MTN’s Corporate Citizenship Contribution Often Overlooked, Says Rewane

Economist and Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, has described MTN as a “very good corporate citizen”, saying its economic contribution extends beyond the telecommunications services it provides.

Rewane said the company’s role as a major taxpayer, dividend payer and employer is an important part of its contribution to Nigeria. He said these aspects of the company’s 25-year presence are often overlooked when its impact is assessed.

According to Rewane, the economic contribution of a company such as MTN should be viewed from the perspective of its impact on consumers, companies and government. “You have to look at the economy through consumers, companies and the government. What did consumers benefit? They got the service. What did shareholders benefit? They got dividends. And the government benefited through taxes,” he said.

Rewane pointed to MTN’s tax contribution as a significant element of its corporate citizenship over the years. He said the company had paid about N647 billion in taxes, describing the figure as substantial when compared with revenues available to governments across the country. “This same company paid tax to governments of N647 billion. That is one company contributing that amount to government,” he said. The scale of MTN Nigeria’s contribution to government revenue is also reflected in the company’s latest disclosures. MTN Nigeria said it paid ₦878.7 billion in taxes, levies and duties to the government in 2025 alone, representing a 15 per cent increase from the previous year. The company also recorded ₦2.2 trillion in spending on local suppliers, accounting for 62 per cent of its total procurement spend.

He also highlighted the importance of MTN’s dividend payments to shareholders. Rewane said the company had paid about N1 trillion in dividends over the period under review, providing income to thousands of investors. He said the significance of such payments extends beyond the stock market because shareholders use the income for education, investment, consumption and other household needs.

According to Rewane, the scale of these contributions demonstrates why the economic impact of MTN’s 25 years in Nigeria cannot be measured only by its subscriber base or telecommunications services. The company’s taxes contribute to government revenue, while dividends distribute part of its earnings to Nigerians who own shares in the business.

Rewane said MTN’s 25-year presence should therefore be assessed as part of the wider development of Nigeria’s private sector and economy. Beyond connecting millions of Nigerians, the company has contributed to government revenues, shareholder wealth, employment and economic activity across its value chain. “MTN is a very good corporate citizen. You have to look beyond the service it provides to understand the full contribution it makes to the Nigerian economy,” he said.