2024-04-02 14:58:08
It is an alliance that will be a milestone in the history of digital innovation in Cameroon. As exclusively revealed by 237online.com, your leading digital media, the MTN Foundation, the country’s first corporate foundation, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have sealed an ambitious partnership on March 18, 2024. in Douala. Objective: build an ultra-modern digital innovation hub to catalyze digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation in Cameroon.
MTN and UNDP Hand in hand for a visionary project
The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding brought together the highest officials of the two organizations. Mitwa Ng’ambi, Managing Director of MTN Cameroon and representative of the board of directors of the MTN Foundation, and Aissata De, UNDP Resident Representative in Cameroon, signed their signatures, marking the start of a historic collaboration. A highlight, in the presence of Nompilo Morafo, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Executive Officer of the MTN Group, Martin Hart-Hansen, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, and experts from the two institutions.
A cutting-edge digital hub to train, innovate and collaborate
The result of this alliance will be a latest generation digital hub, a true center of excellence dedicated to technological innovation. This ultra-modern space will offer young Cameroonian entrepreneurs, students and job seekers, with particular attention to women, a cutting-edge work and collaboration environment. On the program: intensive training on the latest digital technologies, a coworking space equipped to promote innovation, and an R&D laboratory to explore and test innovative digital solutions responding to the specific challenges of Cameroon.
MTN, spearheading digital inclusion in Cameroon
For Mitwa Ng’ambi, this partnership is in line with MTN’s commitment to supporting the growth of digital technology in Cameroon. “To date, around 2,500 Cameroonians, including 1,800 people living with disabilities, have benefited from our various training programs in the use of digital tools”she stressed. “The digital hub is therefore a logical continuation of these training courses and will be a catalyst for digital entrepreneurship which will allow Cameroonian youth to play an active role in the digital transformation of the country…”. A clear vision for 360° digital inclusion.
UNDP, catalyst for youth and women’s entrepreneurship
For Aissata De, this hub is much more than a building. It is a powerful tool to unlock the potential of young people and women. “ This Hub is not only an unprecedented catalyst for the emergence of champions among young people, and for the positioning of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), but above all a mechanism allowing start-ups to overcome the constraints financing barriers », she said. A holistic approach to making digital a lever for emancipation and empowerment.
A major milestone towards the Sustainable Development Goals
Beyond its immediate impact, this digital hub is a major milestone towards the achievement of Cameroon’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 9 aimed at promoting industry, innovation and infrastructure. An entire innovation ecosystem is set to develop around this center, making digital a driver of economic and social progress. An ambitious vision, up to the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
237online.com, your window on digital innovation in Cameroon, will closely follow the progress of this flagship project. Because it is also our mission: to highlight these initiatives which are shaping the Cameroon of tomorrow, a Cameroon where digital technology is a lever for inclusive and sustainable development. With MTN and UNDP hand in hand, there is no doubt that this hub will be a resounding success. A success of which we will be, at our humble level, the proud chroniclers.