MTN Ghana has taken a bold step to expand digital opportunities for young people in Ghana by signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with youth-led non-profit, Thrive & Shine.

The partnership marks a major step in AI literacy, STEM empowerment and Ghana’s future digital workforce.

The collaboration aims to ensure that Ghanaian youth are not left behind as the rapid global expansion of Artificial Intelligence continues.

This partnership will equip students with the technical skills, problem‑solving capabilities and market‑ready exposure needed to thrive in the emerging digital economy.

Speaking about the sponsorship, Ibrahim Misto, Chief Digital Officer of MTN Ghana, said the partnership aligns with MTN Ghana’s commitment to nurturing future-ready digital talent.

“This is not a short-term project; it is a journey,” he stressed. “That is why we have formalised the partnership through an MoU.

"The goal is to co-create solutions to real-world problems and support institutions like Thrive & Shine that are empowering young people with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to the digital economy”.

Co‑Founder of Thrive & Shine, Yvonne Dumor, described the partnership as a breakthrough moment for the organisation: “At Thrive & Shine, we believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Everything we do is driven by the question: how do we bring opportunity closer to the people around us?

"This partnership with MTN moves us a step closer to closing the digital gap for students and young people who are striving to compete in the global AI space. We do not just want to consume AI solutions; we want to be part of the global players shaping them.”

For beneficiaries, the impact is already tangible. Michael Darko, a Computer Science student at GIMPA, shared how the programme is transforming his trajectory: “Before this opportunity, financial constraints made it difficult for me to fully focus on my studies and commit to projects.

"Through the scholarship and support from Thrive & Shine, I can now concentrate on my studies and build real projects,” he shared.

Under the partnership, MTN Ghana will provide mentoring opportunities, internship placements, and a launchpad for participants to learn, apply their knowledge, and translate their learning into practical, real-world use cases.

This partnership forms part of MTN Ghana’s broader ambition to champion digital inclusion, reduce the digital divide, and empower young people with the skills needed to unlock economic opportunities in an AI-driven era.