In alignment with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Development agenda, the MTN Foundation has commenced the seventh phase of its ICT Business Skills Training, onboarding 6,000 microbusiness owners across Nigeria.

The virtual training programme, which began on January 5, is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs transition from paper-based operations to the use of simple digital tools that enhance productivity, efficiency, and business growth.

The onboarding session was facilitated by a Business Analyst, Babajide Jolaolu-Kehinde, and moderated by the Programme and Partnerships Lead, Temiloluwa Oyekanmi. Participants were introduced to the SWOT framework—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats—as a practical tool for evaluating business performance and identifying priority areas for improvement.

Jolaolu-Kehinde stressed the importance of digital record-keeping, online payment adoption, and customer data tracking as essential foundations for sustainable growth. He noted that these practices align with broader government efforts to formalise and scale small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country, emphasising that growth is driven by deliberate action and structured systems rather than optimism alone.

During the session, trainers shared real-world examples of traders who expanded their customer base by adopting digital tools such as WhatsApp, online marketplaces, mobile money platforms, and basic spreadsheet applications. Other case studies highlighted how accepting mobile transfers and using digital order channels enabled businesses to reach customers beyond their immediate locations.

A major focus of the training was the limitation of manual, paper-based operations. According to the facilitators, such systems restrict visibility into sales performance and customer behaviour, while digital tools provide real-time insights, reduce errors, and unlock access to wider markets.

At the conclusion of the onboarding, participants were encouraged to implement at least one digital improvement in their businesses. Organisers also confirmed plans for follow-up workshops and mentorship sessions to ensure sustained impact, with the training programme expected to run for an additional four weeks as part of efforts to support SME growth and Nigeria’s long-term economic development goals.