Kano is a gorgeous place, you have heard all the stories - the
splendour of the Tiga Dam; the colours of the Dying Pits; the beauty of
the Falgore Game Reserve or the bustle of the Kurmi market. Yes, we have
heard all the gist, yet none of the beauties listed above is at the top
of things we love about Kano right now? Now you’re wondering, what on
earth is it? Okay, let’s give you the gist. Earlier this year, we headed
for the ancient city of Ibadan in Oyo State for the pilot phase of MTN
Foundation’s ICT and Business Skills Training and then we moved on to
Kano on Wednesday, 8th 2018 and Thursday, 9th 2018. Let’s just tell you
now, Kano’s edition took the training another step further. We haven’t
stopped thinking about it. Here are the five reasons we love about the
training in Kano and why we are excited for the next one! 1.
Strictly Experts: For two (2) days, experts from the MTN Foundations and
its ecosystem partners - KPMG; IBM; DBI (Digital Bridge Institute) and
Oracle came together to train youths on the necessary skills in ICT and
Business. There was so much to learn and Kano was surely better for it.
The participants learnt how to use the right social media skills to
increase customers for business and financial accounting. 2. The
Tasks Were Fun: So, at the end of each day, the hall filled with
hundreds of students was divided into tables and each recipient was able
to sit and think through engaging tasks. Each team picked a leader to
present their answers and at the end of the entire session, shouts of
victory rung in the air when a group was crowned winner. You needed to
have seen the competitive drive in the air. That's one of the things we
are excited to see in the next state - people coming together to learn
and enjoy every minute of it. Lest I forget, the winner team was also
rewarded big time. 3. It was Free: Yes, participants did not pay a
single dime for attending the event. That was very interesting! Each day
had a roughly nine-hour-long intensive session and yet there was not a
fee to any of the activities. It was all paid for by MTN Foundation. 4.
Our Selfie game was on fleek! Yes, “all work and no play” was not our
problem at all. The recipients with the most liked selfie on twitter
got a surprise gift! See, using social media to win - we learned fast.
Four lucky recipients happily received gifts from the MTN Foundation
team. 5. We had a Mega Freebie! Okay, you have to keep this a
secret - after the wrap up, each day the participants were handed
envelopes to help with transportation back home. All recipients! We
opened our mouths in shock when we found out. First, we got free
training that would last our lives then we got to enjoy a trip back
home, all expenses on MTN! We tried to beg the team not to leave, but
ehn...like Santa Claus, they had to go improve other lives. You
understand the sheer excitement we have for Kano, the possibilities that
the young people of the state now have. After the training, the
employability level in Kano has increased by the hundreds of participant
present. If that isn't a reason to shout ‘whoop!” we really cannot help
you...
