15 Entrepreneurs Rewarded For Completing The Incubation Phase of The MTN Ace skilling

MTN Uganda’s corporate social responsibility arm, MTN Foundation on Friday recognized 15 entrepreneurs following the completion of the three-month Business Incubation phase, a second phase of the MTN Ace Skilling Program that is aimed at extending mentorship and support to entrepreneurs to deliver public good ICT solutions for their communities.

The selected entrepreneurs represent various sub-sectors including education, health, economic empowerment, and humanitarian response.

The 15 entrepreneurs were shortlisted out of 32 participants who submitted their business ideas following the completion of their initial 6-month MTN Ace Skilling program which included among others training in International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL) certificate as well as technical and business skills.

Bryan Mbasa, the Senior Manager at the MTN Foundation said the foundation plans to help the 15 entrepreneurs with more mentorship as well as link them to prospective funders to enable them to grow and drive not only Uganda’s economic growth and social transformation but also job creation.

Mbasa further added, “We are confident that these entrepreneurs will help come up with viable business opportunities and create the much-needed jobs for our population and ultimately contribute to the economic and social transformation of their communities.” Nothing that MTN Uganda is committed to ensuring that these entrepreneurs succeed.

Uganda has been ranked as one of the most enterprising countries in the world with high percentages of new business each year, according to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). However, the business failure rate remains high due to inadequate skills and proper product positioning thus hindering faster economic growth, social transformation, and job creation.

MTN Ace Skilling is one of the three MTN ACE Programs launched in December 2022 and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, The National ICT Innovation Hub, Centenary Technology Services, Refactory, MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation, and Incubation Centre, Engage Consults and MTN’s Fintech subsidiary, MTN MoMo Uganda Limited to empower the youths.

MTN ACE Skilling program is tailor-made for the youths who are in or out of school to equip them with entrepreneurial skills.

List of 15 entrepreneurs