Joy Agwunobi
MTN Group, one of Africa’s leading telecommunications giants, has announced that it has surpassed 300 million subscribers across its markets on the continent, a major achievement that marks the attainment of its Ambition 2025 strategic target of connecting 300 million customers.
The milestone was officially unveiled during the company’s Annual Ambassadors Appreciation Dinner, held mid-week and attended by diplomats, senior government officials, corporate leaders, and executives from MTN’s subsidiaries across Africa.
In a statement released recently, the Group described the achievement as a reflection of its enduring commitment to digitally connect Africans, deepen financial inclusion, and support the continent’s socioeconomic transformation.
Speaking at the event, Ralph Mupita, MTN Group president and chief executive officer, urged African governments, businesses, and development partners to strengthen collaboration and invest more actively in home-grown digital initiatives capable of transforming communities.
“The time is now for Africa to take charge of its own socioeconomic progress,” Mupita said. “We need to look within for solutions and develop our own communities. MTN’s ability to continue connecting the continent digitally is a testament to this goal.”
Mupita noted that MTN’s growth over the past three decades from its first commercial operation in South Africa to its current presence in multiple markets underscores the continent’s collective progress toward digital inclusion. He also commended MTN employees, fondly called “MTNers,” whose dedication to the company’s annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign continues to drive innovation and inclusion, especially in underserved and rural areas.
“Tonight, we celebrate our Y’ello Care employee volunteers and take inspiration from their can-do attitude. Their dedication has played a crucial role in helping the Group serve more than 300 million customers just three decades after our first call was made in South Africa,” Mupita added.
Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, highlighted how the 2025 Y’ello Care campaign themed “Connecting at the Roots: Connecting Communities through the Use of Digital Tools,” demonstrates the transformative impact of innovation and collaboration at the community level.
She explained that the campaign, developed through partnerships between employees and local stakeholders, showcased how digital tools are expanding opportunities and improving livelihoods across Africa.
“Y’ello Care embodies our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. It reminds us that progress is ultimately built through people through our ideas, commitment, and compassion,” Morafo said.
The evening also featured awards recognising outstanding projects across MTN’s various operating companies for their exceptional impact in advancing digital inclusion and innovation across the continent. MTN Eswatini clinched top honours for its Government in Your Hand initiative, which integrates MoMo (MTN Mobile Money) to deliver essential public services and promote digital literacy, thereby advancing national e-governance and inclusion.
MTN Cameroon was honoured with the WECA Region Award for its community-driven digital centres designed to empower citizens to co-create local solutions, strengthen grassroots participation, and enhance innovation at the community level. In East Africa, MTN Uganda received the SEA Region Award in recognition of its efforts to expand digital inclusion through projects such as solar-powered health centres, computer laboratories, and vocational training programmes that equip communities with essential digital skills.
MoMo, MTN’s digital financial platform, earned the inaugural Platform Business Award for its pivotal role in driving financial inclusion through digital entrepreneurship, healthcare access, and technology-enabled education. Similarly, MTN Nigeria received a Special Mention Award for the scale and innovation demonstrated through its Y’ello Boxes and MoMo Market Storm initiatives, which have helped to deepen digital and financial inclusion for women, traders, and small business owners across the country.
Additional recognition was given to operations across MTN’s markets for projects reflecting the Group’s values of innovation, inclusion, and social impact.
Mupita expressed appreciation to Africa’s diplomatic community for its continued partnership in fostering an enabling environment for sustainable investment and innovation. He emphasised that collaboration between the private and public sectors remains crucial as Africa advances toward the goals of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development.
“Our journey is ambitious but achievable,” he noted. “Grounded in partnership and guided by a vision of an inclusive digital future, we are confident that Africa can define its own path toward prosperity.”
In a further testament to its global standing, MTN Group was recently recognised as one of the Forbes World’s Best Employers 2025, marking its fifth consecutive year on the list. The company now ranks 3rd globally in the Telecommunications Services, Cable Supplier category, showcasing its leadership in the sector.
The group also climbed 101 places in the overall global ranking to 166th, up from 267th in 2024, reinforcing its reputation as an employer of choice and a leading force in shaping Africa’s digital future.
With the attainment of its Ambition 2025 target, MTN Group reaffirms its position as one of Africa’s most influential drivers of connectivity and digital transformation, empowering individuals, businesses, and governments through access, inclusion, and innovation.
