MTN Ignites Africa's Tech Scene: N100 Million Boost for 20 Startups

In a vibrant showcase of innovation and ambition, MTN Nigeria has handed out a game-changing N100 million to 20 standout startups, marking the triumphant close of its first-ever Cloud Accelerator program. The Demo Day event buzzed with energy as founders unveiled cutting-edge solutions poised to reshape Africa's digital landscape, drawing cheers from investors, mentors, and fellow trailblazers.

The accelerator, which kicked off earlier this year, drew a staggering 8,000 applicants from across the continent, all vying for a shot at transformation. After rigorous vetting, just these 20 emerged victorious, each pocketing a N5 million cheque to fuel their visions. From sustainable waste management to financial tools and health tech, the lineup promises real-world impact, born from intensive workshops, expert guidance, and robust cloud resources provided by MTN's team.

Ayham Moussa, MTN Nigeria's chief operating officer, set the tone with a passionate welcome, framing the initiative as far more than funding. "This isn't merely a program," he declared. "It's a powerhouse for progress, where these founders have honed their ideas through hands-on training and strategic advice from our specialists, ready to thrive in today's fast-paced tech arena."

Lynda Saint-Nwafor, the chief enterprise business officer, took the stage next with a keynote that lit up the room. She painted a vivid picture of the program's core mission: arming entrepreneurs with the infrastructure and connections they need to break through barriers. "Backed by this N100 million commitment, we're tackling the hurdles that hold back so many innovators—from shaky tech foundations to limited market reach," Saint-Nwafor said. She spotlighted how cloud tech is supercharging Nigeria's booming digital economy, with these startups' creations offering fresh fixes for longstanding issues like access to credit, environmental cleanup, and efficient supply chains.

The afternoon unfolded with founders stepping into the spotlight during a lively panel, sharing stories of grit and ingenuity behind their ventures. The honored group includes XChangebox by Abiola Jimoh, Fusion Intelligence Technologies led by Kolade Adewoye, Scrapays Inc. from Boluwatife Arewa, Prembly's Lanre Ogungbe, Pierre Nwoke's Sproutly, Oyekanmi Stephen's Solarcorp Technologies, Joseph Olowe's DoktorConnect, Bidemi Adebayo's Hadi Finance, Shina Arogundade's Myltura, Elda David Kehinde's Proconnect, Kingsley Ibe's Creditchek, Bello Rukayat's Regxta, Ayodeji Alaran's PBR Life Sciences, William Nwogbo's ProDevs, Samuel Ogbonyomi's PipeOps, plus Uri Creatives, AgroVesto, Trashcash, Bunce, and Debt Recuva.

Wrapping up the day, Njideka Jack, general manager of Enterprise Marketing, beamed with pride in her closing words. She thanked MTN's top brass for championing these digital pioneers and showered praise on the winners: "Your drive to build solutions that propel our economy forward is inspiring. Here's to the breakthroughs ahead."

As the formalities faded, the crowd spilled into a casual networking mixer, where handshakes turned into partnerships and ideas sparked collaborations. For these 20 founders, it's not just cash in hand—it's a launchpad toward wider adoption and lasting change in Africa's evolving tech ecosystem. MTN's bold move signals a brighter, more connected future, one startup at a time.