Institutions worldwide have been urged to deepen their commitment to advancing women and to inspire young girls to pursue leadership roles, a call made during MTN Nigeria’s Women @ Y’ello event, held to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026.

The event also celebrated the leadership journey of 14-year-old Oreoluwa Alayande, winner of the 2025 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee, who symbolically assumed the role of MTN CEO for a day, according to a statement on Thursday.

Speaking on the event theme, “Give to Gain: Advancing Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls,” MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Karl Toriola, emphasised that organisations must move beyond symbolic gestures to provide tangible support for women’s advancement.

“If we are advancing the women’s cause, we must make sacrifices for it,” he said, stressing that companies should intentionally prioritise women in leadership development and recruitment.

According to Toriola, MTN is working deliberately to achieve gender balance across all leadership levels.

Delivering her keynote address, the Independent Non-Executive Director at MTN Nigeria, Eyitope Kola-Oyeneyin, highlighted that impactful mentorship does not always stem from formal relationships. Drawing from her career experiences, she noted that many of her most valuable lessons came from observing senior women who inspired her through their actions, not structured programmes.

She encouraged young women to embrace “learning from afar” by listening, watching, and applying insights from those who have travelled the path ahead. She further urged experienced women to share their stories at every opportunity.

“A lot of things are often caught and not taught. By supporting someone or simply being around them, you can learn so much,” Kola-Oyeneyin said.

Also speaking at the event, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, underscored that empowering women opens broader opportunities across society. She stressed the need for sustained corporate initiatives that support women at every stage of their careers and across all industries.

In her remarks, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Esther Akinnukawe, reminded participants that empowerment must be seen as a continuous journey rather than a one-off activity.

“It is not just about today’s conversation. It is about continuing the discussion and the journey of inclusion in the organisation. Ask yourself, what can I give today that helps another woman or another person rise tomorrow? When you answer that question, you are truly giving to gain,” Akinnukawe said.