MTN Group has restructured its executive leadership, placing Nigerian talent at the heart of its continental strategy, with Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, taking on an expanded role as vice president for Francophone Africa.
The appointment, effective November 1, 2025, signals the Group’s confidence in Nigerian leadership and underscores Nigeria’s centrality to MTN’s growth trajectory.
Toriola’s elevation comes on the back of MTN Nigeria’s historic achievement as the first telecommunications operator to cross a N10 trillion market capitalization, a feat that cemented the subsidiary’s place as MTN’s crown jewel.
Under his watch, MTN Nigeria has delivered consistent financial growth, deepened digital inclusion, and positioned itself as an innovation hub in the Group’s portfolio.
Ralph Mupita, MTN Group president and CEO, said leadership changes of this nature are not just about succession planning; they are about strategic direction.
“Karl’s proven track record in Nigeria and his experience across West and Central Africa make him the right leader to accelerate growth in key Francophone markets while continuing to steer our Nigerian operation,” Mupita added.
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The decision reflects MTN’s broader ambition to strengthen its Ambition 2025 strategy by unlocking value through three growth pillars: Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure. Toriola’s dual role is expected to accelerate MTN’s push in markets like Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Congo Brazzaville, territories seen as ripe for expansion in broadband adoption, mobile money penetration, and digital services.
Nigeria’s weight in MTN’s balance sheet is a factor behind the move. Nigeria remains MTN’s largest and most profitable market, contributing over one-third of the Group’s revenue and acting as a testing ground for innovations later rolled out across the continent.
By placing a Nigerian executive at the helm of Francophone operations, MTN appears intent on replicating the Nigerian playbook, combining aggressive broadband rollout, fintech scaling, and infrastructure investments.
Toriola is no stranger to regional leadership. Between 2015 and 2021, he served as vice president for West and Central Africa, overseeing operations in 13 countries. His return to a continental role is being interpreted by sector insiders as a deliberate attempt by MTN to deploy seasoned leadership at a time when telecom markets across Africa are experiencing heightened competition, regulatory scrutiny, and rising infrastructure costs.
For Nigeria, the development carries symbolic weight. It reinforces the country’s reputation as a breeding ground for telecom talent and innovation. More importantly, it suggests that MTN views Nigeria not just as a market, but as a leadership hub capable of driving transformation across the continent.
As MTN looks beyond Ambition 2025, the Group is betting that leveraging Nigerian leadership will be key to sustaining growth. From the record-breaking N10 trillion market valuation to Toriola’s dual continental mandate, the message is clear: MTN sees Nigeria’s success as the template for Africa’s digital future.
