MTN Foundation has launched its Skills Academy, a transformative digital learning platform designed to empower three million Nigerians with access to digital and financial skills essential for the 21st Century economy.

The launch event, held in Abuja, brought together top government officials, education stakeholders, and technology experts, reinforcing the importance of public-private collaboration in building a digitally inclusive Nigeria.

With youth unemployment over six percent and more than 18.3 million children out of school, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria faces a pressing need to close the digital skills gap.

The Skills Academy directly responds to this challenge by offering free, self-paced courses and certifications in high-demand areas such as data analysis, software engineering, digital marketing, and project management. 

The chairman of the MTN Foundation, Dr. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, at the launch event in Abuja, said the Foundation believes digital skills are a truly powerful asset.

Belo-Olusoga who was represented by the director of the MTN Foundation, Simon Aranonu affirmed that, “No Nigerian youth or child should be left behind because of their socioeconomic background. This platform is designed to provide world-class learning experiences, helping Nigerian youth thrive and become future leaders.”

To date, the platform has over 7,000 people learning and over 3,000 courses completed, setting a strong foundation for nationwide scalability.

The minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in his keynote, described the platform as “unique and critical.”

“Nigeria is a country that is extremely blessed. With an average age of just 16.9, we are one of the youngest populations in the world. This program is not just about training; it’s about equipping a generation that will drive innovation, deepen our economy, and position Nigeria as a net exporter of tech talent,” the minister commented.

Executive director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, added, “We are focused on building Africa’s largest digital talent pipeline. Through relevant and practical courses across various disciplines, offered in collaboration with the global e-learning platform Coursera, this web-based training system will be instrumental in promoting a digitally skilled workforce.”

The platform, available at https://skillsacademy.mtn.com/, is open to individuals aged 13 and above, whether in school, recently graduated, self-employed, or unemployed. It also features a career guidance tool to help secondary school students and other users explore pathways aligned with their strengths and market demand. 

This initiative is part of the MTN Foundation’s broader Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme, which aligns with the Nigerian Government’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.