By: Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
In line with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy and SME Development agenda, the MTN Foundation has commenced the seventh phase of its ICT Business Skills onboarding programme for more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, largely drawn from Nigeria’s growing small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) sector.
The first week of the virtual training programme ran from Monday, January 5, 2026, to Friday, January 9, 2026. The initiative is designed to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs transition from paper-based operations to simple digital tools that enhance productivity and efficiency.
The session was facilitated by Babajide Jolaolu-Kehinde, a business analyst, and moderated by Temiloluwa Oyekanmi, Programme and Partnerships Lead.
Jolaolu-Kehinde introduced participants to the SWOT framework—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats—to help them assess their businesses and prioritise areas for improvement.
He emphasised the importance of digitising record-keeping, adopting online payment options, and tracking customer data to enable measurable growth, noting that these practices align with broader government efforts to formalise and scale SMEs across Nigeria. He stressed that while optimism is valuable, sustainable business growth depends on deliberate action and effective systems.
Trainers demonstrated how traders who previously relied on handwritten records expanded their customer base by adopting digital tools such as WhatsApp, online marketplaces and basic spreadsheets. Other examples included accepting mobile transfers instead of cash and using digital order channels to reach customers beyond their immediate locations.
A key focus of the discussions was the limitation of manual operations, with facilitators explaining that paper-based records restrict visibility into sales performance and customer behaviour. In contrast, digital tools provide real-time data, reduce errors and enable access to wider markets beyond local communities.
At the end 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 support sustained SME growth and contribute to Nigeria’s long-term economic development goals. The training is expected to continue for another four weeks.
