MTN urges focus on youths amid boycott calls

MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, has called for greater investment in youth empowerment and the digital economy amid growing calls on social media to boycott businesses operating across African countries.

Mupita’s remarks come against the backdrop of rising tensions linked to allegations of “Afrophobia” in South Africa and increasing demands for retaliatory actions against multinational companies operating in other African markets.

Speaking ahead of dialogues organised by the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, Mupita stressed the need to harness Africa’s youthful population through digital 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,” he said in a post on LinkedIn.

According to the United Nations, about 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is under the age of 30, presenting both significant opportunities and challenges for the continent.

Mupita warned that campaigns targeting pan-African businesses could undermine industries that provide employment and economic opportunities for millions of young Africans.

In Nigeria, the telecommunications sector contributes more than 13 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and plays a critical role in supporting the technology ecosystem where many young people are employed.

Mupita said MTN remained closely monitoring the situation.

“We have not seen impacts specifically to our business, but we’re very sensitive in markets such as Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.

He noted that addressing unemployment and migration challenges across Africa requires long-term solutions rather than retaliatory measures that could disrupt economic growth and regional integration.

The African Development Bank estimates that Africa needs to create about 12 million jobs annually to absorb new entrants into the labour market.

Mupita maintained that expanding digital opportunities and empowering young people remain critical to achieving shared prosperity and reducing tensions across the continent.