SMEs can access MTN free data bundle to build capacity

MTN Nigeria Plc is making a new data bundle available for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who desire to access free business capacity-building content but cannot afford the data required to do so.

According to the state of MSMEs in Nigeria report by Kippa, the most significant impediment to MSMEs’ growth is not a lack of capital. One of the impediments spotlighted was a lack of the skills necessary to manage a successful firm. And skillfulness starts from the acquisition of knowledge.

Knowledge acquisition is an essential element that gives businesses a competitive edge in the market. Operating a business in Nigeria today is becoming an increasingly uphill task with the rising inflation rates and fierce business competition.

To help Nigerian businesses build capacity and grow by learning online, MTN Nigeria Plc is making a new data bundle available for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The telco giant partnered with reputable organisations that already provide free focused developmental content and solutions for small businesses.

The partner organisations currently include the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the foremost non-profit organisation, FATE Foundation, and Pan-Atlantic University's Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), with more partners to join in due course.

The learning data plan works exclusively on websites of partner organisations, currently offering free capacity-building resources for MSMEs.

Commenting on the partnership, MTN’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor said "having understood the need for capacity building and the positive impact of continuous learning on MSMEs, MTN has partnered with reputable learning providers to bring learning closer to MSMEs. With these new affordable plans, data access will no longer be an impediment to learning.”

She added that these partnerships are testaments to MTN's commitment to delivering the benefits of a modern connected world to businesses.

In addition, the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Wale Fasanya noted that "This initiative will boost access to learning resources on the SME Digital Academy for micro and small businesses and greatly improve their chances of thriving. The businesses will also receive certificates of completion endorsed by SMEDAN. He commended MTN and its technical partner Sapphital Learning, for making this available and pledged the commitment of SMEDAN towards educating, empowering, and elevating millions of MSMEs across the country."

While affirming the partnership, Adenike Adeyemi, the Executive Director, FATE Foundation, remarked that "this partnership will enable Nigerian entrepreneurs to have fast and easy access to essential resources on msmehub.org with tools, templates, and resources to sustain their businesses."

Noting that the partnership was coming at the appropriate time, the Director, Pan-Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Dr. Peter Bamkole, stated that "offering the EDC toolkit platform to SMEs will provide them with useful information, business resources and continuous learning opportunities to grow and succeed."

Business owners can activate the learning bundle via USSD and SMS by dialling *460*600# or sending Learn to 131 respectively. The bundle subscription is available to all MTN prepaid subscribers.

Customers can also check their bundle balance on *460*4*3#, *131*4# and *556#. The bonus data is designed to deplete with use on any of the platforms. Usage is cumulative and the offer is as low as N200 with a seven-day validity.