Building Beyond Borders: MTN CFO Challenges Nigerian Businesses

In a recent address at the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) breakfast forum, Modupe Kadri, Chief Financial Officer of MTN Nigeria, challenged local businesses to pursue global competitiveness rather than relying on policy entitlements. Speaking before industry leaders at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Kadri emphasized that sustainable economic expansion requires building internal capacity and innovation beyond domestic markets.

“Local content must not mean substandard quality, nor should it mean entitlement simply because a company is Nigerian,” he stated. “True economic synergy requires predictable market demand, strict governance, and unwavering delivery discipline.”

The call comes as partnerships between Nigerian enterprises and multinational corporations grow in number. Kadri cautioned against viewing such collaborations as acts of corporate social responsibility, instead framing them as mutually beneficial business arrangements where both parties create value.

Industry leaders present at the forum echoed this sentiment, sharing experiences of how strategic procurement practices helped transform their businesses from small operations into continental brands. They highlighted the importance of continuous skill acquisition and transparent corporate access in driving sustained growth.

Kadri further noted that while initial domestic participation focused on civil infrastructure, the next frontier requires technical depth in areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. He concluded by emphasizing that shared economic success is not charity but rather “invited business logic” where value circulates through entire ecosystems.