MTN Nigeria on Wednesday reported a measurable increase in the representation of persons with disabilities within its workforce, climbing from 0.9 per cent in 2021 to 2.13 per cent in 2025.

Esther Akinnukawe, the chief human resources officer at MTN Nigeria, disclosed this at the company’s headquarters during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Lagos.

Ms Akinnukawe said that growth in the establishment was part of a broader structural reform framework rather than distinct charitable acts.

Ms Akinnukawe described the company’s diversity agenda as one of investment and accountability. She stressed that the workforce gains were supported by a structured ‘reasonable accommodation’ framework.

“Our brand must speak to everyone. There is a detailed capital investment in facility upgrades. Which includes 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.

Ms Akinnukawe added that the organisation would ensure the continuity of the information technology Bridge Academy internship, now in its second year, and designed to bridge the digital skills gap for PWDs in the wider labour market.

Also, the MTNN’s CEO, Karl Toriola, noted that the company’s ‘Beyond Barriers’ plan was a sustainability imperative necessary to serve a market segment often overlooked by corporate Nigeria.

Mr Toriola noted that an estimated 35 million Nigerians live with visible or invisible disabilities. He said that excluding this segment of Nigerians represented a significant economic loss.

“Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth, and national development, and MTNN is committed to the ‘Beyond Barriers’ roadmap,” Mr Toriola explained.

The chief executive officer said that the push for accessibility in both digital infrastructure and physical workspaces would remain a core pillar of the organisation’s 2025 corporate strategy.

Dolapo Agbede, a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert, delivered a keynote address dissecting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The expert challenged the private sector to transition from viewing inclusion as a “nice-to-do” corporate social responsibility activity to a “right-to-do” governance standard.

Tolani Ojuri, Lagos chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, who led a session on the myths and workplace stigmas surrounding albinism, called for specific policy reforms to protect employees with the condition.

(NAN)