MTN Foundation’s Skills Academy is helping Nigerian graduates gain digital skills, professional certifications and practical experience for employment
MTN Foundation Equips Nigerian Graduates With Digital Skills
By Lukman OMIKUNLE
The MTN Foundation is equipping young Nigerians with digital skills, professional certifications and practical experience to improve their employability and support career development through its MTN Skills Academy.
Beneficiaries of the programme shared their experiences at the Social Media Fest (SMFest) Abuja 2026, held at the Family Worship Center, Wuye, Abuja, on Saturday, October 17, highlighting how the initiative has helped them build relevant skills and access career opportunities.
The participants said the academy’s online learning resources, industry-recognised certifications and practical projects had strengthened their professional profiles and prepared them for opportunities in the technology industry and other sectors.
One beneficiary, who completed software engineering courses through the academy, said the programme helped him overcome the difficulty of identifying a clear entry point into the technology sector.
He explained that certifications obtained from Amazon through Coursera improved his technical knowledge, enabled him to develop practical projects and strengthened his chances of securing internship opportunities.
“The certifications I earned and the projects I built strengthened my CV and helped me secure a remote backend engineering internship,” he said.
“Through this opportunity, I have gained valuable hands-on experience, learned how to apply my skills in a professional setting, and taken an important first step in my career.”
The beneficiary said he had also applied his training to develop a backend application programming interface capable of collecting data from the web, processing and formatting the information into updates, and distributing them to subscribers.
According to him, the project has enabled him to apply software engineering concepts to automate practical tasks and gain experience in solving real-world problems.
He, however, called for more internship opportunities, structured mentorship and professional guidance to help young technology professionals strengthen their skills and achieve long-term career growth.
Another beneficiary, Abdullahi Zulqarnain Ogirima, a civil engineering graduate and MTN scholar, said the academy had helped him acquire digital competencies that complement his academic background and career ambitions.
Ogirima said his training covered office applications, data analysis and real estate, adding that the courses had improved his ability to organise information, make informed decisions and approach engineering and business challenges.
“As an MTN scholar, I was attracted to the academy’s opportunity to develop practical digital skills,” Ogirima said.
“As a Civil Engineering graduate, I chose courses that complement my engineering background, strengthen my problem solving abilities, and support my long term career ambitions.”
He said the training had increased his confidence in using technology to solve problems and motivated him to share his knowledge with friends and colleagues.
Ogirima added that he planned to apply his digital skills to engineering, explore opportunities in data analysis and real estate, and contribute to projects with practical value.
He noted that digital learning initiatives could improve employability, promote entrepreneurship and support national development by preparing young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the labour market.
The MTN Skills Academy provides young Nigerians with access to digital learning resources, career guidance and certification courses designed to prepare them for employment and entrepreneurship.
According to MTN Nigeria, the platform offers free learning opportunities to Nigerians aged 15 to 35, with courses delivered in partnership with Coursera.
The initiative forms part of MTN’s broader Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme, which aims to equip young people with competencies that match the changing demands of the labour market.
The beneficiaries’ experiences underscore the growing importance of digital education, practical training and professional certifications in helping young Nigerians navigate the employment market.
