MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme 2026 (Phase 8)
A free, five-week digital and business-skills training programme from the MTN Foundation for young Nigerian women running microbusinesses. Phase 8 focuses specifically on female entrepreneurs in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano and Gombe states, with the top performers eligible for equipment grants.
Eligibility
- Nigerian woman aged 18-35
- Owns and manages a microbusiness that has been operational for no more than 2 years
- Business located in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano, or Gombe state
Who is not eligible: male applicants, businesses older than two years, and applicants based outside the six named states — this phase is not open nationally.
What you need to apply
- Proof of business location within one of the six eligible states
- Evidence your business has been operating for two years or less
- Commitment to the full five-week blended-learning schedule
Position yourself
The equipment grants go to the top 100 performers, judged partly through a capstone project challenge at the end of the programme — treating that project as a real opportunity to showcase your specific business, rather than a generic assignment, is what separates grant recipients from the rest of the cohort.
What to do if you are not eligible
If you're outside the six eligible states or the two-year business-age window, this specific phase isn't for you — but the MTN Foundation runs a new phase roughly once or twice a year covering different states each time, so it's worth checking again for a future round.
Benefits
Masterclasses from experienced entrepreneurs
Data support throughout the programme
Top 100 participants receive up to ₦1,000,000 each in equipment grants, from a ₦100,000,000 fund
How to apply
Applications close 11 October 2026. Apply through the MTN Foundation's own ICT training portal, confirming your state, business age, and gender eligibility before submitting your details.
Application tip
Have basic details about your business ready before starting the form — its registration status, how long it's been running, and its location — since these are exactly what determines eligibility for this specific phase.
Frequently asked questions
Is this open to men?
No, Phase 8 is specifically for female microbusiness owners.
Is the training in person or online?
It's a blended format — self-paced online modules and instructor-led sessions, not requiring travel to a physical location.
Other opportunities for African undergraduates and recent graduates: browse the full, current list on our Opportunities & Updates page.
Official application: apply directly through the MTN Foundation's own portal. STUF curates opportunities but does not control external selection, so confirm every detail on the official source before applying.
Written by
✍️ Samuel Sodunke
Samuel is a content writer, freelance journalist, and judicial correspondent with an interest in human rights, social justice, and gender issues. He holds a BA …