At the heart of Africa’s digital future lies a powerful truth: connectivity is not just a luxury, it’s a lifeline. During the inaugural CNN International Global Perspectives event in London, MTN Group Vice President Ebenezer Asante issued a compelling call to action: unite across sectors to connect the one billion Africans still offline.

A Wake-Up Call from the Frontlines

Asante’s message was clear and urgent. Despite the continent’s vibrant innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, only 38% of Africans are online, far below the global average of 68%. This digital gap isn’t just a statistic; it’s a barrier to education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and creative expression.

MTN’s vision? A three-pronged strategy to unlock Africa’s digital potential:

• Innovation to reduce deployment costs
• Smart regulation that enables growth
• Talent development to fuel the telecom ecosystem

These pillars aren’t just technical; they’re transformational. They demand collaboration between competitors, governments, investors, and development partners.

Fintech as a Force for Inclusion

Serigne Dioum, CEO of MTN Group Fintech, spotlighted the role of fintech in building Africa’s next-generation startup ecosystem. MTN Mobile Money, with over 63 million active users and $320 billion in transactions in 2024 alone, is more than a financial tool, it’s a bridge to formal economies, funding access, and digital marketplaces.

Dioum emphasized the synergy between mobile operators and regulators in fostering financial independence. It’s a model of inclusive innovation that resonates deeply with CreatePreneurAfrica’s mission to elevate African creators and communities.

Voices of Transformation

The event featured icons like WTO Director General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. Their presence underscored the stakes: Africa’s economic transformation hinges on coordinated, inclusive digital strategies—not isolated efforts.

Why This Matters to CreatePreneurAfrica

For Africa’s storytellers, artists, and advocates, digital access is the gateway to visibility, collaboration, and impact. MTN’s call is not just about infrastructure—it’s about imagination. It’s about ensuring that a child in Bagamoyo, a poet in Kinshasa, or a filmmaker in Accra can share their voice with the world.

At CreatePreneurAfrica, we echo this call. We believe in a continent where every creative mind is connected, empowered, and celebrated. Let’s build that future, together.

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