MTN Nigeria’s PWD Workforce Representation Hits 2.13%, Signals Commitment To Inclusion

LAGOS – MTN Nigeria has made significant strides in promoting disability inclusion, with the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in its workforce increasing from 0.9% in 2021 to 2.13% in 2025.

The telecommunications giant commemorated the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) at its headquarters, using the event to highlight its diversity mandate and operational realities.

Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer at MTN Nigeria, represented by Inyang Osazuwa, emphasized that the company’s diversity agenda is driven by investment and accountability, rather than charity. She noted that the workforce gains are supported by a structured ‘reasonable accommodation’ framework, which includes capital investments in facility upgrades and the integration of a dedicated disability segment in the company’s customer lifecycle system.

Akinnukawe highlighted the company’s ongoing initiatives, including the IT Bridge Academy internship, now in its second year, aimed at bridging the digital skills gap for PWDs in the labour market.

Representing CEO Karl Toriola, Chief Broadband Officer Egerton Idehen framed MTN Nigeria’s Beyond Barriers plan as a sustainability imperative, necessary to serve a market segment often overlooked by corporate Nigeria. He noted that the exclusion of the estimated 35 million Nigerians living with disabilities represents a significant economic loss.

“The inclusion of PWDs is essential for innovation, growth, and national development,” Idehen stated.

The event featured keynote speeches and panel discussions, including a presentation by Dolapo Agbede, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) expert, who challenged the private sector to view inclusion as a “right-to-do” governance standard, rather than a “nice-to-do” CSR activity.

Tolani Ojuri, Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, called for specific policy reforms to protect employees with albinism, while host David Ubon shared personal experiences, highlighting the importance of reasonable accommodations in promoting inclusion.

MTN staff member David Orinya validated the company’s internal culture claims, stating, “My difference is not a barrier here, it is a unique perspective.”

MTN Nigeria’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to the Beyond Barriers roadmap, emphasizing that accessibility will remain a core pillar of its 2025 corporate strategy.