MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita has called on African leaders to prioritize expanding economic opportunity, regional integration and digital inclusion rather than allowing migration debates to divide the continent.
Speaking during the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar, Mupita said Africa’s long-term prosperity would depend on creating environments where more people can participate meaningfully in economic growth.
The seminar brought together government officials, business executives, members of the diplomatic corps, academics and civil society leaders to discuss the relationship between migration, development and Africa’s future.
According to Mupita, Africa’s future will not be determined by borders but by the opportunities created through stronger economic cooperation.
“The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us. 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,” he said.
As sponsor of this year’s Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar, MTN Group said it believes that platforms encouraging dialogue among diverse stakeholders are essential for developing practical solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges.
During a panel discussion, Mupita argued that migration should not be discussed independently of the broader economic realities influencing people’s decisions to relocate.
He noted that focusing solely on migration risks overlooking the underlying issue of unequal access to opportunity across the continent.
“If our discussion ends with the language of crisis around migration, we will have treated the symptom and missed the deeper challenge. People move because opportunity is unevenly distributed. The defining question is whether we can build economies in which mobility is matched by opportunity.”
Mupita further stressed that Africa’s growing youthful population can only become a true economic advantage if governments invest in education, skills development, infrastructure, finance, efficient markets and strong institutions.
He highlighted digital infrastructure as a critical driver of inclusive economic participation, explaining that connectivity enables access to education, entrepreneurship, financial services, government services and broader markets.
“MTN was born in South Africa and has grown alongside the continent. Our prosperity is inseparable from Africa’s prosperity,” Mupita said.
He added that MTN remains committed to supporting evidence-based conversations that help shape Africa’s future through collaboration rather than division.
“MTN believes that 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.”
MTN Group said its purpose remains delivering digital solutions that support Africa’s progress by empowering consumers, businesses and communities across the continent.
