MTN Nigeria recorded N750.2 billion in Profit and credited its success to its diverse Nigerian-led management team, where women hold over 45% of leadership positions.

Why It Matters

While many corporate companies sideline women from leadership positions due to systemic bias, MTN is positioning gender inclusion as a primary driver of economic performance, not just a metric of social responsibility, giving credibility to the fact that women as leaders can lead to economic prosperity.

The State of Play

MTN’s female leadership rose to 41.4%, more than double the industry average.

  • Women now make up 46.7% of the executive management team.
  • The growth is driven by retention programs like Y’ello Mums, which assists mothers returning from career breaks.
  • In Nigeria, only 29% of women occupy C-suite positions.
  • 3 in 10 women promoted to senior roles leave within a year due to systemic bias or lack of support.

By the Numbers

  • Closing the gender gap could boost Nigeria’s GDP by 23% ($229 billion) by 2030.
  • MTN’s service revenue grew by 57.5%, fueled by a diverse management team.

The Bottom Line

Representation at the top isn’t just about equity; it’s about unlocking billions in untapped economic output. MTN is proving that when women lead, the profit follows.

Author, Anuoluwa Bukola