MTN Nigeria has reported a rise in female representation within its leadership ranks, reaching 41.4 percent, an increase from 38.7 percent in 2023. The company noted that this figure is twice the industry average, signaling a notable shift in gender diversity within Nigeria’s ICT sector.
This development was outlined in MTN Nigeria’s 2024 annual report, which highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to advance workplace inclusion, gender equality, and talent development as part of its broader Ambition 2025 strategy.
Women now make up 46.7 percent of the executive management team, further cementing MTN Nigeria’s focus on fostering gender balance at senior levels.
The company attributes this progress to several targeted initiatives aimed at empowering women professionally.
According to the statement, programmes such as “Women in Tech” offer specialized upskilling in areas experiencing strong demand, including Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Science, and Cybersecurity. Another program, the “MTN Y’ello Mums Internship Programme,” provides support for young mothers returning to work after career breaks.
Commenting on the broader implications of this shift, Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, emphasized the importance of purpose-driven business practices. “Businesses today need to be purpose-driven,” she said, adding that profitability should not be the sole priority for stakeholders.
“While the soul of business is profitability, it is not profitability alone that should matter to stakeholders.”Uto Ukpanah, MTN Nigeria’s Company Secretary, also reflected on the evolving governance landscape.
“Showcasing our corporate values and ethos to the world opens the door for greater collaboration with other organisations,” she stated.Ukpanah noted that governance demands have changed considerably over the past decade, with greater accountability now expected from companies.
“The challenges today are not the same as they were 10 years ago. Greater accountability is expected, and companies can only continue to do better,” she said.
Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, linked the increase in female leadership to the company’s ongoing culture transformation journey, which began in 2021.
He noted that the changes in workplace culture have improved employee engagement and strengthened organisational performance.
“It’s directly strengthened our ability to deliver outstanding business performance and drive sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders,” Toriola said.
Recognition of MTN Nigeria’s leadership efforts has also come through awards. Odunayo Sanya was recently named CSI Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards (NTITA), acknowledging her leadership in social investment. Similarly, Uto Ukpanah received the Global Corporate
Secretary of the Year Award from the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA), marking a first for the organisation.
These developments reflect MTN Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to embedding gender diversity and corporate governance as core elements of its operational strategy.
