MTN Nigeria has called on government and business leaders from Nigeria and South Africa to prioritize the effective implementation of people-oriented and growth-driven economic policies.
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, made the appeal on Thursday at the Nigeria-South Africa Economic Diplomacy Roundtable held in Lagos.
Toriola emphasized that the combined economic weight of the two nations could serve as a powerful engine for Africa’s development. He proposed a three-point agenda to accelerate economic growth across the continent.
The first priority, he said, is the full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) beyond paperwork. Toriola highlighted the need to standardize customs processes, harmonize trade rules, and implement digital documentation. “When rules match, trade moves,” he said, stressing that simplified regulations are key to unlocking the pact’s potential.
The second priority, according to Toriola, is the establishment of trusted infrastructure to secure and facilitate digital commerce. This includes robust digital identity systems and fast-clearing payment platforms for cross-border transactions.
He reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to providing reliable networks, secure platforms, and scalable partnerships to enable small and medium-sized enterprises, creators, and families to transact with confidence.
Toriola also emphasized that creating predictability for investors is essential to attracting and retaining capital. “Predictability is a growth strategy for jobs and revenue, and regulatory clarity is an economic imperative,” he said. He added that MTN Nigeria would support these efforts by hosting technical sessions, providing digital infrastructure, and regularly reporting on progress.
“Lagos is a city that builds, Johannesburg is a city that scales. Let us connect those strengths now,” he said.
In his keynote address, titled “Strategic Imperative: Reclaiming Nigeria and South Africa’s Voice,” South African diplomat Thembinkosi Gcoyi urged the two countries to rebuild their economies through industrial diversification and energy security.
Gcoyi, also the Managing Director and Co-founder of Frontline Africa Consulting, called for ground-up economic strategies and a people-centered development approach. He stressed the importance of collaboration and resource leveraging, noting, “Strengthen governance and restore policy credibility. Adopt coordinated economic and diplomatic strategies in trade and technology transfer.”
He added that policies must balance political intent with business realities to achieve sustainable economic growth.
