MTN skills academy urges students to look beyond academic grades

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The MTN Skills Academy has encouraged students to complement academic excellence with practical digital skills to improve their readiness for employment and other opportunities in the digital economy.

The call was highlighted by Joshua Umoh, a student of Nile University, Abuja, who received a ₦300,000 MTN scholarship after scoring highly in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination and participating in the MTN Skills Academy programme.

Umoh shared his experience at SMFest Abuja, held at Family Worship Center, Wuye, Abuja, recently, explaining how the scholarship and digital training had helped him prepare for life beyond the classroom.

He said the scholarship helped cover some of his education related expenses, while his participation in the academy provided an opportunity to acquire practical skills that could support his studies and future career.

“I was motivated to enrol in the Skills Academy because I also wanted to gain something beyond the financial support. I wanted to learn practical digital skills, especially in areas related to technology, that could help me in school and prepare me for future opportunities,” he said.

Through the programme, Umoh studied digital marketing and e-commerce, which he chose because of his interest in how businesses use technology to reach customers, promote products and expand their operations.

Although the online learning format allowed him to study at his own pace, he said balancing the courses with other responsibilities required discipline. He managed the workload by breaking lessons into smaller sections and setting achievable learning targets.

Reflecting on the experience, Umoh said the programme reinforced his belief that academic qualifications alone were not enough to prepare young people for future professional demands.

“The biggest lesson I learned was the importance of developing skills outside of school. The programme made me realise that good grades are important, but practical skills are also very valuable,” he said, adding that the experience strengthened his interest in technology and continuous learning.

Umoh’s experience reflects the objectives of the MTN Foundation’s youth development initiatives, which seek to expand access to education, digital skills and opportunities for young Nigerians.

The MTN Skills Academy provides free online learning resources, career guidance and digital training aimed at preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“The Foundation’s broader youth development portfolio also includes scholarships and other skills-building programmes”.

While the scholarship helped ease some of the financial demands of starting university, the digital training offered Umoh an opportunity to develop skills he believes will remain relevant beyond graduation.

He therefore encouraged other young Nigerians to take advantage of similar opportunities, stressing that the benefits go beyond financial assistance to include acquiring practical skills and preparing for future career demands.