Empowering Youth through Digital Skills: MTN Nigeria Invests 3 Billion Naira into the 3MTT Programme
In a significant stride towards Nigeria's digital future, MTN Nigeria has pledged a N3 billion grant to support the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme. This initiative, which aims to equip three million young Nigerians with digital skills, is a testament to MTN Nigeria's commitment to Nigeria's digital economy and its workforce of the future.
According to Karl Olutokun Toriola, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, digital skills are the bedrock of innovation, employment, and economic inclusion. The 3MTT Programme, therefore, represents a crucial step towards unlocking large-scale economic opportunities and fostering a skilled workforce.
The programme has already made substantial progress, with over 90,000 Nigerians trained across two cohorts. It has received over 1.8 million applications, demonstrating a high level of interest among the nation's youth. The scale-up phase, set to commence in the second quarter of this year, will feature the implementation of the Nigeria Talent Cities Initiative.
MTN Nigeria's support extends beyond financial contributions. The company has provided N1.5 billion in data grants to ensure learners have uninterrupted access to digital learning resources. Furthermore, an additional N50 million has been allocated for Raspberry Pi devices distributed for hands-on learning through the Ministry's Buildathon programme.
The 3MTT Programme offers training in various in-demand digital skills such as software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, AI, and cloud computing. These skills are aligned with infrastructural upgrades like the Broadband Alliance’s fiber-optic expansion, enhancing access to digital learning and job opportunities.
The programme's economic impact is significant. By equipping youth with technical skills, it supports Nigeria’s Renewed Hope agenda to build a strong technical talent base, increase youth employability, and stimulate the national digital economy. The vision includes Nigeria becoming an exporter of tech talent globally.
Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has praised MTN Nigeria's partnership with the 3MTT Programme, stating that it is vital in positioning Nigeria as a global hub for digital talent.
The partnerships involved in the 3MTT Programme are not limited to MTN Nigeria. Other private sector players like Airtel Africa Foundation and IHS Towers have also contributed significantly. These collaborations are critical for scaling digital skills training and creating ecosystems for continuous learning.
In July 2025, Nigeria launched a ₦100 million grant-backed 3MTT–DBN entrepreneurship program targeting 100,000 participants, demonstrating ongoing expansion and diversification of the program’s impact into entrepreneurship and advanced learning clusters.
MTN Nigeria's commitment to the 3MTT Programme includes providing scholarships for future-proof skills in various digital fields. The company's continued support will focus on training more Nigerians, particularly those from underserved communities, to ensure that opportunity is not limited by geography or circumstance, but driven by skill, inclusion, and shared purpose.
In conclusion, the 3MTT Programme, underpinned by MTN Nigeria’s significant funding and other partnerships, is driving inclusive digital skills training at scale and opening new economic pathways for Nigerian youth in the growing tech ecosystem.
- The 3MTT Programme, sponsored by MTN Nigeria, focuses on teaching in-demand digital skills such as software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, AI, and cloud computing.
- MTN Nigeria has pledged N3 billion to support the 3MTT Programme, a crucial step towards equipping three million young Nigerians with digital skills.
- Apart from financial contributions, MTN Nigeria has also provided N1.5 billion in data grants for uninterrupted access to digital learning resources and allocated N50 million for Raspberry Pi devices for hands-on learning.
- The 3MTT Programme is aligned with infrastructural upgrades like the Broadband Alliance’s fiber-optic expansion, enhancing access to digital learning and job opportunities.
- The programme's economic impact is significant, supporting Nigeria’s Renewed Hope agenda to build a strong technical talent base, increase youth employability, and stimulate the national digital economy, with aspirations to make Nigeria an exporter of tech talent globally.
- Other private sector players like Airtel Africa Foundation and IHS Towers have also contributed significantly to the 3MTT Programme, with collaborations being vital for scaling digital skills training and creating ecosystems for continuous learning.
