MTN Nigeria has called for stronger institutional support to advance women’s rights and encourage more girls to aspire to leadership positions, as the company marked International Women’s Day 2026 with its Women @ Y’ello event in Lagos.
The event, held in Ikoyi on Monday, featured a symbolic leadership moment as 14-year-old Oreoluwa Alayande, winner of the 2025 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee, assumed the role of MTN Nigeria chief executive officer for a day. The gesture formed part of the company’s effort to inspire young girls to see themselves in positions of influence.
Speaking on the theme, “Give to Gain: Advancing Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls,” MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said organisations must move beyond symbolic support and create practical pathways for women to grow in their careers. He said companies should be willing to make deliberate sacrifices if they are serious about advancing women’s causes, including intentionally prioritising women in recruitment and leadership development.
Toriola added that MTN is deliberately working to achieve stronger gender balance across its leadership structure as part of its broader inclusion drive.
In her keynote remarks, MTN Nigeria Independent Non-Executive Director Eyitope Kola-Oyeneyin said mentorship does not always happen through formal arrangements. Drawing from her career journey, she said some of her most valuable lessons came from observing accomplished women and learning from their conduct and decisions. She encouraged young women to embrace what she described as “learning from afar,” while also urging senior professionals to share their stories more openly.
Also speaking, Chief Enterprise Business Officer Lynda Saint-Nwafor said empowering women creates wider benefits across society and should be sustained through long-term programmes that support women at different stages of their careers and across sectors. Chief Human Resources Officer Esther Akinnukawe described empowerment as an ongoing process, saying inclusion must continue beyond a single event or annual observance.
The event formed part of MTN Nigeria’s 2026 International Women’s Day activities and reinforced the company’s message that advancing women and girls requires consistent action, visible leadership, and shared responsibility.
