Details: Why You Can’t But Love MTN CEO Karl Toriola

Carl Olutokun Toriola is the Chief Executive Officer at MTNNigeria.

The 49years old who speaks English, French, Yoruba, and German fluently is the first indigenous helmsman at MTNNigeria.

But that is not the reason many are falling in love with the man who heads the telecommunication company that has become an integral part of the Nigeria story since its launch on August 8, 2001.

Societynow.ng gathered that the growing love for the Osun state born has to do with his character, approach to things.

And a deep insight was provided on Sunday, August 22 when MTNNigeria hosted friends and customers who have turned partners as part of its 20th-anniversary celebration.

The event was held at the Ikoyi, Lagos head office of the telecommunication company that is about to boost the nation’s economy with about N600Billion.

Aside from the fact that Toriola arrived well ahead of the kick-off time, he displayed extraordinary humility from beginning to end.

The CEO arrived without any air of “importance” usually associated with people of status and even those known to be “acting big men” and refused to let anyone carry his “things”.

“Acting big men” is the street parlance for people who posture themselves to be of bigger worth than reality in seeking social relevance.

On arrival, Toriola went around the venue greeting and thanking guests for coming out to be a part of the event and for contributing to MTNNigeria’s success story over the years.

“Even, when he got to seats where some persons chose to seat down and interacted with him while he remained standing, he was all smiles and calm as he engaged them” societynow.ng confirmed.

He didn’t let “such things” bother him, deterred him from going round and paying his courtesies to others.

“And it was apparent he was being himself. He was so much at ease relating in such an easy way that you can’t fail to fall in love with him, the elegance in his simplicity” a witness stated.

An occurrence witnessed by societynow.ng and others validated the modesty and high regard for defined roles by the Chief Executive Officer of MTNNigeria.

On his way to his out of the venue of Sunday’s event, a suited man who appears never too far from Toriola moved closer and offered to take the “gift pack” and “tablet” that the CEO was clutching – but the boss refused to let go of the “items”.

Karl Toriola carried his “load” all by himself as the suited man who comes off as a “security detail” walked with him without carrying anything.

The “spectacle” melted hears amid comments of “if only many who convert security operatives to bag carriers and junior staff to messengers can borrow a leaf from this”.

Checks by societynow.ng with those familiar with the lovable CEO revealed that is the way he is.

“That is his way of life but the thing is he doesn’t compromise on meeting sets targets. He expects you to do even better. When it comes to meeting standards he is hard as a nut” societynow.ng gathered.

Toriola who bagged a bachelor degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife Osun state before heading abroad to soar his education started his telecommunications career with Ericsson Switzerland in 1995.

His romance with MTN started in 2006. He launched out at MTN Irancell, based in Tehran as Operations Consultant, managing the network roll out until October 2006 when he moved to MTN Nigeria as Chief Technical Officer, Network Group (NWG).

He has held positions as CEO MTN Congo Brazzaville, CEO MTN Cameroon, and Group Operating Executive, MTN Group in a journey packed with massive individual and corporate wins before he was named CEO MTN Nigeria in October 2020.

Sunday’s event which earned the MTNNigeria CEO new admirers saw winners of the brand new Honda HRV – 2021 Edition – given out as part of the telecommunications 20th-anniversary receive their gifts.