MTN Nigeria has unveiled solutions developed by 20 early-stage startups, the first cohort of its 12-week Cloud Accelerator programme in Lagos, during the MTN Cloud Accelerator Demo Day and Investors Mixer held on Monday.
Ms. Linda Saint-Nwafor, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s digital economy through local infrastructure, mentorship, and N100 million in funding for participating startups. She revealed that approximately 8,000 early-stage startups applied for the programme, with 20 selected to complete the 12-week intensive initiative. Each startup received N5 million to develop solutions “powered locally and scaled globally.”
“The Cloud Accelerator is more than a ceremonial programme,” Saint-Nwafor said. “It is a deliberate investment in Africa’s digital future, ensuring African solutions are developed locally and scaled internationally.”
The programme aims to equip founders with the tools, mentorship, and financial support required to grow and scale their businesses. Beyond funding, participants gain access to MTN’s cloud infrastructure, described as reliable and locally anchored, as well as integration with MTN’s payment systems through APIs, USSD, and SMS capabilities, enabling faster development cycles.
Ayham Moussa, MTN Nigeria executive and former CEO of MTN Congo Brazzaville, welcomed attendees and highlighted the programme’s core objectives: providing local infrastructure, delivering expert-led mentorship, and offering funding for growth. Moussa encouraged startups to build quickly, prioritize resilience, and leverage local infrastructure that meets global standards.
Njideka Jack, General Manager of Enterprise Marketing, praised the inaugural cohort for translating the programme’s vision into tangible outcomes. She emphasized the importance of turning Africa’s potential into measurable achievements, encouraging founders and investors alike to contribute to the continent’s innovation ecosystem.
On behalf of the cohort, Dr. Joseph Olowe of DoktorConnect expressed gratitude to MTN for creating a platform that not only provided resources but also guided startups through the complexities of business development. He shared examples of breakthroughs achieved during the programme, including solutions projected to generate additional revenue for users. Olowe highlighted the collaborative and lasting impact of the accelerator, noting that founders hope to return to future events as successful entrepreneurs and partners.
Startups in the 12-week hybrid programme span multiple sectors:
- Healthcare: DoktorConnect, led by Joseph Olowe, is shifting healthcare from reactive to preventive using FDA-certified IoT devices. MYITURA, founded by Shina Arogundade, is building integrated digital health ecosystems across Africa.
- Fintech: Regxta, led by Bello Rukayat, provides AI-powered digital banking to underserved populations, while Creditchek by Kingsley Ibe develops machine learning tools for credit assessment and fraud prevention.
- Sustainability: Trashcoin Ltd, founded by Olamide Ilesanmi, digitizes recycling through Africa’s first eco-fintech platform. Scrapays Inc., led by Boluwatife Arewa, is building decentralized recycling infrastructure, reaching over 36,700 households.
- Agritech: Agrovesto, under Bayo Adewoye, helps improve farmer incomes by 30–60% for more than 20,000 farmers. XChangeBOX, led by Abiola Jimoh, drives excellence in agro-commodity trading and exports.
The programme demonstrates MTN Nigeria’s ongoing effort to empower African founders with the resources and ecosystem needed to scale solutions locally and globally.