Airtel empowers Nigerian youths with skill acquisition scheme

Airtel Nigeria, a telecom services provider, has taken another huge step towards youth development in Nigeria by creating an empowerment initiative aimed at providing the youths with practical knowledge in mobile phone repairs.

The Basic Mobile Phone Repair Module (BMPRM) offers a two-week certificate course, which equips participants with fundamental knowledge of mobile phone repairs. The initiative, organised by Airtel Nigeria and facilitated by experts in phone repairs, is also designed to empower participants to become small and medium enterprise (SME) owners.

The first session was held in Port Harcourt with 40 participants and, according to the telco, the inaugural phase of the programme has been scheduled to cover another 100 youths drawn from Bayelsa, Edo and Delta states.

Upon completion of the training, the participants will be set up as APRP operators, data and SIM selling outlets and SIM swap agents among a host of other opportunities.

Speaking on the initiative, Segun Ogunsanya, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, noted that Airtel came up with the idea in line with its vision to encourage SMEs in Nigeria and also to empower hundreds of youths through the programme.

Ogunsanya: “As more mobile devices are coming into the Nigerian market, there is growing demand for technicians who can repair phones and other mobile devices. We also appreciate the fact that millions of young people need to be engaged in productive ventures that can guarantee them stable income.”

“This training is part of our plans to start building a crop of SME businesses that will spin off our core business and also bring Airtel closer to our customers. It is a platform which will assist our youths to channel their energy in the right direction. At Airtel, it is our commitment to empower Nigerian youths and provide the necessary support to develop the talent in them,” said Godfrey Efeurhobo, who represented Ogunsanya.