The Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, engaged with the top hierarchy of the MTN Group to fast-track the development of a future-ready telecommunications framework for Nigeria. The meeting, which was held in the nation’s capital, explored the intersection of connectivity, emerging technologies, and the long-term sustainability of the ICT sector.
Central to the discussions was the government’s insistence on maintaining a healthy, competitive market. Dr. Tijani observed that while the ministry is keen on supporting major players, it remains committed to fostering an environment where multiple operators can thrive to prevent the emergence of a monopolistic landscape. He stressed that a diversified industry is the only guarantee for continuous innovation and fair pricing for the Nigerian consumer.
8225 – MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita; MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola and Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo, formed a part of the executive delegation to the Hon. Minister, Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, recently
8339 & 8342 – MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita; the Hon. Minister, Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; and MTN Nigeria CEO, Dr. Karl Toriola, during the visit in Abuja
A significant highlight of the session was the focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Minister, whose leadership in the AI space was recently celebrated globally by Time Magazine, challenged the MTN leadership to move beyond traditional telephony. He encouraged stronger industry collaboration to deepen Africa’s position in global AI development and to elevate the quality and substance of national conversations around artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
In response, MTN Group CEO and President Ralph Mupita commended the Minister’s vision, describing him as a leading champion of new technology in Africa. Mupita expressed the company’s keen interest in the National LLM project and sought a deeper partnership pathway to integrate AI into their service delivery models, acknowledging that AI is the next frontier for telecommunications globally.
The dialogue concluded with a mutual commitment to digital skills development. Both parties agreed that a “future-ready” sector is not just about cables and masts but about the human capital required to manage them. As MTN transitions into its “Ambition 2030” strategy, the company pledged to deepen its collaboration with the Ministry in building a digital workforce capable of competing on the global stage.