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The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of six of Africa’s largest Mobile Network Operators convened at MWC Kigali to consider the opportunities and challenges for deeper partnerships with African governments to drive digital inclusion and mobile infrastructure development across the continent.

In consideration of these opportunities and challenges, the CEOs engaged with His Excellency President Paul Kagame, Head of State for the Republic of Rwanda, the MWC host and Chair of the Smart Africa board, who was supported by the Honourable Ms Paula Ingabire, the Rwanda Minister of Information and Communications and Innovation.

The CEOs noted the achievements made to date by the mobile sector against the aspirations and objectives of key global and continental goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063, and the Smart Africa’s Vision of creating a Single Digital Market by 2030.

The CEOs believe that a truly connected, dynamic Africa, enabled by the power of inclusive mobile connectivity, is within our collective grasp – but to make it a reality, and close the connectivity and usage gaps for good, deep political support will be required, across both existing and new partnerships. A key dependency is the need to build the right conditions for digital infrastructure investment across Africa.

Mobile technologies and services are key enablers for that vision. And tangible progress has been made. In the first 10 years of Agenda 2063 (2013-2023), mobile operators in Africa invested more than US$70 bn in building mobile infrastructure, bringing close to 85% of the African population into mobile broadband connectivity (compared to 95% global average). However, more than 680 million people, equivalent to three in five people (60%), live in areas covered by a mobile broadband network in Africa but do not subscribe to mobile broadband services.

Mobile operators in Sub-Saharan Africa invest US$ 6-8bn per year in capital expenditure, nearly 20% of their revenues, but significant additional investments are needed to achieve the ambitious targets of connecting everyone to the internet and digitally transforming Africa.

The CEOs today stated their commitment to collaborate with Africa’s nation-states’ transformational plans, placing added focus on four priority areas where governments, working in partnership with the mobile sector, have the opportunity to drive digital inclusion, economic growth and environmental transformation:

Priority 1: Driving inclusive connectivity through fiscal and other policy reforms.

Reforming fiscal policy will improve affordability for consumers and incentivise investments by operators given that taxes and fees account for 30% of industry revenues according to the GSMA Mobile Tax Policy and Digital Development report. While this may not be the means to an end, we also acknowledge and commit to the need to create a healthy competitive environment through other policy reforms such as infrastructure sharing, and national roaming among others.

Priority 2: Closing the Investment gap for building broadband infrastructure.

The World Bank projects that $100bn is required to achieve universal connectivity in Africa. The UN Broadband Commission in 2021, released the 21st Century Financing Models for Bridging Broadband Connectivity Gaps. We are working with the UN BB Commission to implement the recommendations, which require regulatory support for new financing models for the digital infrastructure and include all digital economy beneficiaries.

Priority 3: Environmental Impact.

Climate action is important to operators across SSA with MTN, Orange and Vodacom committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and Airtel Africa by 2050. These commitments include targets to approximately halve their carbon emissions over the next 10 years.

The Mobile Industry Commitment.

The industry currently contributes $170bn (8.1%) to GDP across the Sub-Saharan region and commits to spend another $75bn, which will yield an expected $210bn to Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP by 2030. Additionally, this will result in an additional 200 million unique mobile subscribers, taking the total population coverage to nearly 700 million by 2030 i.e. 50% penetration as a percentage of population. In line with the above, the industry pledges to develop partnerships aligned with the country’s priorities and their business objectives in the form of a social compact for creating shared value.

Achieving a connected Africa requires true partnership.

Success is a team game. And further political support, across the continent, is essential to register meaningful progress. This includes facilitating the right market structures and conditions to avoid unnecessary fragmentation and policies that support the investment environment needed for success.

Therefore, The CEOs call on African leaders and policymakers to partner on digital development with the mobile industry by reimagining existing structures and developing targeted new policies that accelerate the positive and inclusive impacts of mobile technologies to close the investment and usage gaps. For example:

1: Tax rationalization for the mobile industry through the development of targeted fiscal policy reforms that support economic growth and digital development, deepening digital and financial inclusion & aligned with national targets. E.g. removal of tax on low-cost smartphones and sector-specific tax.

2: Regulatory support to implement the recommendations of the UN Broadband Commission’s ‘21st Century Financing Models for Bridging Broadband Connectivity Gaps’. To promote investment models for digital infrastructure which include all digital economy beneficiaries.

3: Climate Action policies to improve access to renewable electricity for corporate buyers, are essential for the mobile industry to achieve their climate targets.

Today, the industry has come together at MWC Kigali to focus on these key priorities and commitments and drive meaningful policy progress in a spirit of cooperation, in a conversation with His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Smart Africa Board Chair.

Together, we believe passionately in the power of mobile to act as a catalyst for economic and social inclusion across Africa. We extend an open invitation to other African Heads of State to engage with us in driving solutions that focus on deepening digital and financial inclusion in the continent for the benefit of all African citizens.

Signatories:

Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa Group

Hassanein Hiridjee, Chief Executive Officer, AXIAN Group

Frehiwot Tamru, Chief Executive Officer, Ethio Telecommunications

Ralph Mupita, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, MTN Group

Jerome Henique, Chief Executive Officer, Orange Middle East and Africa

Shameel Joosub, Chief Executive Officer, Vodacom Group

As a founding partner of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa, MTN is delighted to announce its active participation in the forthcoming 2023 event. Scheduled for 17-19 October 2023 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda, our executive team will engage in pivotal dialogues with international industry leaders and esteemed African policymakers. These discussions aim to inspire conversations, ignite innovative ideas, and cultivate collaborative initiatives, all directed towards forging a more connected and inclusive future for every African.

The theme for this year’s MWC event, ‘Velocity: Unleashing Tomorrow’s Technology – Today,’ aligns seamlessly with MTN’s enduring commitment to Africa. We are dedicated to delivering digital solutions that not only empower but also enrich the lives of everyone on the continent, thereby actualising the benefits of a modern, connected life.

“The need for innovation, digital transformation and financial inclusion has never been greater. MTN is committed to collaborate with stakeholders who share our vision of finding solutions that empower communities, restore dignity and foster shared prosperity.”

Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO

Meet our speakers at MWC

The digital transformation journey in Africa is a transformative force that is empowering communities, governments, and businesses alike. Recognising the magnitude of this shift, MTN is committed to leading the charge. Our executives will once again take centre stage to engage in crucial dialogues with international industry leaders and esteemed African policymakers. The objective? To steer the conversation towards expediting digital inclusion across the continent. For us, the journey towards a digitally inclusive Africa is a collective mission, not a distant dream. We are steadfast in our belief that technology has the power to uplift, connect, and catalyse progress. By pooling our resources and expertise, we can seize this moment to make a digitally inclusive future a reality for all.

Visit our exhibition stand at MWC Africa

Discover the future of connectivity and innovation at the MTN Exhibition stand! Step into a world of possibilities and explore the latest digital solutions that are reshaping Africa’s landscape.

MTN Rwanda – Explore 25 years in Rwanda

For a quarter-century, MTN Rwanda has been at the forefront of transforming telecommunications in Rwanda. Established in 1998, our journey in Rwanda has been characterised by relentless innovation, robust connectivity, and an unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of the Rwandan people. From launching mobile services to leading digital inclusion efforts, MTN Rwanda has played a pivotal role in connecting communities, businesses, and individuals alike. As part of the 25-year celebrations, MTN Rwanda is privileged to host a delegation of senior MTN executives from all our operations. These leaders will contribute to key business dialogues at MWC Africa and engage substantively with Rwandan stakeholders. Their presence and participation underscores MTN’s commitment to Rwanda and our collective vision for a digitally connected nation.

As we celebrate this momentous milestone, we invite you to explore our timeline to see how our journey has unfolded.

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita celebrates 25 years in Rwanda

MTN, Africa’s leading telecommunications service provider, is elevating customer experience through a transformative partnership with global consulting firm Accenture and customer experience solutions provider Genesys. This initiative aims to redefine customer care for MTN’s subscribers by leveraging cloud-native solutions and advanced AI capabilities to drive customer-centric innovation and operational excellence.

The Genesys Cloud CX platform, a pivotal component of this transformative programme, is engineered with cutting-edge AI capabilities. It incorporates natural language processing to understand customer queries more intuitively and machine learning algorithms to adapt and improve over time. These advanced technologies work in tandem to provide real-time insights and analytics that are invaluable for decision-making.

For MTN’s expansive network of thousands of agents, this means the ability to offer a service that is not just efficient but also highly personalized. The platform’s AI-driven analytics allow agents to understand customer behaviour and preferences and tailor interactions to individual needs. This level of customization significantly enhances customer satisfaction and fosters loyalty, setting a new standard for customer engagement in the telecommunications industry.

“As we navigate the complexities of a digital world, this transition to a leading-edge cloud-native Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) solution serves as a cornerstone for reimagining customer care,” says MTN’s Group Chief Information Officer, Nikos Angelopoulos. “Our collaboration with Accenture and Genesys produced a scalable and adaptable solution that empowers our agents to better serve customers and positions us for long-term growth and operational efficiency.”

Cornelia van Heerden, Executive Customer Experience Operations for MTN South Africa, adds, “We aim to go beyond resolving queries to becoming a trusted partner in our customers’ digital journeys, offering a seamless experience across multiple touchpoints.”

Over the past year, MTN Operating Companies in several countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda, have successfully transitioned to the Genesys Cloud CX platform. “This initiative is a testament to our resolve to adapt and grow with our customers, proactively meeting their ever-changing needs,” says Enzo Scarcella, MTN’s Group Chief Consumer Officer.

In South Africa alone, the transformation has yielded a 40% year-on-year reduction in call volume, demonstrating the initiative’s immediate impact on operational excellence. “Digital transformation is not just about adopting new technology; it’s about unlocking new ways to add value to our customers and our business. Our collaboration with industry leaders Accenture and Genesys underscores our commitment to delivering world-class service and operational results,” Angelopoulos adds.

Commenting on MTN’s ongoing technology revolution, Nitesh Singh, Accenture Africa’s CMT Lead, says, “We are proud to partner with MTN and bring our breadth of technological and business capabilities through the Genesys platform to reimagine the customer service offering. We have assisted MTN Group to create value through intelligent decision-making in a competitive business environment by optimizing costs and building resilient, elastic cloud technology.”

Genesys Account Director (Africa), Luisa Coetzee, concludes, “Genesys is pleased to partner with MTN Group in their customer experience transformation journey, collaborating with the different opcos to orchestrate personalized and empathetic experiences for their customer’s unique needs and meeting them where they are. The Genesys Cloud platform enables us to deliver value for all as it is architected to promote better Employee (EX) and Customer (CX) Experiences.”

MTN is honoured to have received The Africa-America Institute’s 2023 Corporate Responsibility Award, which recognises corporations that have made significant contributions to Africa’s progress and demonstrated a commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth, positively impacting communities and industries.

The accolade was presented at AAI’s 70th Anniversary Gala event in New York on Tuesday evening.

“As Africa’s largest mobile network operator, MTN has contributed to a revolution in the way Africans communicate with each other and the world – bridging the digital divide, catalysing economic growth, and raising living standards across the continent,” said AAI President and CEO Kofi Appenteng.

“MTN has been fundamental in supporting collaboration and the continent’s ability to share its achievements and history, something that is at the core of AAI’s mission. MTN’s work and that of its foundations is an inspiration. The company’s commitment to inclusive connectivity, gender equality, accelerating financial inclusion, and empowering employees and communities deserves recognition,” he added.

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita accepted the award on behalf of MTN’s more than 17 000 employees across 19 markets: “We are humbled by this recognition. We are also inspired and encouraged to continue to drive digital and financial inclusion and create shared value. We believe this work gives Africans dignity, hope, and opportunity.”

Latest data from the GSMA and Broadband Commission shows that for every 10% increase in internet use, GDP grows by an additional 1.5%. However, a third of the world’s population does not use the internet at all.

“These people are still not digitally connected and could well end up as a digital underclass,” said Mupita, adding that priority must be given to investments in digital infrastructure and services to avoid even more inequality. “We must ensure that as technologies such as AI develop, we also get large language models trained on African languages. Initiatives such as conversational payments that are taking root in places like India must come rapidly to Africa.”

MTN Group’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo said the AAI recognition was both a validation and an inspiration for MTN’s commitment to responsible business practices and sustainable growth. “Our business has always been about more than connectivity; it’s about empowering communities, driving inclusion, championing diversity, and ensuring that our operations leave a positive, lasting impact.”

The AAI’s Annual Awards Gala, held during the United Nations General Assembly, is a marquee event celebrating the accomplishments of Africa and its global diaspora. The gathering attracts a diverse audience, including heads of state, diplomats, international officials, philanthropists and business leaders.

“As we celebrate this esteemed recognition, we are reminded that our work is far from complete,” said Morafo. “This award fuels our resolve to intensify our efforts. Working together, with our partners, communities, governments, and other stakeholders, we will continue to champion initiatives that drive Africa’s digital transformation and socio-economic betterment,” she added.

To focus MTN’s CSI efforts and maximise their impact, MTN launched our first foundation in 2001 in South Africa. Since then, we have rolled out another 12 foundations across 18 markets and impacted the lives of more than 40 million people in the last four years alone. We focus on strategically building an ICT ecosystem to deliver greater inclusion to the most vulnerable, with a special focus on enabling digital skills for digital jobs to address job creation, enhance competitiveness, and drive inclusive growth for the communities we serve.

African super app ayoba has reached a new milestone – surpassing 30 million monthly active users. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the app’s growing popularity, particularly in focus territories such as Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Moreover, ayoba has successfully broadened its user base into new markets, such as Kenya and Tanzania, contributing to its rapid growth since passing the 25M MAU mark in May 2023.

“ayoba’s growth reflects our commitment to delivering valuable, user-focused services. This achievement is a significant step in our ongoing journey to deepen connectivity and digital inclusion across Africa and signifies the trust and reliance users have placed in ayoba as a platform that enriches their daily lives. It also serves as a catalyst for further innovation as we continue to enhance the app’s features to meet the diverse needs of our growing user base,” says Jens Schulte-Bockum, MTN Group Chief Operating Officer.

In 2023, ayoba focused on enhancing communication and content features. These have been well received, as evidenced by a notable increase in music streaming, messaging, and overall user retention. Card Views in the channels vertical have soared, with users viewing over 200M cards this year alone, focusing on news, sports, and comedy. Ayoba also recently announced its first commissioned video drama series, ‘Nite Nite’, produced in Ghana and its inaugural  African games, produced by Usiku Games in Kenya.

“Our plan for the year is rolling out strongly, “explains CEO Burak Akinci. “ We’re incredibly grateful for the trust and engagement from our growing community of users. Our strategic execution this year has been laser-focused on what matters most to them. The positive market response validates our approach to offer user-centric features and localised content. As we look ahead, our immediate focus is on an enhanced gaming experience set to pilot in South Africa. This is part of our broader vision to make ayoba an integral part of daily life across the continent.“

The introduction of the new ‘Explore’ landing page marks a significant advancement for the Android version of the app. This page is live across all key markets, streamlining content discovery and user access to relevant and trending content.

In line with its commitment to sustainable long-term impact in key markets, ayoba continues to advance its integrated ecosystem development approach revolving around the MicroApps vertical. This quarter has seen the launch of a key initiative in Nigeria, the ayoba SME Accelerator program. Specifically designed to digitise, empower, and accelerate the growth of small businesses, the program aims to foster innovation, enhance competitiveness, drive growth, and create sustainable employment opportunities. 

Furthering its impact, ayoba’s e-Track Portfolio, managed at the Solution Space at the University of Cape Town, has also seen significant success. The program – a two-phase early-stage venture acceleration and capacity-building program designed for high-impact entrepreneurs in South Africa and beyond, has recently welcomed an additional 15 high-impact startups to the portfolio.

In May 2023, ayoba hosted a high-profile continent-wide Gaming Hackathon to foster innovation and creativity in game development tailored for an African audience.  The event attracted hundreds of participants, and the top 3 teams have been selected. Their games are soon to be featured on the app, adding to ayoba’s expanding gaming portfolio.

Born from a partnership with MTN, ayoba is available on all networks. Ayoba users in certain participating territories enjoy complimentary daily data, amplifying its value proposition*. With this momentum, ayoba is on track to achieving 100 million monthly active users by 2025, in line with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy.

*VoIP and video call are not zero rated for MTN subscribers

  • MTN-Group-Chairman-Mcebisi-Jonas-Speaking-at-the-Uganda-SA-Investment-and-Trade-Summit
  • H.E.-Yoweri-Kaguta-Museveni-President-of-the-Republic-of-Uganda-and-Sylvia-Mulinge-CEO-of-MTN-Uganda-the-Uganda-SA-Investment

Yesterday, 6th September 2023 marked the conclusion of the Uganda-SA Investment and Trade Summit in which MTN Group convened key companies in the South African private sector with operations in Uganda to Accelerate Investments and Trade between Uganda and South Africa. The Summit which was convened in line with MTN’s commitment to partnerships in driving sustainable development was [presided over] by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.

Speaking at the Summit, MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas, noted the importance of working together and paying focused attention on the growth and development of the various countries that MTN has operations in and in Africa as a whole. He said, “as a Pan-African organization MTN sees its role as an important part of the broader conversation to support and facilitate growth and development across the continent and that is why the Group has played its part in engaging with the public and private sector to make the Summit a reality.”

In attendance from South Africa was a government delegation led by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development Thoko Didiza, the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and her Excellency the South African High Commission to Uganda. The private sector, which was led by the Forum for South African Business in Uganda was represented by leadership of MTN, Standard Bank Group, Absa Group, Multichoice, Quantum Foods, Tiger Brands, Woolworths, Convergence Partners and Sanlam Group alongside amongst others.

The Summit, which builds on an initial Uganda-SA Investment Trade Summit that was hosted by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, in February continued the conversations related to bilateral trade and investment across the two countries. Specifically, the Summit’s success was in how it enabled commitments to be made and discussions related to solutions to the structural weaknesses that the continent faces and the problems that hampers its progress.

Topics under discussion looked at key pillars of trade including the strengthening of institutional quality and lowering the cost of doing business as well as encouraging intra-regional and continental trade. On this topic Jonas said “we are encouraged by the continued commitment to the AfCFTA, which will play a significant role in ensuring enhanced trade within and across our borders. I am hopeful that through discussions such as these, we will be able to reduce the current hampering trade costs in our continent to well below the current comparator of more than 50% higher than East -Asia.

The discussions over the two days enabled trade and investment plenary sessions across key sectors as well as roundtable discussions and the ability of business and government to engage. To make these tangible a business exhibition was hosted, with delegates closing off the Summit by attending the MTN Skills Academy launch and visiting the Kabalega Industrial Park on 7 September.

In his concluding remarks at the Summit President Museveni said he forgave MTN for the past thanked MTN along with Stanbic and Absa for their efforts and participation in the Summit. He further encouraged the companies to continue to invest in Uganda and to encourage other businesses across industries, including manufacturing to invest and beneficiate in the country.

MTN Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Marina Madale as Group Executive: Sustainability & Shared Value, effective 1 September 2023. Prior to this, Marina served as the General Manager: Sustainability and Shared Value, MTN Group.

In her new role, she will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for the management of Sustainability and Shared Value and the work of our foundations across MTN Group markets.

Marina has a wealth of experience across multiple sectors globally, including oil & gas, energy, banking, and property development across multiple countries such as Qatar, Mozambique, Botswana, Gabon, South Africa, and Australia. She played an instrumental role in the development of the first of its kind community Local Development Agreements and Local Content strategy for the oil and gas sector in Mozambique. Before joining MTN, she held various senior roles at Sasol.

Among her notable achievements within MTN, Marina pioneered the development of the Group’s science-based targets towards net-zero emissions, MTN’s first-ever Digital Human Rights Transparency report, and first ever pan-African MTN Skills Academy.

“Marina’s deep understanding of sustainability and shared value has been a cornerstone in aligning MTN’s commitments and programmes with global best practices with African realities. Her exceptional execution and significant contributions have elevated our group-wide strategy and strengthened our commitment to responsible business. As we continue to navigate an evolving landscape, Marina’s leadership will be pivotal in fulfilling our promise to stakeholders and communities alike,” said Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer.

Marina holds a Master’s degree in Communications from Bond University, Australia, and a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

In the first half of 2023, MTN Group delivered resilient results, advanced our strategy by partnering with Mastercard on the MTN fintech business, and progressed plans to exit Afghanistan. This was achieved in a difficult operating environment marked by elevated inflation, weaker local currencies and regulatory developments across our 19 markets.

“We delivered a resilient performance in H1 23 and made good strategic progress against a tough macro backdrop,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita.

“In South Africa, we were very encouraged by the improved network availability on the back of our power-resilience investment, resulting in a stronger Q2 23 performance than Q1 23,” he said. By end-June, MTN South Africa’s network availability was more than 90% despite severe electricity shortages across the country.

“In Nigeria, we delivered a very strong operational result, having navigated the cash shortages in Q1 23 and increased inflation,” Mupita said. “The policy changes implemented in Nigeria in Q2 23 have short-term negative impacts, but we see these as being very constructive for the investment climate in the medium to longer term.”

MTN Group’s service revenue grew 15% to almost R108 billion in constant-currency terms. This was driven by increases in revenue from data services of 24% and from fintech services of 22%. Revenue from voice services increased 6% in the period. 

At the end of June 2023, we had 292 million subscribers with whom we worked to create shared value. This subscriber base – 4% higher than the same period last year – benefited from lower data rates and improved access to broadband services.

To facilitate the digital economy, we increased the number of active data users by more than 7% to nearly 140 million; reported a 19% increase in overall data traffic; and improved data affordability by reducing the average effective rate per megabyte by more than 22%.

We continued to invest in world-class networks and platforms for the people of Africa, committing R17.2 billion in capital expenditure in the first six months of 2023. The Group’s balance sheet remained strong, with all key metrics well within the limits of our loan covenants.

Driven by solid revenue growth and improved efficiencies, adjusted headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased by 25% to 749 cents and adjusted return on equity (ROE) expanded by one percentage point to 24.4%. These were in line with our medium-term guidance.

The MTN Group Fintech business delivered on our rapid expansion plans. The volume of transactions increased by 37% to 8.3 billion in the first half of the year. These were executed by 61 million active MoMo customers.

Following the bespoke process to identify and potentially introduce strategic minority investors into MTN Group Fintech, we executed commercial agreements with Mastercard to support the acceleration and growth of our fintech business’s payments and remittance services.

MTN and Mastercard also signed a memorandum of understanding which provides for a minority investment by Mastercard into Group Fintech based on a total enterprise valuation of about US$5.2 billion for the business on a cash and debt-free basis. Signing of the definitive investment agreements is expected to occur in the very near term as we approach finalisation of customary due diligence. The closing of the investment will be subject to customary closing conditions.

We continued to work to simplify our portfolio. The process for MTN Group to exit Afghanistan in an orderly fashion through the sale of our entire shareholding to Investcom AF, and affiliate company of M1, remains well on track. The transaction received conditional regulatory approval to proceed, pending the submission of relevant documentation to the Afghanistan Regulatory Authority.

Looking ahead, MTN will keep working to create shared value across our markets. “We are focused on the continued execution of our Ambition 2025, which remains relevant in the current macroeconomic volatility and presents attractive scope for growth,” said Mupita.

“As we manage the challenges in our operating environment, as well as the near-term impacts on our top-line and margins, we maintain our medium-term guidance.” 

MTN Group, a leading telecommunications company, is excited to announce the launch of its Open API Hackathon, inviting developers from multiple markets to participate in creating innovative mobile applications that utilize the MTN Mobile Money APIs for their respective markets.

This hackathon, organized by MTN Group Fintech, will be the third of its kind and will take place in the following 14 countries: Uganda, Ghana, Benin, Zambia, South Africa, eSwatini, Rwanda, Cameroon, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, South Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo B.

Developers participating in the hackathon will compete to design and develop a solution that goes beyond processing payments, incorporating additional features and functionalities that promote financial inclusion and literacy in their registered markets.

“MTN is dedicated to advancing financial and digital inclusion across the continent as part of our strategy to build a pan-African Fintech platform, driving the digital economy and fostering social and economic growth in Africa,” said Serigne Dioum, MTN Group Chief Fintech Officer.

Through the Open API Platform, MTN aims to harness the talent and creativity of Africa’s developers, enabling them to leverage the MoMo Platform and create opportunities for growth. The company firmly believes that collaborating with Africa’s talented individuals will expand the service offerings available on MoMo.

Key Details of the Hackathon:

MTN Group looks forward to the innovative solutions that developers will create, driving financial inclusion and empowering individuals and businesses across Africa.

In the bustling heart of Lagos, at the 2023 Businessday CEO Forum, Ralph Mupita, the President and CEO of MTN Group, delivered a keynote address to Nigeria’s business leaders. His focus was not on his company’s achievements, but on Nigeria and its potential to become a significant player in the global digital economy. Other keynote speakers at the Forum included Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and Osagie Okunbor, CEO of Shell Nigeria.

Mupita’s presentation was a call to action, a blueprint for building a digital economy that could propel Nigeria to become the world’s 5th largest economy. He highlighted the vast untapped potential in the digital economy, with Nigeria’s Internet Gross Domestic Product (iGDP) currently at 6% and expected to double by 2050 to reach 145 billion USD. He noted that Africa currently accounts for only ~1% of the global digital economy, a stark contrast to 68% in the United States, 22% in China, and 27% in Asia. This gap, he suggested, represents a significant opportunity for growth.

Commending the new administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has indicated his commitment to promote the growth of ICT and the digital economy for the shared prosperity of all Nigerians, Mupita called on the government and business leaders to promote policies that facilitate inclusive growth. He urged for a spectrum roadmap that ensures sufficient resources to meet the surging demand for mobile services. He advocated for speedy access to mid-band spectrum, crucial for the future of low latency 5G, and access to sub-1 GHz spectrum to provide widespread rural mobile broadband services.

He also highlighted the digital skills gap in Nigeria and across the African continent, especially in advanced skills such as AI & cloud computing. With an estimated 230 million “digital jobs” in Sub-Saharan Africa alone by 2030, Mupita emphasized the need for digital skills development to advance the digital economy.

“The potential is immense. The path is clear,” Mupita stated in concluding his presentation. “The future of Nigeria lies in its digital economy. And with strategic intent, collaborative effort, and a shared vision, that future is within reach.”

“In the face of global economic shifts and technological advancements, Nigeria stands at the precipice of a digital revolution. The country’s digital economy is poised to drive economic growth, create jobs, and foster innovation,” he added.

Mupita’s presentation was not just a corporate update; it was a rallying cry for Nigeria to seize the opportunities presented by the digital age. It was a call for collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the citizens to build a digital economy that is inclusive, sustainable, and powerful enough to propel Nigeria into the ranks of the world’s largest economies.

This vision for Nigeria’s digital future is not just a dream; it’s a feasible reality. With the right policies, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to digital inclusion, Nigeria can leverage its digital economy to drive sustainable growth and development. This is the future that Mupita sees for Nigeria, and it’s a future that is within our grasp.

The role of Nigeria’s business leaders in this transformation cannot be overstated. As key drivers of the economy, they have the power to shape the digital landscape of Nigeria. By investing in digital infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, and fostering a culture of innovation, they can help build a digital economy that is robust, inclusive, and sustainable.

In conclusion, Mupita’s presentation at the 2023 Businessday CEO forum was more than a corporate update; it was a vision of a brighter future for Nigeria. A future where digital technology drives economic growth, fosters innovation, and improves the lives of all Nigerians. It’s a future that we can all look forward to.