MTN Nigeria on Wednesday disclosed a steady rise in the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within its workforce, increasing from 0.9 per cent in 2021 to 2.13 per cent in 2025, as it reaffirmed its commitment to disability inclusion beyond corporate social responsibility.
The disclosure was made at the company’s headquarters during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”
Speaking at the event, the Chief Human Resources Officer of MTN Nigeria, Esther Akinnukawe, represented by the General Manager, OE&P, Inyang Osazuwa, said the progress recorded was the outcome of deliberate structural reforms rather than token gestures.
Akinnukawe described MTN’s diversity agenda as one anchored on “investment and accountability,” noting that the company had institutionalised a reasonable accommodation framework to support employees with disabilities.
“Our brand must speak to everyone,” she said, adding that MTN has invested in accessibility upgrades such as ramps, modified workspaces and hearing loops across customer-facing centres.
She also disclosed that a dedicated disability segment has been integrated into the company’s customer lifecycle management system.
She further highlighted the continuation of the IT Bridge Academy internship programme, now in its second year, which aims to close the digital skills gap for PWDs and improve their employability within and beyond the organisation.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, the Chief Broadband Officer, Egerton Idehen, said MTN’s Beyond Barriers initiative was a sustainability-driven response to a largely underserved segment of the Nigerian population.
Citing estimates that about 35 million Nigerians live with visible or invisible disabilities, Idehen warned that exclusion of such a large demographic amounts to a significant economic and developmental loss.
“Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth and national development,” he said.
The event also featured critical conversations on corporate culture and policy. A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expert, Dolapo Agbede, delivered a keynote address examining the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, urging private sector players to treat inclusion as a governance obligation rather than a discretionary CSR activity.
Similarly, the Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Tolani Ojuri, addressed myths and workplace stigma surrounding albinism, calling for stronger workplace protections and targeted policy reforms for persons living with the condition.
Adding a personal dimension to the discussion, the event host, David Ubon, shared his experience, stressing that reasonable accommodations—such as visual aids—often determine whether individuals are excluded or empowered to excel.
Corroborating MTN’s claims of an inclusive work environment, an MTN staff member, David Orinya, told participants that the company values diversity as a source of strength. “My difference is not a barrier here; it is a unique perspective,” he said.
MTN’s management concluded the forum by reaffirming its commitment to the Beyond Barriers roadmap, assuring that accessibility across digital platforms and physical workspaces will remain a central pillar of the company’s 2025 corporate strategy.
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