By Issah Olegor
President and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has called on African leaders to shift the continent’s focus from migration debates to expanding economic opportunities, arguing that Africa’s long-term prosperity depends on stronger regional integration, inclusive growth, and shared development rather than division.
Mupita made the remarks during the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar, which brought together policymakers, business executives, diplomats, academics, and civil society leaders to examine the links between migration, development, and Africa’s future.
Addressing participants, the MTN Group CEO said Africa’s destiny would ultimately be determined by its ability to create opportunities that connect people across borders instead of allowing geographical boundaries to become barriers to prosperity.
“The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us,” Mupita stated.
He urged governments across the continent to establish predictable policy and regulatory environments capable of attracting private investment, noting that businesses are more willing to commit capital where there is stability and certainty.
“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.
Migration Is a Symptom, Not the Core Challenge
Speaking during a panel discussion, Mupita argued that migration should not be viewed in isolation but rather as a consequence of uneven economic development across the continent.
According to him, public discourse often focuses on migration as a crisis while overlooking the deeper structural issues that force people to move in search of better opportunities.
“If our discussion ends with the language of crisis around migration, we will have treated the symptom and missed the deeper challenge,” he said. “People move because opportunity is unevenly distributed. The defining question is whether we can build economies in which mobility is matched by opportunity.”
He stressed that Africa’s rapidly growing population could become one of the continent’s greatest economic strengths if governments invest strategically in education, skills development, infrastructure, financial systems, efficient markets, and strong public institutions.
Digital Infrastructure Key to Africa’s Growth
Mupita emphasized that digital connectivity is becoming an increasingly important driver of economic participation and inclusive growth across Africa. He noted that MTN, which was founded in South Africa and now operates across multiple African markets, has grown alongside the continent and remains committed to supporting its development through investments in digital infrastructure and technology platforms.
“Our prosperity is inseparable from Africa’s prosperity,” he said.
According to him, digital networks today do far more than connect people for communication—they also provide access to education, entrepreneurship, financial services, government services, and regional markets, enabling millions of Africans to participate more actively in the digital economy.
Dialogue and Collaboration Essential
As one of the sponsors of this year’s KMF Winter Seminar, MTN Group said it supports platforms that encourage constructive dialogue among governments, businesses, and civil society on issues affecting Africa’s future.
The company believes that bringing together diverse perspectives is critical to developing practical and sustainable solutions to complex continental challenges such as migration, economic inclusion, and regional development.
Building Bridges Across Africa
Concluding his address, Mupita urged Africans to embrace unity, collaboration, and shared identity as the foundation for future prosperity.
