The 2022 edition of the MTN Business App of the Year competition aims to “reignite passion” for application development among the youth of South Africa through its standalone category that will enable universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college campuses to compete to win a share of R200 000.

The Campus Cup Challenge, which is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 24 years old who is currently enrolled in an accredited tertiary education institution, is an existing challenge in which each entry represents a particular institution and community within the category.

A live leader board and heat map will track the number of entries per institution, as well as the top shortlists, the finalists and the ultimate winner, which will be announced at the MTN App of the Year Awards in October.

Students from across the country are encouraged to register to enter and represent their campuses.

“Nurturing our country’s explosive young talent while finding solutions for building a better South Africa is a key focus of our annual App of the Year Awards,” says MTN Business head of marketing Kholofelo Magagane.

“Each year we work hard to uncover and celebrate the local talent and out-of-the-box thinking that drives disruption and change. For us, only through creating a technology-first developer ecosystem that provides opportunities for our youth and solutions for our people, will we change the future of our continent.”

As MTN transitions from a telecommunications company to a technology company, its ambition is to build leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

“Our youth will be the ones to lead us into the future - we need to make sure they are given the recognition they deserve to keep pushing for greatness. And this is what the Campus Cup is all about,” Magagane concludes.

Although the Campus Cup has a ring-fenced prize of R200 000, the students also qualify for the main App of the Year award, competing with participants in all other categories to stand a chance to win the R1-million grand prize.

Registrations for the Campus Cup Challenge close on September 5.