MTN CEO Calls for Curriculum Reform to Bridge Digital Skills Gap

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr Karl Toriola, has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s education curriculum to reflect current digital realities and better prepare young people for employment. Speaking at the 11th Public Lecture of the Sigma Club at the University of Ibadan on Thursday, July 3, Toriola emphasised that aligning education with the digital economy is crucial to addressing youth unemployment and poverty in the country.

He spoke on the theme, “Leveraging Technology and Digital Education for Mass Employment, Wealth Creation and Poverty Alleviation.” Toriola noted that while Nigerian youths have shown strong potential across various sectors, outdated learning systems and limited access to digital tools have continued to hinder their progress. “We must make education employable,” he said. “We have to create opportunities for students to practise what they are learning, with private sector institutions that are using those skills of the future.”

He identified several challenges, including poor infrastructure, high deployment costs, unreliable electricity, insecurity in rural areas, digital literacy gaps, and a lack of coordination between the public and private sectors. He also highlighted regional and gender disparities as factors affecting access to digital education, and emphasised the need for inclusive solutions that address both cultural and socioeconomic realities.

Toriola added that, beyond automation and artificial intelligence, sectors such as content creation, agriculture, and manufacturing continue to offer employment opportunities that can be expanded through the right policies and educational reforms.

The MTN CEO also referenced the example of a young Nigerian doctor who recently qualified in multiple medical specialisations, describing it as proof that the country’s youth are ready to thrive, if given the right environment. Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde, said the state was committed to innovation and inclusive development, citing programmes such as Waste to Wealth and the recruitment of 21,000 teachers.

Also present at the event were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; Dr Gani Adeniran, retired lecturer from the University of Ibadan; and Professor Gabriel Ogunmola, Chancellor of Lead City University. MTN’s Digital Skills Academy, recently launched as part of the company’s Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme, was highlighted as one of its contributions to improving access to digital education in Nigeria.