The next big digital revolution should not come from Silicon Valley, Beijing, or Europe — it must come from Africa. Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, made this bold statement at the 2025 Stakeholders and Editors Forum held in Tamale, where he laid out a compelling vision for the continent’s digital future, driven by its youthful population and growing tech ambition.
In his address, Mr. Blewett said: “The next great development in the digital world can and must come from Africa. There’s absolutely every opportunity for that to happen.” He emphasized that the continent’s vibrant, youthful, and entrepreneurial population holds the key to building globally competitive tech solutions — if only they are empowered with the right tools, skills, and opportunities.
“Sometimes I believe we in Africa don’t understand how much potential we actually have,” he said. “We have young people who know how to be entrepreneurial, who are hungry for more. So we need to empower them to be able to do that.”
Mr. Blewett underscored MTN’s commitment to driving this empowerment through strategic investments in digital innovation, with a vision to ensure that every African thrives in a modern, connected world.
According to him, digital empowerment is crucial — not just as a business priority, but as a social imperative for unlocking Africa’s full potential.
Driving Digital Inclusion
Beyond providing connectivity, MTN is focused on delivering enhanced digital services directly to users. A case in point is the MyMTN app, which has recently been upgraded to feature personalized voice navigation aimed at improving accessibility for differently-abled users.
“We want to touch every Ghanaian hand,” Mr. Blewett emphasized, reflecting the company’s inclusive digital strategy.
He also highlighted MTN’s long-term commitment to digital skills development, notably through the MTN Skills Academy, which equips young Africans with practical skills in coding, web development, and data analytics.
MTN was the first private sector partner to sign onto the Ministry of Communication’s One Million Coders Project — an initiative to train one million young Ghanaians in coding and AI capabilities. “That’s what the coding project is about — giving people the opportunities and the skills,” Mr. Blewett stated.
Africa Rising: A Digital Future
Mr. Blewett challenged stakeholders to rethink Africa’s place in the global digital economy.
“Why do we always have to get everything that comes from somewhere else? Why can’t the next Instagram, Facebook — whatever you want to think about — come from here?” he asked. His comments reflect a growing movement across the continent to redefine Africa’s digital identity — not as passive consumers of innovation, but as creators and leaders in global technology development.
The forum in Tamale brought together media professionals, government stakeholders, and industry leaders to reflect on digital transformation efforts and explore how public-private partnerships can support inclusive technology growth in Ghana and across Africa.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
