29/07/2026
Economic Opportunity, Not Borders, Will Shape Africa’s Future, Says MTN CEO.
JOHANNESBURG— Africa’s long-term prosperity hinges on expanding economic opportunities, boosting regional integration, and promoting productive participation rather than focusing narrowly on border divisions and migration debates.
That was the primary message delivered by MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita during the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar. The event brought together leaders from business, government, diplomacy, civil society, and academia to explore the connection between migration, development, and the continent’s trajectory.
"The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us," Mupita said during a panel discussion. "Governments must set predictable policy and regulations. Businesses will follow and allocate resources and capital. Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created."
Mupita urged leaders to avoid treating migration as an isolated crisis, pointing out that people move primarily due to unequal distributions of economic opportunity.
"If our discussion ends with the language of crisis around migration, we will have treated the symptom and missed the deeper challenge," Mupita remarked. "The defining question is whether we can build economies in which mobility is matched by opportunity."
He highlighted that turning Africa’s demographic surge into a tangible economic benefit requires targeted investments across key sectors:
Skills and Human Capital
Infrastructure and Digital Networks
Finance and Capital Access
Markets and Strong Institutions
As a sponsor of the seminar, the telecommunications giant stressed the critical role of digital connectivity in enabling broader economic participation across the continent. Digital services connect citizens not only to one another, but to education, entrepreneurship, public services, and financial systems.
"MTN was born in South Africa and has grown alongside the continent. Our prosperity is inseparable from Africa's prosperity," Mupita stated, emphasizing the need for evidence-based dialogue to solve complex regional challenges. "Africa's strength lies in its connectivity—not only through networks, but through people, ideas, and shared identity. This initiative is about building bridges, not borders."