MTN Nigeria increases representation of persons with disabilities to 2.13% and strengthens accessibility through its Beyond Barriers plan

MTN Nigeria has reported a notable 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.

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The announcement was made at the company’s headquarters during the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) commemoration.

The event, themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” provided a platform for MTN to highlight the operational realities of its diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Chief Human Resources Officer, Esther Akinnukawe, said the workforce growth reflects structural reforms rather than charitable gestures, emphasising the company’s commitment to investment and accountability.

Akinnukawe, represented by GM OE&P Inyang Osazuwa, detailed capital investments including ramps, modified workspaces, hearing loops in customer-facing centres, and the integration of a dedicated disability segment in the company’s customer lifecycle system.

She also highlighted the IT Bridge Academy internship, now in its second year, aimed at bridging the digital skills gap for PWDs in the broader labour market.

Chief Broadband Officer, Egerton Idehen, representing CEO Karl Toriola, framed MTN’s Beyond Barriers plan as a sustainability imperative.

He cited the estimated 35 million Nigerians living with visible or invisible disabilities, stressing that their exclusion represents a significant economic loss. “Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth, and national development,” Idehen said.

The event featured a keynote from DEI expert Dolapo Agbede, who urged private sector organisations to shift from seeing inclusion as a “nice-to-do” CSR activity to a governance “right-to-do.”

Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Tolani Ojuri, addressed workplace myths and stigmas surrounding albinism, calling for targeted policy reforms.

MTN staffers reinforced the company’s inclusive culture. David Orinya told attendees, “My difference is not a barrier here, it is a unique perspective,” while host David Ubon shared how reasonable accommodations in education had allowed him to excel.

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The commemoration concluded with MTN reaffirming its commitment to the Beyond Barriers roadmap, signalling that accessibility and inclusivity will remain core pillars of the company’s 2025 corporate strategy.