JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, has called for greater investment in youth empowerment and the digital economy amid growing social media campaigns targeting businesses operating across African borders.
Mupita’s comments come as tensions linked to reports of rising Afrophobia in South Africa trigger calls in some countries for boycotts of businesses perceived to be linked to other African nations.
Okay News reports that Mupita warned against actions that could undermine pan-African businesses, arguing that economic retaliation would ultimately harm young Africans who depend on opportunities created by cross-border investments.
According to the United Nations, about 70 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 30, making it the youngest region in the world.
Addressing the issue ahead of discussions organised by the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, Mupita said Africa’s growing youth population can become a major economic advantage if supported through digital inclusion and technology-driven opportunities.
“MTN also believes that embracing the benefits of the digital economy is vital to turning the youth bulge we have in Africa into a youth dividend,” Mupita said.
His remarks come amid concerns that growing hostility toward multinational companies could affect sectors that provide employment and economic opportunities for young people.
In Nigeria, the telecommunications sector contributes more than 13 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The sector also supports a significant portion of the country’s technology ecosystem and digital entrepreneurship activities.
Mupita said MTN remains attentive to developments across its markets as discussions around cross-border business operations continue.
“We have not seen impacts specifically to our business, but we’re very sensitive in markets such as Nigeria and Ghana,” he said in comments to Bloomberg.
The MTN chief said economic integration and digital transformation remain important to the continent’s long-term development goals.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that Africa needs to create about 12 million jobs annually to accommodate new entrants into the labour market.
