MTN Nigeria Elevates Longtime Executives Amid Competitive Telecom Shake-Up

MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecommunications provider, has appointed two internal veterans to key leadership roles. Yahaya Ibrahim steps in as Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka assumes the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective October 14, 2024.

Both appointments underscore MTN’s commitment to leveraging institutional knowledge to sustain its market dominance. Ibrahim, who joined MTN in 2002, has been instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure, spearheading the deployment of the nation’s first 4G and 5G networks, and laying 37,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable.

Ikenna-Emeka, a 23-year MTN veteran, has risen through the ranks, contributing significantly to the company’s success in fixed broadband, growing its subscriber base to 3 million. Her expertise spans sales, marketing, and broadband services, making her a strategic choice to lead the telco’s marketing initiatives.

The appointments come during a period of heightened activity in Nigeria’s telecom sector, with competitors Globacom, 9Mobile, and Airtel also undergoing leadership changes. Adding pressure, a new subscriber measurement system introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) redefined an active user, impacting subscriber counts across all providers. MTN experienced a loss of 3 million subscribers but remains focused on strengthening its market position.

By appointing Ibrahim and Ikenna-Emeka, MTN signals a clear intent to double down on technological innovation and expand broadband access. These leadership changes are poised to help MTN achieve deeper market penetration and bolster service delivery in an increasingly competitive landscape.