MTN Nigeria says the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in its workforce has increased from 0.9 percent in 2021 to 2.13 percent in 2025.
The company disclosed this at its headquarters during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities IDPWD, themed “Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”
Chief Human Resources Officer at MTN Nigeria, Esther Akinnukawe, said the growth was driven by structural reforms rather than charity.
She described the company’s diversity agenda as one of “investment and accountability,” adding that the gains were supported by a structured reasonable accommodation framework.
“Our brand must speak to everyone,” Akinnukawe, who was represented by GM OE and P, Inyang Osazuwa, said.
She said MTN had invested in facility upgrades such as ramps, modified workspaces and hearing loops in customer facing centres, as well as the integration of a dedicated disability segment in its customer lifecycle system.
Akinnukawe also highlighted the continuation of the IT Bridge Academy internship, now in its second year, which she said was designed to bridge the digital skills gap for PWDs in the wider labour market.
Chief Broadband Officer, Egerton Idehen, who represented Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola, said the company’s Beyond Barriers plan was a sustainability imperative.
He cited estimates that about 35 million Nigerians live with visible or invisible disabilities, noting that exclusion of this group represents a significant economic loss.
“Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth, and national development,” Idehen said.
The forum also addressed corporate culture issues. Dolapo Agbede, a diversity, equity and inclusion expert, delivered a keynote on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNCRPD, urging companies to move from seeing inclusion as a “nice to do” CSR activity to a “right to do” governance standard.
Lagos State chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Tolani Ojuri, led a session on myths and workplace stigma surrounding albinism, calling for policy reforms to protect employees with the condition.
The discussion was moderated by host David Ubon, who shared personal experiences on the impact of reasonable accommodations, saying they are often the difference between exclusion and having “no competition” in performance.
An MTN staff member, David Orinya, also shared his experience of working at the company.
“My difference is not a barrier here, it is a unique perspective,” Orinya said.
MTN leadership concluded by reaffirming its commitment to the Beyond Barriers roadmap, stating that accessibility in digital infrastructure and physical workspaces will remain a core part of its 2025 corporate strategy.
