Karl Olutokun Toriola is an experienced Nigerian telecommunications executive currently serving as the CEO of MTN Nigeria since March 1, 2021. He has played a key role in reinforcing MTN Nigeria’s status as the country’s largest mobile network operator by driving subscriber growth, revenue increase, and digital innovation.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Karl Olutokun Toriola |
| Date of birth | 16 March 1972 |
| Place of birth | Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of origin | Osun State |
| Partner | Married |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupations | CEO of MTN Nigeria; former CTO and CEO roles within MTN Group |
| Net worth | Approximately $20 million |
Early Life and Education
Karl Olutokun Toriola was born and raised in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. He completed all his primary, secondary, and tertiary education at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus.
He graduated with first-class honors in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from OAU in 1994. Afterward, he earned a master’s degree in Communication Systems from the University of Wales, Swansea, in 1996.
Throughout his career, he also pursued executive education programs at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, London Business School, and IMD in Switzerland, which helped sharpen his leadership and management skills.
Career
Toriola began his professional career at Ericsson in Switzerland before moving to Nigeria to work as a Support and Integration Manager for Ericsson Nigeria. He later joined Vmobile Nigeria (now Airtel) in 2004, where he served as Chief Operations and Regional Officer.
In 2006, he started working with MTN Group as the Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria. Over the years, he took on several leadership roles across the MTN Group, including operations consultant in Iran, interim CEO in Congo Brazzaville, CEO of MTN Cameroon, and Group Operating Executive.
In 2016, he was promoted to Vice President for MTN’s West and Central Africa operations. His journey culminated in his appointment as MTN Nigeria’s CEO in March 2021.
Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in driving growth, digital transformation, and operational excellence in all the markets he has led.
Personal Life
Karl Toriola hails from Modakeke in Ife East Local Government of Osun State. He is married and has one child.
Karl Toriola Net Worth
His net worth is estimated at around $20 million, mostly from his executive salary and MTN Nigeria shares.
Awards and Recognitions
- Honorary Doctorate of Science (D.Sc.) in Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (2024)
- Recognized with Best CTO and Best Network Awards within MTN Group
- Guided MTN Cameroon to earn the Investors in People Gold Certification, a first for any MTN subsidiary
