MTN executives at NECLive 2025 used the Accessing the Global Creative Innovation in a Digital Economy panel to highlight the need for new infrastructure capable of supporting the continent’s digital creative ambitions. MTN general manager Funso Finnih said the company must begin “building dams,” which he described as the core infrastructure needed to enhance distribution, access and monetization. He noted that MTN’s user base of over 200 million people across the continent presents a significant opportunity for creators if supported by the right systems.
Finnih explained that while African content is now exported globally through music, fashion and gaming, the continent is still not extracting enough value from these exports. He argued that telcos have a unique position in monetization because they reach customers more directly than financial institutions. Through mobile money, micro payments and cross border settlement systems, he said MTN can help creators earn more predictably from their work.
He concluded that once creators engage with these structures, the industry will be able to scale faster and more sustainably.
