African Genius scholarship recipients announced

The MTN Solution Space Class of 2016 at the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) has been announced following a rigorous selection process.

Seven African innovators were named the worthy recipients of scholarships for the MBA/MPhil programme, offered by the MTN Solution Space.

Initiated in 2014 through a partnership with MTN and the GSB, the MTN Solution Space is an innovation hub based at the business school, aimed at boosting sustainable innovation in Africa and addressing the continent’s social and economic challenges.

In line with this objective, the MTN Solution Space scholarship opportunity, dubbed #AfricanGenius, was extended to innovators across the continent through a social media campaign last year. The seven scholarship recipients were selected based on their clear vision for the future, track record of action and leadership potential. They are:

• Akshay Seebaluck: Cyber Security Specialist
  
• Bradwin Sitzer: Automation Engineer and Life Coach
  
• Lianne du Toit: Hackathon Evangelist
  
• Khwezi Kondile: Strategy Consultant
  
• Malcolm Rees: Investigative Journalist
  
• Rudzani Mulaudzi: Edutech Entrepreneur
  
• Walter Lindop: Health Analytics Specialist

“We are incredibly excited to have these promising and talented individuals on board and to be part of their journey to become Africa’s future leaders. Although they all have different backgrounds and interests, they all share our vision of pioneering real solutions for Africa.

"We are confident these committed agents of change will shape the future of our continent. We are also humbled and grateful for the support from our partner on this initiative – MTN – which is aligned with us on the potential of this continent and creating the opportunities which will propel Africa forward,” says Sarah-Anne Arnold, Manager of the MTN Solution Space.

MTN Group’s Chief HR and Corporate Affairs Officer, Paul Norman, echoed Arnold’s sentiments and reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to help find solutions to the challenges facing our continent.

“Our partnership with UCT GSB on the Solution Space is aimed at concretising MTN’s commitment to education and innovation as a means of boosting development on the continent, by fostering the next generation of technology entrepreneurs and leaders. We congratulate the scholarship recipients and look forward to seeing what the future holds for these bright and talented individuals,” says Norman.

The recipients will receive comprehensive support while completing the MBA or MPhil programme, including funding, mentors and access to business leaders.

For more information about these students or to witness their journey, follow MTN Solution Space on social media (Facebook.com/uctgsbsolutions or Twitter: @uctgsbsolutions), where regular updates, articles and video interviews will be shared.