MTN ,Centenary Technology Service Launch Youth Economic Empowerment Initiative dubbed MTN ACE
MTN Uganda’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, has today launched a nationwide youth-centered economic empowerment initiative dubbed the MTN ACE.
The MTN ACE initiative was launched in Kampala at the National ICT Innovation hub under the theme “Digital Skills for digital jobs”. This timely campaign comes at a time when many youths are faced with a year-on-year soaring unemployment challenge as highlighted by the most recent (2021) World Bank report https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS?locations=UG. Further studies indicate that 77% of Uganda is under the age of 30 and its population is set to double by 2060. There are not enough jobs available. Youth unemployment is already high and is indicated to rise as the population grows.
It is against this background that MTN Foundation Uganda and its partners have introduced the MTN ACE program aimed at tackling the issue of youth unemployment in supplement of all the other government efforts.The initiative targets a wide base of youths in Uganda including; fresh graduates, those in and out of school, innovators, entrepreneurs well astech-driven start-ups. This is all aimed at nurturing an all-around workforce with the requisite skills for the 21st-century job market, as well as generating a pool of job creators in an effort to alleviate the current unemployment dilemma that the youth in Uganda are currently facing.
MTN ACE initiative brings to the public three MTN Foundation programs which include; the MTN ACE Tech program which focuses on ups killing the youth interested in tech-related innovations under which MTN has also equipped the national ICT hub with state-of-the-art equipment to allow innovators to prototype and incubate their ideas into a feasible business.
The second program under the initiative is the MTN ACE Career program which seeks to empower fresh graduates with workplace skills and internship placement, and lastly is the MTN ACE Skills program which is tailor-made for the youths who are in or out of school to equip them with entrepreneurial skills.
The MTN foundation has earmarked UGX 1.5 billion towards this initiativefor the year 2023 in linewith their corporate social responsibility agenda aimed at impacting the livelihoods of the communities MTN operates.
The MTN ACE initiatives an invention of the MTN Uganda Foundation, executed in partnership with; the Ministry of ICT& National Guidance, The National ICT Innovation Hub, Centenary Technology Services, Refactory, MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation, and Incubation Center, as well as MTN’s Fintech subsidiary, MTN MoMo Uganda Limited.
Speaking at the launch of the multi-billion MTN ACE campaign, Sylvia Mulinge the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer expressed MTN’s commitment towards empowering the youth, especially considering the soaring levels of unemployment in the country.
“This multi-pronged campaign will offer opportunities to a cross-section of the youth of this country and empower them on their various career journeys. They shall be able to get hands-on training for job placements as well as the much-needed digital skills to help them flourish in their various careers as well as innovate ideas that would allow them to start businesses that might even become global,” She said, “I thank all our partners who have made this vision a reality,” Mulinge said, noting thatit will require a concerted effort to deal with the unemployment issue in Uganda.
Hon. Joyce Ssebugwawo, the State Minister of ICT lauded MTN Uganda and its partners for the critical campaign that is crucial to bridging the digital skills gap in the country as it further positions itself for the 4th industrial revolution.
“ICT skills are at the heart of Uganda’s development agenda. We believe that by empowering the youth to harness the digital era, Uganda shall be able to earn its share of the digital dividend in the near future. I urge the youth out there to seize this opportunity,” Hon Ssebugwawo said.
Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT & National Guidance commended MTN for implementing the national initiative.’ I am happy about today because it’s a testament to what happens when Government and private sector partner, effectively partner. In MTN Uganda and Centenary Technology Services, we have started a solid partnership that will contribute to developing a digitally experienced and empowered society to spur innovation and productivity of our people, organizations, businesses and government. Importantly, through this increased productivity, employment opportunities for our young people will be created,’ Dr Aminah remarked.
‘I encourage our youth across the country to use this opportunity to unlock their potential through digital skills,’ Dr Aminah concluded.
Peter Kahiigi, Centenary Technology Service’s Chief Technology Officer commenting after the launch of MTN ACE said, ‘MTN ACE will help SMEs access digital skills and close the digital skills gap. These newly acquired skills will be build the resilience of these SMEs.’
‘After today, we shall implement a national incubation and acceleration program that will change the lives of 80 companies across Uganda. This program will include training, incubation and acceleration,’ Kahiigi added.
MUBS’ Entrepreneurship expert, Dr. Diana Ntamu also urged the youth to seize this opportunity to improve their odds of finding employment as well as advancing their careers. She particularly lauded the MTN ACE Career Program which shall enable fresh graduates to acquire necessary hands-on skills that shall enable them find suitable employment upon completion.
MTN Skills Program comment: To be added at the event
Applications for the three programs namely; ACE Tech, ACE Career, and ACE Skills commence today 15th December 2022 and shall close next year on January 13th. Interested youths can submit their applications throughwww.mtn.co.ug/mtnace
MTN Foundation Uganda is committed to empowering the youths by offering opportunities that support the youth to fully realize their potential while contributing positively to their communities, countries as well as the African continent, and beyond.
The initiative provides a three-months soft skills training and internship placement for selected participating fresh graduates. Initially, a total of 100 recent graduates will be shortlisted to participate. Fifty (50) of the shortlisted graduates will be recruited in cohort 1 and another fifty graduates will be recruited in cohort 2. Graduates who successfully go through the program will be placed at MTN Uganda to do internship for a period of three months. Makerere University Business School Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre (MUBS-EIIC) will serve as the training and coaching implementing partner in the program and will also be responsible for conducting research and tracer studies.
Partnership key facts: program period 1 year; focus area – diploma and under graduates; reach – national; impact anticipated – graduates skilled for the job market; ambition – A digitally skilled Human capital
MTN Foundation in partnered with the Ministry of ICT/National ICT innovation hub to implement the MTN Innovation Program through Centenary Technology Services. The partnership focuses on business development and advisory service, capacity building and incubation of innovations.
The hub creates an environment for ICT innovators facing challenges with workspace, limited internet connectivity and searching for creative spaces that spur thinking. MTN Foundation seeks to equip the space and conduct training, coaching and mentorship for startups. The program will target Ugandans with an innovative idea solving real life problems across all sectors, with specific key priority areas of Uganda’s Vision2040 – National Development Priorities i.e., Agriculture, Tourism & Trade, Minerals & Energy, Health, Education, Refugee/Host Communities and the Justice, Law and Order sector.
Partnership key facts: program period 5 years with annual renewals; focus area – youth skilling; reach – national; impact anticipated – youth skilled and jobs created; ambition – Uganda, Africa’s innovation Powerhouse
The program will cost Ugx 1.2 billion where, Ugx903m towards equipment and business advisory services and internet services (50Mbps) Ugx 120m. Total of 80 innovators (developers and startups) will benefit from the program yearly.
MTN Foundation Youth Skilling Program (MTN ACE Skill)
The program is aimed at designing and delivering practical knowledge, skills experience for youth and young adults in preparation for the 4th Industrial Revolution. The mission of the MTN Foundation youth empowerment program is to inspire and empower youth and young adults towards the practical application of innovative ICT solutions to solve their communities’ most pressing challenges.
Partnership key facts: program period 6 months; focus area – youth skilling; reach – national; impact anticipated – youth skilled and startups created.
Target group – The program is targeting a group of 100 beneficiaries of university graduates, SMEs, and Innovators (ideation). The Foundation will invite applications from young innovators in Uganda.
The MTN Skills Academy
The MTN Skills Academy is the flagship program of MTN Group under the Digital Skills for Digital jobs thematic area which was launched on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress Africa in Kigali, Rwanda on October 25th and is aligned with the African Union’s ‘Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa’ as well as MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
The Skills Academy is an online platform that aims to create solutions that address a lack of opportunities and challenges that currently face the youth, the most vulnerable group on the continent. The MTN Skills Academy provides MTN with a unique opportunity to differentiate itself from its peers by addressing a critical gap of linking digital skills training with placement in digital jobs. This will not only help address the digital skills shortage but will also have knock-on benefits for economic growth on the continent.
The MTN Skills Academy is to be piloted within four (4) OPCOS which include Uganda, Zambia, Ghana and Rwanda ahead of the other MTN markets.
About MTN Foundation
The MTN Uganda Foundation is a non-profit entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its corporate social investments (CSI). The main objective of the foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities across the country by supporting and implementing sustainable projects in education, health, and other national priorities. The MTN Uganda Foundation is governed by an independent Non-Executive Board of Trustees made up of eminent members of society.
About MTN Uganda
MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) license granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. services are delivered through a network of 171,077 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 16 main distributors. For the six months ended June 2022, MTN Uganda had 16.3 million subscribers, 9.8 million MoMo users and 5.7 million active data users.
About Post Author
