MTN Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women and girls as it celebrated the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) with a special event that highlighted mentorship, inclusion and collective progress.
The celebration, organized by Women @ Y’ello (W@Y), brought together female professionals and leaders within the organisation to share experiences, inspire one another and reinforce the importance of women supporting women in personal and professional spaces.
The event created a warm and reflective atmosphere where participants exchanged stories, insights and lessons from their journeys, reinforcing the message that solidarity among women remains a powerful tool for growth and opportunity.
Speaking during the session, MTN Nigeria’s Non-Executive Director, Eyitope Kola-Oyeneyin, led conversations around the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Advancing Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls.” She reflected on the women who influenced her path to leadership, noting that many of those impactful moments did not come from formal mentorship programmes but from simple acts of encouragement and everyday support.
According to her, small gestures such as offering guidance, recognition or a helping hand often grow into life-changing opportunities for the next generation of women.
Also speaking at the event, Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer of MTN Nigeria, emphasized the responsibility of women in leadership to create opportunities for others. She encouraged participants to ensure that as they advance in their careers, they remain committed to opening doors for other women to succeed.
She noted that the MTN community thrives on collaboration, mentorship and shared progress, stressing that empowerment should never be limited by gatekeeping but strengthened through connection and collective growth.
Participants were also encouraged to embrace the spirit of “Give to Gain,” a philosophy that promotes giving time, mentorship, guidance and emotional support to others. The message resonated strongly with attendees, who left the event inspired to continue uplifting one another in both professional and personal spaces.
As part of activities marking the celebration, MTN Nigeria also unveiled 14-year-old Oreoluwa Alayande as one of its “One More Voice” ambassadors, reinforcing the company’s commitment to amplifying the voices of young girls and promoting greater opportunities for the next generation.
The event ended on an uplifting note, with participants leaving renewed in their commitment to champion inclusion, mentorship and the advancement of women and girls across all sectors.
