MTN Nigeria has partnered with global social networking giant, Facebook to deliver digital marketing training to SMEs under the MTN’s first accelerator programme, Y’ello 200. The accelerator programme is a culmination of The Revv Programme, an initiative by MTN launched in 2020 to address the critical needs of MSMEs as well as to mitigate against the effects of COVID-19 on their businesses.
Using a four-pronged approach that includes masterclasses, access to market, productivity tools support and advisory initiatives, The MTN Revv Programme seeks to help SMEs relearn, rethink and retool their businesses for growth in the emerging digital economy. MTN executives along with industry experts delivered the masterclasses, focusing on various areas of business management.
Following five months of intensive training delivered to over 24,000 registered SMEs, 200 SMEs were selected for the Y’ello 200 Accelerator Programme. The 200 top-performing SMEs from the sessions will enjoy exclusive access to a broad range of technology and productivity tools and services free for a period of six months. The MTN Y’ello 200 list was unveiled at the closing ceremony of The Revv Programme which held virtually on Monday, December 14, 2020.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, congratulated the selected MSMEs. She said, “These 200 MSMEs were selected based on their performance and polls during the masterclasses. With MSMEs accounting for 94% of all businesses in Nigeria and 84% of employment, it is a known fact that when MSMEs thrive, the economy thrives. Our goal is to empower MSMEs with the tools to make them thrive in today’s digital economy. The Revv Programme has not ended but enters into its next phase”, she added.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Otunba Femi Pedro, congratulated the MSMEs. “Let me sincerely congratulate members of the Y’ello 200 on your perseverance, your quest for knowledge and staying the course during this programme. It is our desire that the knowledge gained will position your business to be stronger and better in the coming years.
Once again, I thank MTN for this laudable initiative. We also use this opportunity to charge this great company that much more is expected to thoroughly empower the millions of MSMEs in Nigeria”, the Chairman concluded.
The digital marketing training by Facebook is the initial phase of the accelerator programme and will run for six weeks. The virtual training sessions kicked off on Thursday, January 21, 2020 with a session titled “Get Creative with Your Mobile Phone”. Subsequent sessions will train the SME owners on creative ways to scale their businesses and attract customers using social media.
The Y’ello 200 will enjoy exclusive access to a broad range of technology and productivity tools and services absolutely free, for a period of six months. They will also be supported with access to market and advisory initiatives. The Revv Programme is a give back initiative targeted at MSMEs and will now be held annually.