MTN Uganda’s corporate social responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, has recognized 15 prospective entrepreneurs following completion of the three-month Business Incubation phase.
Business Incubation is the second phase of the MTN Ace Skilling Program aimed at extending mentorship and support to entrepreneurs to deliver public good ICT solutions for their communities.
The 15 entrepreneurs were among the 32 participants who submitted their business ideas/solutions following the completion of their initial 6-month MTN Ace Skilling program.
The MTN Ace Skilling program included among others training in International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL) certificate as well as technical and business skills.
Bryan Mbasa, the Senior Manager at the MTN Foundation said the company plans to help the 15 entrepreneurs with more mentorship as well as link them to prospective funders to enable them grow and drive not only Uganda’s economic growth and social transformation but also job creation.
He said the selected entrepreneurs represent various sub-sectors including education, health, economic empowerment and humanitarian response.
Racheal Twikirize, founder of Kairos Bookstore making her pitch as part of MTN ACE skilling program.
“We, at MTN Uganda, believe that every Ugandan deserves the benefits of a modern connected life and our journey indicates that we moving closer to that goal,” he said.
“We are confident that these entrepreneurs will help come up with viable business opportunities and create the much-needed jobs for our population and ultimately contribute to the economic and social transformation of their communities.”
He said MTN Uganda is committed to ensuring that that these entrepreneurs succeed. Uganda has been ranked as one of the most enterprising countries in the world with high percentages of new business each year, according to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM).
However, the business failure rate remains also high due to inadequate skills and proper product positioning and thus hindering faster economic growth, social transformation and job creation.
MTN Ace Skilling is one of the three MTN ACE program launched in December last year and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, The National ICT Innovation Hub, Centenary Technology Services, Refactory, MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation, and Incubation Centre, Engage Consults and MTN’s Fintech subsidiary, MTN MoMo Uganda Limited to empower the youths.
MTN ACE Skilling program is tailor-made for the youths who are in or out of school to equip them with entrepreneurial skills.
List of 15 entrepreneurs
