From Digital Skills to Oxygen Plants: The Human Impact of IHS Nigeria’s Empowerment Programmes

From modest beginnings in Nigeria more than two decades ago, IHS Towers has grown into one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of shared telecommunications infrastructure. Founded in 2001, the company’s footprint now stretches far beyond its country of origin into seven markets across two continents. Yet, in Nigeria, its story extends beyond towers and connectivity, touching lives through a wide range of empowerment, education, healthcare and skills-development initiatives.

Through carefully structured programmes delivered in partnership with government agencies, international organisations and local institutions, IHS Nigeria has supported communities, schools, hospitals and thousands of individuals, many of whom have gone on to build sustainable careers, businesses and social impact projects.

Strengthening STEM Education Through the Global Educators Programme

IHS Nigeria’s commitment to education is evident in teacher development through the Global Educators Programme, delivered in partnership with the Limitless Space Institute in the United States. The initiative selected 20 STEM teachers from Nigeria and Brazil, with 10 educators representing Nigeria, for advanced immersive training in Texas, United States.

One of the Nigerian beneficiaries, Haa Maranatha, a chemistry teacher at Federal Government College, Jos, said the experience reshaped her approach to teaching.

“The training exposed me to space science and practical STEM innovation,” she said. “I moved away from exam-centred teaching to a model driven by curiosity and problem-solving.”

Since returning to Nigeria, Maranatha’s students have won a national microgravity contest, while schools across Northern Nigeria have received internet connectivity and STEM kits sponsored by IHS.

Another participant, Dr. Kayode Adewale, a mathematics teacher from Ogun State, said the programme introduced him to modern teaching methodologies and direct engagement with astronauts and space institutions in the US.

Inspired by the experience, Adewale launched the ‘517 Go to Space Initiative’, through which he has trained 517 teachers across Ogun State. Collectively, those teachers have impacted more than 100,000 students. The initiative earned him an appointment as Ogun State Education Ambassador and a place among the top 50 teachers shortlisted globally for an international teaching prize.

Driving Digital Skills Through the 3MTT Initiative

One of the flagship interventions supported by IHS Nigeria is the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, an ambitious national effort aimed at equipping three million Nigerians with in-demand digital skills. As part of this collaboration, IHS Nigeria funds and supports dedicated community learning hubs across several states, creating access points where young Nigerians can acquire competencies in emerging technologies.

Speaking during a joint media engagement monitored by Daily Trust, the Community Operations Lead of the IHS-sponsored 3MTT hubs, Mr. Auwal MS, explained that the programme attracted massive interest nationwide.

“Over 1.8 million Nigerians applied to be part of the programme,” he said. “To ensure transparency and credibility, beneficiaries were selected using BVN and NIN verification so that only unique and genuine applicants were admitted.”

According to him, training under the 3MTT programme spans 12 technology tracks, including software engineering, product management, data analysis, cybersecurity, UI/UX design and other digital disciplines aligned with global labour market needs.

“So far, between 210,000 and 240,000 participants have completed training across multiple cohorts,” Auwal noted. “Many have secured remote jobs, internships and freelance opportunities, while others have gone on to launch start-ups. More than 30,000 job opportunities have been created through full-time roles, internships and micro-jobs, with beneficiaries working both within Nigeria and internationally.”

For many participants, the programme marked a turning point. Damilola Makinde, a product management trainee, said she enrolled with no prior background in the field.

“I started from scratch,” she recalled. “The 12-week programme combined theory with practical sessions that gave me hands-on experience.”

That foundation paid off. Shortly after completing the training, Makinde secured an internship with a Dubai-based company, which later transitioned into a full-time remote role.

“I have since worked on multiple live products, including one that launched in the United Arab Emirates,” she said, adding that long distances to learning centres posed a challenge, but perseverance helped her stay the course.

Another beneficiary, Dr. Bassey Asuquo, who trained in data analysis and visualisation, said the programme opened doors beyond classroom learning. Through IHS-supported hackathons held at state, regional and national levels, he gained access to funding, datasets and digital devices.

Those opportunities culminated in the development of a product later adopted by the Enugu State Ministry of Women Affairs. Asuquo subsequently co-founded Linia Finance, a fintech start-up that has attracted N25 million in local investment and $10,000 in international funding. Today, the company employs 12 team members, all of whom are 3MTT beneficiaries.

School Connectivity and Digital Literacy

Beyond post-school training, IHS Nigeria has also extended its impact to basic and secondary education through its School Connectivity and Digital Literacy interventions.

Umar Sama’ila, a beneficiary from Katsina State, said several schools in the state benefitted from structured digital skills training.

“Students were introduced to computer basics, graphic design and software development,” he explained. “Today, some of them participate in national digital skills competitions, while others have progressed to universities to study computer science-related courses.”

In Kaduna State, Maryam Shua’ibu Aliyu described her own journey from having no technical background and no laptop to becoming a cybersecurity advocate.

“I joined the programme with nothing,” she said. “During the training, I won a laptop through one of the IHS-supported monthly learning showcases.”

Since completing the programme, Aliyu has trained two cohorts of women in introductory cybersecurity and led awareness campaigns in schools and communities across Kaduna State.

Project Empower: Building Livelihoods Through Skills

At the grassroots level, IHS Nigeria’s Project Empower focuses on practical skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. Implemented in collaboration with Fields of Skills and Dreams (FSD), the programme targets individuals seeking alternative pathways to economic stability.

Adedeji Abiola, a graduate of Houdegbe North American University with a degree in International Relations, said the programme transformed her financial reality.

“Before joining, I worked long hours for very little pay,” she said. “My husband encouraged me to enroll, and that decision changed everything.”

Through catering and baking training, Abiola now earns daily income and trains others, producing cakes and snacks ranging from pastries to confectioneries. She described the programme as a foundation that sparked continuous learning.

Florence Olumuyiwa, another beneficiary, said Project Empower helped her strengthen her existing hairstyling business by adding pastry-making skills.

“The training boosted my confidence and income,” she said. “Even after being robbed, I recovered quickly because I had savings from my pastry business.”

John Umama said the programme reshaped his mindset around business intelligence, time management and customer relations, while Engineer Jerry Solomon, an electrical and electronics graduate, credited the initiative with helping him transition into solar installation after losing his job at Ikeja Electric.

“Today, I am employed in a well-paying company, and my quality of life has improved significantly,” Solomon said.

FSD Founder, Omowale Ogunrinde, said the organisation has worked with IHS Nigeria for over seven years, implementing Project Empower across multiple states.

“Our goal is to equip young people with practical skills and the tools to start small businesses,” she said. “Beyond technical training, we emphasise character development, resilience and emotional intelligence. More than 70 per cent of participants record measurable outcomes.”

Saving Lives Through Oxygen Plant Donations

In the health sector, IHS Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria, has donated nine oxygen plants to hospitals across the country to strengthen critical care services and save lives.

Two beneficiary hospitals Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Shagamu, and Paelon Memorial Hospital, Lagos shared their experiences on the impact of the intervention.

During a visit to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Shagamu, journalists were taken through the oxygen production facility and adjoining clinical areas where the impact of the donation is most visible. Located within the hospital premises, the oxygen plant operates as part of daily hospital workflow, supplying oxygen directly to intensive care units, wards and emergency units without the delays that once characterised supply.

The Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr. Oluwabunmi M. Fatungase, said the oxygen plant, established three years ago by IHS Nigeria in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria, marked a major turning point for the tertiary hospital.

“Before the oxygen plant was installed, we depended entirely on vendors from Lagos and Ibadan,” she said. “The process was not only stressful and expensive, it was also uncertain. Sometimes we received cylinders that were not fully filled, and in some cases oxygen leaked before reaching the hospital and we can’t even ascertain the level of purity”

According to Fatungase, oxygen demand at OOUTH is consistently high due to the scope of services provided by the hospital. She explained that the facility runs a four-bedded intensive care unit alongside medical, surgical and specialty wards, covering more than 15 specialties and several sub-specialties.

“On average, nothing less than 1,000 patients come through this hospital daily,” she said. “Outpatients alone account for about 4300 visits per month and roughly 89,000 annually. About 80 per cent of these patients require oxygen at some point in their treatment, which makes oxygen an essential service rather than a luxury.”

She noted that before the installation of the plant, limited oxygen availability contributed to increased morbidity, particularly in critical cases where delays worsened patient outcomes.

“Lack or shortage of oxygen can lead to complications that prolong illness or result in long-term disability,” Fatungase explained. “Since the plant became operational, we have recorded a significant reduction in both mortality and morbidity, because patients now receive timely oxygen support when it is needed most.”

Beyond improving clinical outcomes, the oxygen plant has also eased the financial burden on patients and the hospital. Fatungase said the cost of oxygen for patients has reduced by nearly two-thirds, as the hospital no longer relies on external vendors.

“For many families, oxygen costs used to significantly increase hospital bills,” she said. “With in-house production, courtesy IHS, those costs have dropped considerably, making care more affordable.”

She added that after installation, IHS placed the hospital on a three-year maintenance and sustainability plan, ensuring uninterrupted operation. The facility is supported by an 80 KVA generator to guarantee continuous production during power outages, while plans are underway to integrate solar power for long-term energy efficiency.

According to her, the oxygen plant now supports not only routine patient care but also research activities across departments, strengthening the hospital’s overall capacity.

One of the beneficiaries, Dr. (Mrs.) Ero Adejonwu, a staff of OOUTH, who delivered a set of triplets at OOUTH, described the availability of oxygen as seamless.

“After the delivery, my babies needed oxygen in the neonatal ward,” she said. “Even during periods of industrial action, there was no difficulty accessing oxygen because it was already available within the hospital.”

Fatungase stressed that government funding alone cannot meet the demands of healthcare delivery, adding that partnerships with organisations like IHS Nigeria are critical to sustaining services in public hospitals.

“The oxygen plant is touching lives at every level,” she said. “It supports patients who may not even know who donated it, but who benefit from it daily.”

At Paleon Memorial Hospital, located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Founder and CEO Dr. Ngozi Onyia traced the partnership with IHS back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the company provided critical medical equipment and later donated an oxygen plant.

“Since then, we have never run out of oxygen,” she said. “The plant has reduced our operating costs and strengthened our capacity to treat critically ill patients.”

Reflecting on the partnership, Onyia described IHS as a timely ally that helped the hospital save hundreds of lives and achieve global recognition.

Across different sectors, the initiatives have translated into jobs, improved learning environments and better access to healthcare, leaving visible effects on people and institutions that engaged with the programmes.

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