MTN Nigeria’s CEO visits Ooni of Ife, eyes collaboration for communal development
As part of MTN Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen and reiterate its recognition of the profound roles traditional institutions play in upholding the socio-cultural belief systems of diverse communities across Nigeria, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
A friendly institutional relationship between the Ooni’s palace and the management of MTN Nigeria is expected to upscale youth development as well as ensure the communal development of Ile-Ife and its surrounding communities.
Commenting on the courtesy visit of Karl Toriola, the Ooni seized the moment to admonish Nigerian youths to understand the essence of wisely selecting their desired mentors.
“I strongly believe young people possess what it takes to move the country, including their respective communities forward. However, to achieve this magnitude of success across all levels, Nigerian youths need to understand the essence of selecting the right mentors in line with their goals and aspirations in life, as this is the only guaranteed way they can get to their peak in life,” he said.
Riding on the backdrop of his earlier statement, the Ooni referred to Karl Toriola as a “worthy ambassador of the prestigious Yoruba heritage.”
This is because he started his early-childhood education up till tertiary level in Ile-Ife and also got married into a noble family from the community. He also reemphasized the need for Nigerian youths seeking to build careers in different fields of life to emulate the good virtues the CEO exudes.
Appreciating the Ooni of Ile-Ife for accepting his visitation to the palace, Karl Toriola, in his speech, described the revered monarch as an icon of greatness who provides dependable leadership for all descendants of Oduduwa, particularly the youths globally.
“This courtesy visit is to appreciate the supportive personality of our royal father, in the person of Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. He has been a beacon of hope to Nigerian youths locally and internationally, as he constantly displays top-notch leadership qualities that showcases the cultural dexterity of the Yoruba race. As such, I am sure more productive collaborations would commence so we can better impact our communities and its inhabitants,” he said.
It is essential to note that MTN Nigeria has contributed massively to the socio-cultural development of diverse communities across the nation since its inception. The MTN Foundation founded in 2004 has invested over 22 billion naira across 2,476 communities in Nigeria.
