MTN Nigeria, the nation’s largest telecom operator, has unveiled two key leadership appointments.
Yahaya Ibrahim has been promoted to Chief Technical Officer (CTO), while Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka assumes the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Both appointments became effective on October 14, 2024.
Yahaya Ibrahim, who has been with MTN Nigeria since 2002, brings a wealth of experience and technical expertise to his new role as CTO. Known for his innovative contributions, Ibrahim played a central role in launching Nigeria’s first 4G and 5G networks, a move that positioned MTN as a leader in advanced telecommunications technology.
As General Manager of Network Implementation in 2015, he successfully supervised the development of over 37,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure, significantly enhancing the company’s network reach and quality.
Ibrahim’s academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in statistics from the University of Abuja and a master’s degree in telecommunications from Birmingham City University. His leadership skills have been honed through executive programs at Lagos Business School and Harvard Business School.
Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, who steps in as CMO, has been with MTN since 2001. She has a track record of leadership across various roles, including general manager positions in enterprise sales, marketing, and fixed broadband. Most recently, she served as Chief Broadband Officer, where she drove the expansion of MTN’s fixed broadband business, boosting subscriber numbers to over 3 million.
Ikenna-Emeka holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Calabar and an MBA from the University of Manchester.
She is a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) and the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management of Nigeria (ISMMN).
She has also attended executive programs at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and Lagos Business Schools and is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Cranfield University.
MTN Nigeria emphasised the strategic importance of these appointments. “These leadership changes reflect our commitment to excellence and innovation as we continue to shape the future of telecommunications in Nigeria,” the company said in a statement.
The dual appointments aim to strengthen MTN Nigeria’s market leadership, with Ibrahim set to drive technical advancements and Ikenna-Emeka focusing on enhancing customer experience and expanding market reach.
By aligning technical innovation with customer-centric marketing, MTN Nigeria is poised for continued growth and a stronger competitive edge in the dynamic telecom industry.
