From Learner to Builder: Stories from Our Skills Programme

Adaeze: From Market Trader to Digital Service Provider

Adaeze had never used a computer when she joined Canann's skills programme in Calabar. She was 24, working as a market trader, and had signed up because a neighbour told her Canann was offering free digital training. She came expecting to learn Microsoft Word.

Three months later, she was building a simple inventory spreadsheet for her market stall. Six months in, she was teaching two other traders in her section how to use it. Now, she manages digital records for eight traders in her market — and charges a small monthly fee for the service. She calls it her 'second business.'

Adaeze's story is not unusual in our programmes. Across Lagos and Cross River, we've documented dozens like it: people who came to learn, stayed to build, and ended up creating micro-enterprises from skills they developed in Canann training rooms.

Emmanuel: Freelance Income from a Standing Start

Emmanuel, 19, from Lagos Island, came to our programme after dropping out of university due to fees. He had a phone but had never used a laptop. Within four months of joining the GroundUp Skills cohort, he had completed our full digital curriculum and was taking on freelance data entry contracts. By month six, he had earned enough to re-enrol in a part-time diploma course.

The Numbers Behind the Stories

These are not anomalies. They are what happens when you give capable people access and structure. The talent has always been there. The infrastructure hadn't caught up. Canann is the bridge.

Our 2025 cohort data shows that 68% of programme completers reported new economic activity within six months — either employment in a digital role, freelance income, or a new digital-enabled side business. That number is the reason we keep going.