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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | MTN Uganda’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, has graduated 185 youths who formed the first cohort of the MTN ACE Programme.
The programme, launched in December 2022, in partnership with the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, The National ICT Innovation Hub, Centenary Technology Services, Refactory, MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation and Incubation Centre, as well as MTN’s Fintech subsidiary, MTN MoMo Uganda Limited, aims to equip youth with practical skills in digital technologies to enable them to provide innovative ICT solutions to solve community problems.
MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Sylvia Mulinge, said 51 youths graduated from the MTN ACE Tech, 47 from the MTN ACE Career, and 87 from the MTN ACE Skilling. She said 20 enterprises were selected for ACE Tech acceleration and 15 enterprises for incubation.
“This is a special day for MTN Uganda as we witness the first graduation of the MTN Ace Programme. We at MTN Uganda believe that every Ugandan believes in the benefits of a modern connected life and we are very glad that we’re moving towards that direction,” he said.
She added: MTN ACE Programme aligns perfectly well with national development goals by providing skills that enhance employability and self-reliance among the youth. Equipping the youth with digital skills positions them to contribute effectively to Uganda’s digital transformation journey.”
The MTN ACE Tech programme focuses on upskilling the youth interested in tech-related innovations while the MTN ACE Career program seeks to empower fresh graduates with workplace skills and internship placement. MTN ACE Skills program is tailor-made for the youths who are in or out of school to equip them with entrepreneurial skills.
This comes from data from World Banks shows that more than 75% of Uganda’s population is below the age of 30, with the country having one of the highest youth unemployment rates at 13.3% the number of youths actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This signals the need for innovative solutions going forward as the youth population swells and employment levels surge.
Dr. Amina Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, congratulated the graduates for their achievements and encouraged them to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. She highlighted the importance of creating employment opportunities rather than solely relying on job applications.
Similarly, Joyce Ssebugwawo, the Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, commended MTN for the initiative, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the youth’s skill development.
She urged the graduates to actively use their newfound skills to address societal challenges.
Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, expressed pride in the positive impact of initiatives like MTN ACE on the youth, emphasizing the need for more such programs.
She stated, “The large number of youths graduating from this program is a testament that our youth are yearning for new skills that will help drive the country’s economic growth, social transformation, and job creation.”
Over 230 youths were selected in February this year to participate in the inaugural cohort of the MTN ACE Programme to sharpen the skills of fresh graduates, those in and out of school, innovators, entrepreneurs and tech-driven start-ups to become self-reliant and contribute to the national economy.
