MTN Nigeria Empowers Youths in Kano with ₦5 Million Innovation Fund at ‘100 Gathering’ Event

MTN Nigeria Empowers Youths in Kano with ₦5 Million Innovation Fund at ‘100 Gathering’ Event

Kano, Nigeria – Telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young Nigerians by hosting the Kano edition of its "100 Gathering" initiative, a youth-focused event designed to inspire innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and collaboration.

The vibrant gathering attracted hundreds of young entrepreneurs, content creators, artists, gamers, writers, tech innovators, and business leaders, creating a unique platform where ideas were transformed into opportunities for growth and social impact.

MTN's '100 Gathering' Continues Nationwide Youth Empowerment Drive

Following successful editions in Lagos, Enugu, and Aba, the Kano event showcased MTN Nigeria's dedication to supporting talented young people across every region of the country.

Speaking during the event, Abu-Sufyan Aliyu, Senior Manager, Sales, Northeast Region, MTN Nigeria, explained that the initiative was created to unite ambitious young Nigerians and provide an ecosystem where innovation can thrive.

> "The 100 Gathering is an event meant to bring people together and create a platform for them to connect, share ideas, and develop innovative solutions to the challenges affecting their communities," Aliyu said.

He emphasized that the programme encourages collaboration, self-discovery, networking, and the development of impactful solutions capable of transforming lives and communities.

MTN Awards ₦5 Million to Young Innovators

One of the biggest highlights of the event was the highly competitive innovation pitch contest, where MTN rewarded outstanding business ideas with financial support.

The winners received:

🥇 First Prize: ₦2.5 million

🥈 Second Prize: ₦1.5 million

🥉 Third Prize: ₦1 million

According to MTN, the funding is intended to help young innovators grow their startups, expand their teams, and bring their ideas to life.

Applicant Startup Emerges Overall Winner

The grand prize was awarded to Samiat Yusuf, co-founder of Applicant, an innovative digital platform that simplifies programme management for organisations.

The platform enables organisations to:

Manage applications efficiently

Select participants seamlessly

Track attendance

Monitor project deliverables

Send automated communications

Generate real-time reports

Yusuf described the recognition as a major milestone that will accelerate product development, strengthen her team, and expand Applicant's reach to more organisations across Nigeria.

More Than Just a Competition

Beyond the pitch contest, the event featured exciting activities including:

Gaming competitions

Art exhibitions

Live drawing sessions

Business networking

Creative showcases

Entrepreneurial engagement sessions

Participants from different industries exchanged ideas, formed partnerships, and explored opportunities that could shape Nigeria's innovation ecosystem.

MTN Continues Investing in Nigeria's Future

The MTN 100 Gathering is expected to continue in more cities across Nigeria as part of the company's broader mission to empower young people with the tools, funding, and networks needed to build successful businesses and create lasting social impact.

With initiatives like this, MTN Nigeria continues to position itself as a key driver of youth innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development across the country.

Why This Matters

As Nigeria's youth population continues to grow, platforms like MTN's 100 Gathering are creating real opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives to turn bold ideas into successful businesses. By investing in young talent today, MTN is helping shape the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers.

>>> What do you think about MTN Nigeria's investment in young innovators? Should more companies create similar opportunities for Nigerian youths? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to share this article with others.