Telecom
MTN Nigeria Appoints Karl Toriola as New CEO
MTN Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr. Karl Toriola as the CEO designate. His appointment is effective March 1, 2021, providing enough time for an orderly handover.
Karl Toriola
Mr. Toriola is currently the Vice President: West and Central Africa (WECA), excluding Nigeria and Ghana, a position he assumed in 2016.
During that period, he has overseen the steady progress of the operating companies in the region, notably the turnaround of MTN Ivory Coast and MTN Cameroon.
During his tenure, the WECA markets have made significant commercial and strategic strides. These include the improvement of market shares within the region and the development of mobile financial services..
Since joining the Group in 2006, Mr. Toriola has also held a number of senior operational roles including Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, CEO of MTN Cameroon and MTN Group Operations Executive.
Mr. Toriola has at various times in his career in MTN Group had oversight responsibility of 16 of the Group subsidiaries and serves on various MTN boards, including MTN Nigeria.
Prior to joining MTN Nigeria, he was the Chief Operations/Regional Officer for Vmobile Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria) where he was responsible for operations.
Mr. Toriola obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Ife, a Master of Science degree in Communication Systems from the University of Wales, and attended the General Management Program in Harvard Business School.
In addition, he has attended several executive development courses at various institutions including Wharton Business School, Harvard Business School, Institute of Management Development and London Business School.
He is a Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) as well as a Member, Institute of Directors.
Commenting about the appointment, Ernest Ndukwe, chairman of MTN Nigeria, said “After a thorough and rigorous selection process, we are delighted to welcome Karl back to MTN Nigeria.
“Recognised throughout the industry as a highly experienced and well regarded business leader, Karl has been a member of the MTN family for over 14 years and has an intimate understanding of the telco business.
“His appointment further reaffirms the Company’s commitment to succession planning as well as retaining and developing identified high performing executives.
“With his rich credentials, I am personally pleased that Mr. Karl Toriola is well-suited to lead MTN Nigeria’s Executive Management team through the next stages of growth in the years ahead”
The current CEO of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman, will exit this role with effect from 1st March 2021 and assume a new role as MTN Group Chief Risk Officer.
Mr. Moolman joined MTN in 2002 and has held several senior positions within the Group, in Nigeria and Iran.
He joined the Board of MTN Nigeria in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and became CEO in 2015.
Under his leadership, significant progress has been made in stabilising the business and setting it on a sustainable growth path.
He will remain on the Board of MTN Nigeria in his new role as the MTN Group Chief Risk Officer.
“The Board of MTN Nigeria wishes to express its gratitude to Ferdi for his exemplary leadership.
“He has played a critical role in the Company’s development and success, and while we will miss him, we wish him the best in his new role at MTN Group” said Dr. Ndukwe.
In response, Ferdi Moolman said, “I wish to thank the Board of Directors, Management, our dedicated shareholders and my amazing team, for all of the support you have given me through the years.
“I am proud of the people of MTN Nigeria and the Company we are building; and while this is a time of great challenge and opportunity, I remain steadfastly confident in the greater potential and future of this nation and the significance of our role within it.
“It has been my honour and privilege to serve this great Company. I am grateful for my time here and the supportive relationships built over time.”
Commenting on his new appointment, Karl Toriola said, “I am delighted to be returning to serve in my country at such a critical point in history when the services we provide are so important to our national development.
“MTN Nigeria is a great company with exceptional people and extraordinary customers, who place a high value on those services.
“I have a clear focus on delivering a stellar network experience and enhanced customer service; and look forward to working with an outstanding group of leaders, in and out of government, over the coming years to continue harnessing our capabilities, transforming our relationships and delivering even greater value to our nation and her people.”
MTN Champs Season 3 Lagos Continental Relays concluded on April 12, 2025, with a vibrant closing ceremony at the Yabatech Sports Complex.
This event marked a historic moment in Nigerian athletics, featuring the debut of the Olympics-approved mixed relays and showcasing exceptional talent across various track and field events.
The final day was a blend of intense competition and entertainment, drawing families, friends, and MTN Nigeria staff to the stands. Guests enjoyed music, games, and the much-anticipated MTN Staff Relays, where teams from different departments competed for medals and bragging rights. The Innovators emerged victorious, clinching gold in both male and female categories.
MTN executives also joined the fun, participating in 50m sprints and emphasizing the importance of physical activity. Chief Human Resources Officer, Esther Akinnukawe, highlighted the company’s Go M.A.D (Make A Difference) campaign, encouraging individuals to stay active and impactful in their fields.
The Lagos Continental Relays attracted over 2,500 entries from 155 schools, with participants competing in four age categories: Cadet (U-14), Youth (U-17), Junior (U-20), and Senior. The event not only celebrated athletic excellence but also reinforced MTN’s commitment to nurturing future Olympians and building a legacy of sports development in Nigeria.
Season 3 of MTN Champs continues with the grand finale scheduled to take place in Uyo at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium from April 30 to May 3.
MTN Group, Africa’s leading telecommunications provider, has joined forces with Meta to improve the quality and reliability of voice and video calls on real-time calling applications such as WhatsApp across 12 MTN markets.
The collaboration, which began at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, focuses on optimizing application-aware networks and network-aware applications to deliver a seamless and high-quality user experience. By leveraging data analytics and conducting comprehensive testing, MTN and Meta have successfully developed solutions that enhance the interaction between mobile networks and real-time calling applications.
Nigeria, MTN’s largest market, was the first to implement these enhancements. Early results indicate a remarkable 50% improvement in key performance indicators (KPIs), significantly enhancing the user experience for MTN Nigeria mobile users.
“This implementation further demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our customers’ digital experience.
“We’re pleased with the remarkable improvement in our real-time communication services, reflecting our commitment to innovative customer solutions,” said Yahaya Ibrahim, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at MTN Nigeria.
Diego Marí, Head of Network Ecosystems Engineering at Meta, added, “The collaboration allows us to deploy advanced solutions for an unparalleled real-time experience in Nigeria and showcases our dedication to elevating service quality and improving user experience, while striving for continued efficiency in traffic delivery.”
The partnership underscores MTN and Meta’s shared vision of delivering cutting-edge solutions to enhance digital communication across Africa.
Rack Centre, West Africa’s premier Tier III carrier and cloud-neutral data centre, has unveiled its state-of-the-art 12MW IT Load Data Centre, the LGS2, in Lagos, Nigeria.
This innovative facility is set to redefine the digital landscape of Nigeria, offering unparalleled infrastructure, scalability, and reliability.
Speaking at the official commissioning on April 10, 2025, Rack Centre’s Chairman, Maher Jarmakani, emphasized the company’s dedication to innovation and sustainability.
He highlighted the LGS2 facility’s role in providing uninterrupted, energy-efficient solutions for enterprises, cloud providers, and financial institutions, reinforcing Rack Centre’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“This facility exemplifies our commitment to powering the nation’s digital future,” Jarmakani stated.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Sam Egube, praised the milestone during his keynote address.
He described the LGS2 facility as a cornerstone in Lagos’s journey toward becoming a globally competitive digital hub.
Sanwo-Olu also commended Rack Centre for prioritizing sustainability and energy efficiency in the centre’s design.
Rack Centre’s CEO, Lars Johannisson, expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government for fostering an enabling environment to support the company’s vision.
Johannisson described the facility as a symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to cutting-edge technology, sustainable digitisation, and artificial intelligence.
He noted that with the LGS2 operational, Rack Centre’s data centre capacity would increase eightfold, solidifying its leadership in sub-Saharan Africa’s digital infrastructure space.
As a key player in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, Rack Centre continues to connect people, businesses, and ideas, driving technological progress and cementing its legacy as a trailblazer in Africa’s digital economy.
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