By Matthew Otabe
The MTN Foundation is expanding access to digital education and employment opportunities for young Nigerians through its MTN Skills Academy, with beneficiaries highlighting how the programme has strengthened their professional skills and career prospects.
At the Social Media Fest (SMFest) Abuja 2026, held at Family Worship Center, Wuye, Abuja, on Saturday, October 17, participants shared how the initiative had equipped them with practical knowledge, industry-recognised certifications and technical skills needed to navigate the competitive labour market.
One of the beneficiaries, who undertook software engineering courses through the academy, said the programme provided him with a pathway into the technology industry, particularly by helping him overcome the difficulty of identifying where to begin his career.
He explained that the certifications he obtained from Amazon through Coursera, alongside practical projects, improved his technical competence and strengthened his chances of securing employment opportunities.
According to him, the training and projects helped improve his curriculum vitae and eventually earned him a remote backend engineering internship.
“The certifications I earned and the projects I built strengthened my CV and helped me secure a remote backend engineering internship,” he said.
He added that the internship had provided valuable hands-on experience, enabling him to apply his knowledge in a professional environment and take his first significant step towards building a career in software engineering.
The beneficiary also disclosed that he had developed a backend application programming interface capable of collecting information from the internet, processing and formatting the data into updates, and distributing them to subscribers.
He said the project demonstrated how the skills acquired through the academy could be deployed to automate processes and address practical challenges.
However, he emphasised the need for more internship placements, structured mentorship and professional guidance to help young technology enthusiasts translate their digital training into sustainable careers.
Similarly, another beneficiary, Abdullahi Zulqarnain Ogirima, a civil engineering graduate and MTN scholar, said the academy had broadened his professional capabilities by providing digital skills that complement his academic background.
Ogirima disclosed that his training covered office applications, data analysis and real estate, equipping him with additional competencies for handling information, making informed decisions and addressing challenges in engineering and business.
“As an MTN scholar, I was attracted to the academy’s opportunity to develop practical digital skills. 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.
He explained that the programme had increased his confidence in applying technology to solve problems and motivated him to share the knowledge acquired with friends and colleagues.
Ogirima said he intended to deploy his newly acquired skills in engineering, explore opportunities in data analysis and real estate, and participate in projects capable of creating meaningful impact.
He noted that digital learning initiatives could play an important role in improving youth employability, promoting entrepreneurship and supporting national development.
The MTN Skills Academy offers young Nigerians access to digital learning resources, career development guidance and certification programmes designed to prepare them for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities
According to MTN Nigeria, the platform provides free learning opportunities for Nigerians aged 15 to 35, with courses delivered in partnership with Coursera.
The initiative is part of MTN’s broader Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme, which seeks to equip young people with relevant competencies to meet the evolving demands of the labour market.
The experiences shared by the beneficiaries underscore the role of digital education in opening career pathways, particularly when training is supported by practical projects and internationally recognised certifications.
They also highlight the need for stronger collaboration between digital training providers and industry players to expand access to internships, mentorship and workplace experience, ensuring that young Nigerians can effectively convert acquired skills into productive employment.
