MTN Ghana has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with youth-led nonprofit organization Thrive and Shine to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and empower Ghanaian youth with skills needed to compete in the emerging digital economy.
The partnership, announced on Wednesday, February 5, 2026, marks a major step in AI literacy, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) empowerment and Ghana’s future digital workforce development. The MoU was signed on January 29, 2026, at MTN Ghana’s Head Office in Accra.
The collaboration aims to ensure Ghanaian youth are not left behind as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence continues globally. The partnership will equip students with technical skills, problem solving capabilities and market-ready exposure needed to thrive in the digital economy.
Ibrahim Misto, Chief Digital Officer of MTN Ghana, said the partnership is in line with MTN Ghana’s commitment to nurturing future-ready digital talent, describing it as a journey rather than a short-term project.
Misto stated that the goal is to co-create solutions to real-world problems and support institutions like Thrive and Shine that are empowering young people with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to the digital economy.
Yvonne Dumor, Co-Founder of Thrive and Shine, described the partnership as a breakthrough moment for the organization, stating that talent is universal, but opportunity is not.
She said everything the organization does is driven by the question of how to bring opportunity closer to the people around them. Dumor added that the partnership with MTN moves the organization a step closer to closing the digital gap for students and young people who are striving to compete in the global AI space.
For beneficiaries, the impact is already tangible. Michael Darko, a Computer Science student at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), shared how the programme is transforming his trajectory, stating that financial constraints previously made it difficult for him to fully focus on his studies and commit to projects.
He said that through the scholarship and support from Thrive and Shine, he can now concentrate on his studies and build real projects.
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.
Thrive and Shine LBG is a nonprofit organization dedicated to unlocking young Africans’ potential by removing barriers to STEM education. The organization provides financial support, mentorship, career guidance and a supportive community, leveraging AI and innovative tools to empower STEM students.
The organization has sponsored nine university students through its scholarship program, spread across Ghana’s top institutions, including the University of Ghana, University of Development Studies and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
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.
The telecommunications company recently announced a US$2 million contribution to the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations in support of the Government of Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme, which is part of the country’s digital transformation strategy and aims to equip young people with coding and technology skills.
Source: Newsghana
