MTN Ethiopia, African mobile operator announced the launch of prize award programs to promote young Ethiopian women's innovation and business ideas in cooperation with Addis Ababa University.

Happy-Girl Buthelezi, MTN country manager for Ethiopia said, the reason MTN Ethiopia decided to award women for innovative and new business ideas is, in most situations, young Ethiopian girls involvement in the ICT sector is way below than what the boys already do.

The prize winning girls will be awarded scholarships opportunity  to study at the University of South Africa (UNISA) to attend business related study.

MTN and AAU are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in the coming week.

MTN Ethiopia is expecting to launch its Value Added Services (SMS texting infotainment, and agriculture and health related services) soon. Happy-Girl indicated that, MTN is also considering mobile money services too, but uncertain for the timing as to when and how it is going to be operational in Ethiopia.

MTN currently operates in 22 countries,with 189 million subscribers across Africa and the Middle East.

Source: The Reporter