MTN Nigeria has called for stronger economic integration between Nigeria and South Africa, saying deeper bilateral cooperation could unlock investment, enterprise growth and greater local participation across both economies.
The telecoms company is supporting the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) August 2026 Breakfast Forum, where business leaders are expected to explore practical ways to strengthen cross-border investment and enterprise development.
The forum, scheduled for August 27 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, is themed “Building Local Content Together, 25 Years of Shared Growth.”
It will bring together corporate leaders from the finance, advertising, technology and strategic communications sectors to examine 25 years of commercial relations between the two countries and identify opportunities for deeper collaboration.
MTN said the discussions would also consider how businesses can align commercial strategies with continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote sustainable cross-border enterprise growth.
A major focus of the forum will be how private-sector partnerships can translate regulatory policies on local content into practical opportunities for businesses.
Discussions are expected to cover support for local vendors, the development of indigenous technology solutions and greater knowledge transfer between South African multinationals and Nigerian service providers.
Among the speakers are Modupe Kadri; MTN Nigeria’s Chief Financial Officer, Ayeni Adekunle; BlackHouse Media Founder and CEO, Udeme Ufot, So&U Group Managing Director, Yemi Chukwurah, Seams & Stitches CEO; and Afolabi Sobande, Computer Warehouse Group Group Chief Operating Officer.
The NSACC, established in May 2000, has more than 300 corporate members across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The chamber facilitates trade missions, business matchmaking and policy advocacy while connecting Nigerian businesses with international investors and corporate supply chains.
The sponsorship is part of MTN Nigeria’s year-long activities marking its 25th anniversary in Nigeria.
Karl Toriola, MTN Nigeria CEO, reflecting on the milestone, said stronger intra-African trade would be central to achieving greater economic sovereignty on the continent.
“Our quarter-century journey in Nigeria demonstrates that when global capital meets domestic talent, sustainable enterprise flourishes across borders,” Toriola said in a LinkedIn commentary cited in the report.
MTN said it has invested more than $15 billion in infrastructure in Nigeria over the past two decades and now serves more than 77 million active subscribers.
The company also linked the growth of digital infrastructure to Nigeria’s expanding fintech and digital services ecosystem.
Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Nigeria and South Africa is estimated at more than $3.2 billion annually, according to the report, highlighting the scale of the commercial relationship between the two countries.
For MTN, the next phase of the relationship should go beyond trade and investment to include stronger local supply chains, technology partnerships and knowledge sharing.
The company believes closer collaboration between Nigerian and South African businesses could help build more competitive enterprises while strengthening Africa’s broader economic integration.
