MTN Nigeria has recorded a steady increase in the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within its workforce, rising from 0.9 per cent in 2021 to 2.13 per cent in 2025. The company disclosed this at its headquarters in Lagos during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD).
The event, themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” provided a platform for MTN to highlight its progress and outline the practical steps driving its diversity and inclusion agenda. Chief Human Resources Officer, Esther Akinnukawe, described the gains as outcomes of deliberate structural reforms rather than charitable interventions.
Speaking through the General Manager, OE&P, Inyang Osazuwa, Akinnukawe noted that MTN’s approach is anchored on “investment and accountability,” supported by a structured reasonable accommodation framework. She explained that the company has invested in facility upgrades such as ramps, modified workspaces, hearing loops at customer service centres, and the integration of a disability-focused segment into its customer lifecycle system.
Akinnukawe also highlighted the IT Bridge Academy internship programme, now in its second year, which aims to equip PWDs with digital skills and improve their employability within the wider labour market.
Representing MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, the Chief Broadband Officer, Egerton Idehen, described disability inclusion as a sustainability imperative under the company’s Beyond Barriers plan. He referenced estimates of about 35 million Nigerians living with visible or invisible disabilities, noting that exclusion of this group represents a significant social and economic loss. “Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth, and national development,” Idehen stated.
The forum also addressed workplace culture and policy. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expert, Dolapo Agbede, delivered a keynote on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), urging the private sector to move beyond treating inclusion as corporate social responsibility to recognising it as a governance obligation.
Further discussions featured Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Tolani Ojuri, who addressed myths and workplace stigmas associated with albinism and called for targeted policy protections for affected employees. The session was moderated by David Ubon, who shared personal experiences to illustrate how reasonable accommodations can unlock performance and excellence.
An MTN staff member, David Orinya, also shared his experience, describing the company’s work environment as inclusive and empowering. “My difference is not a barrier here; it is a unique perspective,” he said.
MTN’s leadership concluded the event by reaffirming its commitment to the Beyond Barriers roadmap, pledging sustained investment in accessibility across its digital platforms and physical workspaces as a core pillar of its 2025 corporate strategy.
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