MTN Nigeria has reported a measurable 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’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Ms Esther Akinnukawe, disclosed this at MTN Nigeria’s headquarters in Lagos during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) on Wednesday.
The event was held under the theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”
Akinnukawe said the growth in PWD representation was the result of a broader framework of structural reforms rather than isolated charitable initiatives. Represented by the General Manager, OE&P, Ms Inyang Osazuwa, she described MTN Nigeria’s diversity agenda as one focused on investment and accountability.
She noted that the gains were supported by a structured “reasonable accommodation” framework.
“Our brand must speak to everyone. There have been deliberate capital investments in facility upgrades, including ramps, modified workspaces and hearing loops in customer-facing centres, alongside the integration of a dedicated disability segment in the company’s customer lifecycle system,” she said.
Akinnukawe added that the company would continue the Information Technology (IT) Bridge Academy internship, now in its second year, which is designed to bridge the digital skills gap for PWDs in the wider labor market.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, described the company’s “Beyond Barriers” plan as a sustainability imperative aimed at serving a market segment often overlooked by corporate Nigeria.
Toriola, represented by the Chief Broadband Officer, Mr Egerton Idehen, cited estimates indicating that about 35 million Nigerians live with visible or invisible disabilities, noting that the exclusion of this group represents a significant economic loss.
“Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth and national development, and MTN Nigeria remains committed to the Beyond Barriers roadmap,” he said.
Toriola added that improving accessibility in digital infrastructure and physical workspaces would remain a core pillar of the organizations 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), urging the private sector to move from treating inclusion as a “nice-to-do” corporate social responsibility activity to a “right-to-do” governance standard.
Meanwhile, Mr Tolani Ojuri, Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, led a session on myths and workplace stigmas surrounding albinism, calling for specific policy reforms to protect employees with the condition.
The event host, Mr David Ubon, who is also a PWD, reinforced the call for inclusion by sharing personal experiences.
Validating the company’s internal culture, Mr David Orinya, an MTN Nigeria staff member and PWD, described the workplace as supportive.
“My difference is not a barrier here; it is a unique perspective,” Orinya said.
