“ON Academy” Set to Discover and Empower Kuwait’s Emerging Media Talent
- New national partnership focused on empowering Kuwait’s youth and preparing them for future careers
- Five-week programme targeting Kuwaiti youth aged 22 to 30
Nasser Al-Arfaj: “Our goal goes beyond content creation; we aim to nurture a generation that understands the impact of words and images on society”
Yaqoub Al-Baqer: “Empowering young people starts with equipping them with knowledge and skills within an integrated creative environment”
Kuwait City, Kuwait 31st August 2026: Ooredoo Kuwait and National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) have announced the launch of ON Academy, a strategic partnership aimed at identifying and developing emerging Kuwaiti talent and equipping young people with the skills needed to build promising careers across media, content creation and innovation.
The five-week programme offers participants a professional development experience that combines knowledge, hands-on learning and practical competition, taking them from talent discovery and skills development to the creation of professional opportunities and sustainable income streams.
Investing in Kuwait’s Media Talent
The launch of ON Academy reflects a shared vision between Ooredoo Kuwait and NBK to invest in Kuwaiti talent and create an environment where young people can identify their strengths, develop their capabilities and turn their potential into meaningful career opportunities.
The programme comes at a time of rapid transformation across the media, communications and technology sectors, driven by the growth of the digital economy and the expanding opportunities within content creation.
Five-Week Training Journey
ON Academy will run for five weeks and is designed for Kuwaiti youth aged between 22 and 30.
Selected participants will undertake an integrated training journey designed to take them from discovering their talent to developing and applying it professionally. The programme ultimately aims to equip participants with the tools and knowledge to turn their talents into career opportunities and sustainable sources of income.
Building Financially Savvy Creatives
The programme features a diverse range of training tracks covering financial literacy, journalism, marketing and public relations, television and radio production, content creation and artificial intelligence, alongside leadership, teamwork and strategic relationship-building.
This multidisciplinary approach is designed to give participants a comprehensive understanding of the modern media landscape, connecting creative capabilities with the professional and financial skills required for long-term success.
Sessions and workshops will be delivered by a distinguished group of Kuwaiti media professionals and academics, giving participants access to local expertise and real-world experiences from Kuwait’s media industry, while introducing them to the latest practices and developments in content creation, marketing, corporate communications and emerging technologies.
A Hands-On and Competitive Experience
ON Academy takes a non-traditional approach to training, moving beyond classroom-based learning to provide participants with an immersive and competitive practical experience.
The programme includes hands-on workshops, weekly assignments and specialised challenges that allow participants to test their ideas and skills, work collaboratively and tackle tasks that mirror the realities of the modern media and professional environment.
The competitive element is designed to encourage initiative, creativity and teamwork, while developing participants’ abilities in decision-making, time management, presenting ideas, responding to feedback and continuously improving their work.
Participants will also have the opportunity to track their development throughout the programme, identify their strengths and recognise areas where further development is needed.
A key focus of the programme is helping participants understand the professional and economic value of their talents. They will learn how to build their professional identity, develop ideas, market their skills and present their services professionally.
The programme will also provide participants with practical tools to transform their capabilities in media and content creation into projects, employment opportunities and sustainable income streams, while strengthening their financial awareness and ability to manage and grow these opportunities responsibly.
Commenting on the launch, Nasser Hamad Al Arfaj, Director of Strategic Relations and Public Relations at Ooredoo Kuwait, said:
“ON Academy represents a direct investment in the potential of Kuwaiti youth
It is not a traditional training programme, but an integrated journey that begins with discovering talent, then developing and refining it, before ultimately empowering participants to turn their talent into genuine professional and economic value. We want every participant to understand how to use their talent professionally and how to transform an idea into impactful content, a career opportunity and a sustainable source of income.”
Al Arfaj added:
“Talent alone is not enough to create a successful media professional or content creator. It must be combined with knowledge, discipline, responsibility and strong professional ethics. That is why ethics are a fundamental part of the programme. Our goal is not simply to create successful content, but to contribute to nurturing a generation that understands the impact of words, images and the messages they deliver to society.”
He continued:
“We are proud of the rich legacy of Kuwaiti media and its pioneering role across the region. Through ON Academy, we want participants to become an extension of this legacy, combining its authenticity and values with innovation, technology and modern tools. Our partnership with NBK brings an important dimension to the programme by combining media, innovation and financial literacy, giving young people a more comprehensive experience aligned with the demands of the future.”
Yaqoub Al-Baqer, Assistant Vice President – Public Relations and Events at National Bank of Kuwait, said:
“The launch of ON Academy in partnership with Ooredoo Kuwait reflects NBK’s continued commitment to investing in Kuwaiti youth and providing programmes that contribute to developing their capabilities and preparing them for the future. We believe that empowering young people starts with equipping them with knowledge and skills and giving them the opportunity to put what they learn into practice within an environment that encourages creativity and initiative.”
Al-Baqer added:
“Financial awareness is an essential component of the success of any talent or idea. That is why the programme places a strong emphasis on helping participants understand how to manage the opportunities created by their skills and how to turn their ideas and talents into sustainable career paths and projects with potential for growth. The practical challenges will also help strengthen their ability to work as teams, think strategically and develop innovative ideas and solutions.”
He further noted:
“At NBK, we believe that investing in youth is an investment in the future of society. Every talent has significant potential when given the right opportunity to develop. Through ON Academy, we are committed to providing participants with the knowledge, skills and awareness they need to transform their talents and ideas into genuine opportunities for growth and success.”
Al-Baqer highlighted the value of bringing together leading Kuwaiti media professionals and academics, noting that their involvement gives participants access to a diverse combination of practical and academic expertise.
He added that the partnership between NBK and Ooredoo Kuwait represents a model of purposeful institutional collaboration aimed at creating a positive and sustainable impact on society.
Creating Pathways to Opportunity
The programme will conclude with a final project, giving participants the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the five-week journey and present their ideas and outputs in a professional setting.
The final project will demonstrate their progression from learning and talent discovery to practical application and the creation of real opportunities.
The launch of ON Academy marks a new milestone in national partnerships dedicated to empowering Kuwait’s youth. Bringing together the expertise of Ooredoo Kuwait and NBK, the programme places Kuwaiti talent at the heart of its development journey.
Through ON Academy, the two organisations aim to nurture a knowledgeable, responsible and innovative generation of media professionals, equipped with the skills, ethics and tools to shape the future of Kuwait’s media landscape.