Minister commends MTN for appointing Nigerian CEO, Karl Toriola

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has praised MTN Nigeria for appointing a Nigerian to lead the telecommunications and ICT services provider.

The new CEO is Karl Toriola. The appointment takes effect from March 1, 2021.

Pantami stated this on Sunday during a courtesy visit by MTN’s Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe OFR, CEO-designate Karl Toriola, and Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo.

According to the statement, the primary purpose of the visit was to officially introduce the CEO-designate to the Minister and to show commitment to the MTN Nigerianization Agenda. This is an initiative of the MTN Group to increase local participation in the company’s top management, also to promote local content.

MTN’s Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe assured that plans were in motion to give Nigerians more access to the MTN opportunity.

“In spite of the current limitations, we are working with stakeholders to increase local ownership of MTN Nigeria and at the same time increase equity in Nigeria’s capital markets,” he added.

Pantami also commended MTN Nigeria for its corporate social investment activities through the MTN Foundation, which has changed numerous lives and communities.

Karl Olutokun Toriola was born March 16, 1972. He has a BSc Hons in electronic and electrical engineering and an MSc in communication systems.

He is the current vice president for MTN Group’s West and Central Africa (WECA) region. He will take over from Ferdi Moolman, who has served as CEO of MTN Nigeria for the past five years.

Mr. Toriola started his MTN career in his home country at MTN Nigeria 14 years ago and has all the attributes necessary to lead this very important business into the future.