is not an automatic payment to all successful applicants, but an additional opportunity reserved for the top-performing participants at the end of the programme.
The ICT and Business Skills Training Programme is a youth-development initiative designed to help young microbusiness owners strengthen the digital and business capabilities required to establish, manage and grow their enterprises.
Since its launch in 2018, the programme has trained thousands of young Nigerian microbusiness owners through partnerships with organisations including Google, Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, Cisco, Meta and Microsoft.
According to the MTN Foundation, 15,362 young microbusiness owners have completed the programme across 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
For Phase 8, however, the initiative has been specifically designed for female entrepreneurs operating microbusinesses in six states, creating a targeted opportunity for young women seeking to strengthen their businesses through technology and practical business knowledge.
To qualify, applicants must be Nigerian women aged between 18 and 35 who own and manage a microbusiness that has been operating for no more than two years.
Their businesses must also be located in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano or Gombe State. Women operating businesses outside the six designated states are not eligible to apply for Phase 8.
Successful applicants will undergo five weeks of ICT and business skills development through online modules, instructor-led sessions and masterclasses facilitated by experienced entrepreneurs, alongside data support.
The programme is structured to enable participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired directly to their existing businesses, potentially improving their capacity to manage operations, adopt digital tools and pursue business growth.
The MTN Foundation said its broader ICT and Business Skills Programme has also provided equipment support in previous phases, with 1,100 recipients receiving equipment grants worth a combined ₦430 million.
Interested women entrepreneurs are required to visit the official MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training page and select the “Click here to apply” option to access the application form.
Applicants are expected to provide accurate personal and business information and confirm that they meet all eligibility requirements before submitting their applications.
Applications for MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training Phase 8 close on October 11, 2026. Eligible women entrepreneurs are encouraged to complete their applications before the deadline.
Key programme details: The initiative targets 3,000 female microbusiness owners aged 18 to 35 in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano and Gombe. Eligible businesses must have operated for no more than two years. Training lasts five weeks, while the top 100 participants are eligible for equipment grants of up to ₦1 million each, from a total ₦100 million fund.
Application: MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training official application page