Rob Shutter
THE MTN Group has
launched its “We’re good together” initiative.
This is aimed at
demonstrating how, in partnering with its host countries, it can change lives
by improving digital access, driving financial inclusion, empowering and
enabling SMEs, as well as creating jobs and broad community development, among
others.
Group CEO and
President Rob Shutter notes in a remark: “To harness the potential of Africa
and ensure our youth are productively employed, we need affordable, safe and
relevant digital services which are matched with the required digital skills.
This in turn will support the global development agenda and national
priorities. As one of the major infrastructure investors across Africa, MTN
through partnership and collaboration can accelerate this digital inclusion.”
According to the
company, the global telecommunications industry has made significant progress
on the Sustainable Development Goals but more still remained to be done to
bridge the digital divide, and MTN is prepared to do its part.
“Over the last 25 years, MTN has built high-speed
networks covering 560 million people, created jobs for over five million people
and through MTN Mobile Money, connected 30 million people to the benefits of
easy, cost-effective mobile financial services across the continent,” said Shutter.
MTN also noted it had
worked to use this extensive mobile reach and technology to enable access to
education, with the goal of promoting and enabling digital teaching and learning.
“MTN only succeeds
if Africa succeeds. Being a partner in development also means that we have a
responsibility to enable the youth to unlock economic opportunities in every
country we operate in. We have therefore enhanced our focus on more actively demonstrating
what can be achieved if we work together to enable a shared value system and
drive a prosperous Africa,” added Shutter.
