MTN Nigeria Becomes First African Company to Attain EDGE Advance Certification

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has become the first organisation in Africa to attain EDGE Advance Certification, a globally recognised workplace gender-equity standard.

The achievement also makes MTN Nigeria the first organisation in the global Communication Services sector and only the third company worldwide to reach the EDGE Advance level. The certification was awarded following an independent audit conducted under the EDGE Certified Foundation framework.

EDGE, which stands for Economic Dividends for Gender Equality, assesses organisations on workplace gender equity across areas including representation, pay equity, career progression, workplace policies and organisational culture.

The EDGE Advance certification recognises organisations that have made substantial and measurable progress across nearly all areas of the EDGE Standards. The assessment is based on independently verified policies, practices and outcomes rather than stated commitments alone.

MTN Nigeria’s latest achievement builds on its EDGE Move Certification, which it attained in July 2023. At the time, the company became the first telecommunications operator in Africa to obtain EDGE Certification and the second organisation in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the EDGE Move level on its first assessment.

The company’s progress is also reflected in its workforce figures. According to MTN Nigeria’s 2025 Annual Report, women accounted for 43.4 per cent of its total workforce and 41.18 per cent of its Executive Committee.

MTN Nigeria has set a target of achieving a 50:50 gender balance across its workforce by 2030.

Commenting on the achievement, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola said the certification reflected deliberate efforts to expand opportunities for women across the company, including at senior leadership levels.

The company’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Esther Akinnukawe, attributed the progress to policies focused on recruitment, mentorship and leadership development.

The EDGE Certified Foundation said MTN Nigeria’s achievement was based on measurable progress and independent verification across the organisation’s gender-equity practices.

The certification further strengthens MTN Nigeria’s position as a leading African company in workplace inclusion and gender equality.