By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
MTN South Africa has
launched the fifth edition of its Women in Digital Business Challenge, an
initiative aimed at supporting black women-owned ICT and digital businesses
through business development support, mentorship, skills development and market
access opportunities.
The programme, launched by
the MTN SA Foundation, is being delivered in partnership with the EBL Institute
of Business and Technology, Datacomb Development Hub and the National Youth
Development Agency (NYDA).
The initiative brings
together funding and targeted business support to help participating
women-owned businesses strengthen their operations and achieve sustainable
growth.
MTN South Africa said
creating an inclusive digital economy requires more than connectivity and must
include opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate, grow their businesses and
create jobs.
The company said empowering
women entrepreneurs is critical to South Africa’s efforts to accelerate
inclusive economic growth, expand participation in the digital economy and
create employment opportunities.
Women-owned businesses, it
noted, are contributing to innovation, strengthening local economies and
creating opportunities within the communities in which they operate.
Since the programme was
launched in 2022, it has supported 40 businesses which have collectively
reported creating or sustaining 173 jobs and generating more than R14.7 million
in revenue.
MTN South Africa
congratulated this year’s finalists and said it looks forward to seeing the
impact they create through their businesses, communities and contributions to
the country’s digital future.
