MTN Foundation, UNDP partner to build digital innovation hub in Cameroon.

A Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to this effect was signed March 18, 2024, at MTN Cameroon's head office in Douala. 

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of MTN Cameroon, Mitwa Ng'ambi, signed the MoU for the telecoms company while the UNDP’s Resident Representative in Cameroon, Aissata De, penned the deal for the UN agency. 

The signing was in the presence of MTN Group's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Nompilo Morafo; UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Martin Hart-Hansen; and experts from both institutions.

This partnership will be concretised by the construction of an ultra-modern digital hub. The hub, officials said, would serve as a true centre of excellence. 

The facility, they added, will provide state-of-the-art work and collaboration spaces for young Cameroonian entrepreneurs, students and job seekers, with a special focus on women.

The digital hub will offer a full range of services and infrastructure, notably: intensive training and practical workshops on the latest digital technologies; coworking space equipped to encourage innovation and collaboration; a research and development space dedicated to exploring and testing innovative digital solutions to Cameroon's challenges.

Speaking after putting pen on paper for the historic deal, the CEO of MTN Cameroon, Mitwa Ng'ambi, said: "This partnership with UNDP is perfectly in line with our commitment to support the development of digital technology in Cameroon”.

Mitwa Ng'ambi said to date, around 2,500 Cameroonians, including 1,800 people living with disabilities have benefited our various training programmes in the use of digital tools.

“The digital hub is therefore a logical follow-up to these training courses and will be a catalyst for digital entrepreneurship, enabling Cameroon's youth to play an active role in the country's digital transformation," CEO of MTN Cameroon added. 

On his part, the Resident Representative of UNDP in Cameroon, Aissata De, said: “The Digital Innovation Hub that we want to set up with MTN in Douala is in line with our vision to create an enabling environment for young people and women to unleash their creativity and entrepreneurial potential”. 

Aissata De added that: “This Hub is not only an unprecedented driver for the emergence of champions among youths and positioning of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), but above all, is a mechanism that enables start-ups to overcome funding barriers”.

The construction of the digital hub, it was revealed, is a major initiative that will contribute to the achievement of Cameroon's Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in particular goal 9, aimed at promoting industry, innovation and infrastructure.

About MTN Foundation 

MTN Foundation is the very first corporate foundation created in Cameroon with MTN Cameroon investing therein, each year, 1% of its turnover. The Foundation works for the welfare of communities in Cameroon by investing in Education, Health, the Environment and Community Development. Activities of MTN Foundation can be followed online via: https://twitter.com/MTNFoundation  &  www.facebook.com/mtnfoundation 

About MTN Cameroon 

MTN Cameroon, it should be said, is a subsidiary of the MTN Group, represented in 20 countries around the world, and provider of electronic communication as well as payment solutions in Cameroon since February 2000. MTN Cameroon is the leader of the electronic Communications sector in Cameroon.