MTN Nigeria has recorded a significant increase in the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within its workforce, with the figure rising from 0.9 per cent in 2021 to 2.13 per cent in 2025, as part of its drive to build a more inclusive workplace.
The company disclosed this on Wednesday during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) at its headquarters in Lagos, underscoring inclusion as a central pillar of its business and sustainability strategy.
Speaking at the event, themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,”the Chief Human Resources Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Esther Akinnukawe, said the progress was driven by deliberate policies, structural reforms, and accountability, rather than acts of charity.
Mrs. Akinnukawe, who was represented by the General Manager, OE&P, Mr. Inyang Osazuwa, said MTN’s approach demonstrated a long-term commitment to inclusion and explained why the company continued to invest in accessibility for both employees and customers.
She described MTN’s diversity agenda as one anchored on sustained investment, noting that the company operates a structured “reasonable accommodation” framework to support PWDs in the workplace.
“Our brand must speak to everyone. There is detailed capital investment in facility upgrades, including ramps, modified workspaces, and hearing loops in customer-facing centres,” she said.
She added that MTN had also integrated a dedicated disability segment into its customer lifecycle management system.
The MTN HR chief further announced that the company would continue its Information Technology (IT) Bridge Academy internship programme, now in its second year. The initiative, she said, is designed to bridge the digital skills gap for PWDs and improve their employability across the wider labour market.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, said disability inclusion was a sustainability imperative rather than an option. Mr. Toriola, who was represented by the Chief Broadband Officer, Mr. Egerton Idehen, said the company’s “Beyond Barriers” plan was focused on serving a large but often overlooked segment of the Nigerian population.
He cited estimates indicating that about 35 million Nigerians live with visible or invisible disabilities, warning that excluding them from economic participation represented a significant loss to national development.
“Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth, and national development, and MTN Nigeria remains committed to the Beyond Barriers roadmap,” Mr. Toriola said.
He added that improving accessibility across digital platforms and physical workspaces would remain a core pillar of the company’s 2025 corporate strategy.
In a keynote address, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) expert, Ms. Dolapo Agbede, examined the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). She challenged private sector organisations to move beyond treating inclusion as a “nice-to-do” Corporate Social Responsibility initiative and instead recognise it as a governance and human rights obligation.
Also contributing, the Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tolani Ojuri, led a session addressing myths and workplace stigma surrounding albinism. He called for clear organisational policies to protect employees with the condition and ensure fair and equitable treatment in the workplace.
The event host, Mr. David Ubon, who is also a PWD, reinforced calls for stronger inclusion by sharing his personal experience. Similarly, an MTN Nigeria staff member and PWD, Mr. David Orinya, said the company’s internal culture actively supports diversity.
“My difference is not a barrier here; it is a unique perspective,” Mr. Orinya said.
