MTN Nigeria has deepened its investment in the country’s youth ecosystem by backing a youth-led creative and innovation platform, ‘The Gathering on 100’, with over N45 million in funding for emerging ideas.
This was disclosed to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday night at the closing of ‘The Gathering on 100’ initiative.
The Gathering on 100 is a youth-driven community and cultural movement designed to bring young Nigerians together to create, connect, and showcase their individuality over 100 hours.
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said the funding reflected MTN’s long-term commitment to enabling youth-led enterprises and innovations.
“There is enormous untapped enterprise within Nigerian youths. Our role is to provide the platform, the tools and the support that allow them to thrive. We are not here to dictate; we are here to enable,” he said.
He added that the company’s involvement aligned with its broader “Year of the Youth” agenda, aimed at empowering young Nigerians to express themselves, build businesses and contribute to national development.
Toriola said the initiative signalled a strategic shift by the company to position itself at the centre of Nigeria’s future creative and digital economy.
He described the programme as more than an event, noting that it represented a movement driven by a generation redefining how communities, careers and opportunities are built.
“This generation does not wait for permission; they create their own platforms and define their own paths. If we are not part of that journey, we risk becoming irrelevant to the future they are shaping,” he said.
According to the MTN boss, the platform will be expanded beyond Lagos, with plans to build a nationwide network of youth-led communities and innovation hubs.
“The future of Nigeria will be defined by these young people — their ideas, their creativity and their ambition. Our responsibility is to ensure they have the environment to succeed,” Toriola said.
The Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Onyinye Emeka-Ikenna, said the company’s support for youth-driven initiatives reflected the independent and creative spirit of Nigerian youths.
Emeka-Ikenna noted that young people no longer wait to be given opportunities but instead create spaces for themselves, build communities and strive to excel on their own terms.
She said the initiative aligned with MTN’s “Year of the Youth” campaign, adding that the company was excited to support ideas that captured the essence and aspirations of young Nigerians.
According to her, MTN will continue to back initiatives that empower youths to express themselves, co-create their experiences and maximise opportunities, in line with the organisation’s commitment to youth development.
Co-creator Matthias Kupoluyi described the concept as “a group chat brought to life,” where barriers such as funding, access and exposure are removed.
“We wanted a space where a young person can record a podcast for the first time, showcase talent, meet collaborators and discover new opportunities without limitations,” he said.
At the heart of the initiative is “The Gathering on 100,” a youth-curated experience designed as a safe, open ecosystem where young Nigerians can experiment with ideas, build skills and collaborate across industries.
The 100-hour non-stop event, which began on April 22 and ended on April 26, featured multiple creative zones, including podcast studios, gaming arenas, fashion showcases, innovation labs and live performances. It attracted thousands of participants in Lagos.
Beyond creative expression, the initiative delivered tangible economic value, with MTN and its partners awarding N45 million to eight winning startups and ideas selected from 30 participants.
The top prize of N15 million, along with enterprise partnership and co-development support, was awarded to Hurpham Africa, led by Sesan Kareem.
Other winners include Coconoto Ltd., which emerged as second runner-up with N10 million, while Rava Send, led by Emmanuel Isaka, secured N5 million as third runner-up.
Five additional startups — URI Social, Dulces Jams, Kindly Book, Africa Medical Marketplace and MyFund — received N3 million each to scale their innovations.
Participants engaged in idea pitches, panel sessions and hands-on creative activities spanning technology, artificial intelligence, fintech, agriculture and education.
Organisers said the initiative also fostered organic discovery, as creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators connected, formed partnerships and gained visibility within the community.
