MTN Nigeria, over the weekend, hosted the ‘MTN Cloud Accelerator Demo Day’, marking the completion of a transformative 12-week hybrid accelerator programme designed to equip early-stage African startups with the infrastructure, mentorship and funding required to scale sustainably.
Launched on July 1 by Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the MTN Cloud Accelerator was built as a “real engine for scale,” not a ceremonial initiative, said Ayham Moussa, chief operating officer, MTN Nigeria, in his opening remarks.
“Africa’s next unicorn will be built by founders who deeply understand the continent, supported by local infrastructure that can scale globally,” Moussa said. “Build fast, build lean, and design for resilience from day one.”
A ₦100 Million Commitment to Startup Growth
Delivering the keynote address, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief enterprise business officer (CEBO) at MTN Nigeria, highlighted the company’s intentional investment in Africa’s digital future.
She stated that MTN’s ₦100 million in direct funding to the cohort was strategically deployed to help startups overcome two major barriers: infrastructure gaps and market access.
Beyond funding, founders gained seamless access to local and scalable MTN infrastructure including:
- MTN Cloud for local, reliable and predictable computing power
- MoMo Payment Solutions for easy integration of payment collections
- Chenosis APIs for faster development cycles
“Acceleration is more than technology, it requires exposure, structure and clarity,” she said. “Our founders are leaving sharper, more confident, and better equipped to scale.”
Startups also participated in ecosystem tours and intensive masterclasses covering investor readiness, product design, CX, go-to-market strategies, sales execution and founder wellness.
Founders Celebrate Transformative Experience
Speaking on behalf of the 20-startup cohort, valedictorian Dr. Joseph Olowe, founder of Doktor Connect, described the programme as “nothing short of transformative.”
He celebrated MTN’s leadership, speakers, mentors and programme managers, Cynthia Chisom, programme manager, Cloud Accelerator and Napa Onwusah, managing partner, B4B Partners, for their hands-on support.
He also highlighted real-world business impacts, including product improvements, revenue opportunities and collaborative wins among participating startups.
“We are leaving as better businesses and a connected community,” Olowe said. “One idea shared in a demo session added an estimated $3,000 per user in annual revenue. That is the kind of bottom-line impact this accelerator created.”
MTN Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment to Africa’s Innovation Agenda
In her closing remarks, Njideka Jack, general manager, Enterprise Marketing at MTN Nigeria, applauded the founders, investors, mentors and global partners who contributed to the success of the programme.
“This is an exciting time for Nigeria and Africa,” she said. “We must move from potential to actual, building solutions in Africa, by Africans, for Africans. MTN will continue enabling these opportunities.”
Founders received mentorship from some of Africa’s most respected technology leaders, including Mitchell Elegbe (Interswitch), Funke Opeke (MainOne), Adewale Yusuf (TalentQL), Atinuke Idowu (Termii), Tomie Balogun (Twelve Inc.), Cynthia Alabi, and Nubi Kay (Paystack).
The MTN Cloud Accelerator Demo Day showcased innovative solutions across fintech, sustainability, logistics, health, agriculture, cybersecurity, and more, reaffirming MTN’s commitment to driving Africa’s digital and entrepreneurial growth.
