MTN Nigeria CFO Challenges Local Businesses to Raise AI, Quality Standards

Nigerian businesses must move beyond relying on local patronage and build the skills, systems and quality standards needed to compete in the global market, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, has said.

Kadri made the remarks at a Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) breakfast forum held on Thursday, August 27, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking to business leaders and corporate representatives, she stressed that developing strong local enterprises should not be reduced to simply giving Nigerian companies preferential treatment.

According to her, local businesses must be able to meet the same demanding standards expected in competitive international markets.

Kadri: Local Content Must Come With Quality

Kadri argued that successful partnerships between multinational companies and indigenous suppliers depend on more than nationality.

She identified reliable market demand, strong corporate governance and consistent delivery as important factors for creating lasting business relationships.

She also warned against treating local content as an excuse for poor service or inferior products, noting that being a Nigerian-owned business should not automatically translate into entitlement to corporate opportunities.

Her position reflects a growing conversation around how Nigerian companies can benefit more meaningfully from the country’s expanding private-sector economy while also becoming competitive outside the domestic market.

AI, Cloud and Cybersecurity Seen as the Next Big Opportunity

Looking at the evolution of bilateral trade and industrial development between Nigeria and South Africa over the past 25 years, Kadri said the nature of opportunities available to local businesses is changing.

She noted that earlier participation was largely concentrated around areas such as civil infrastructure and logistics. However, she said the next phase would require deeper technical expertise.

Artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity were among the areas she highlighted as increasingly important for businesses hoping to remain relevant in the modern economy.

For Nigerian entrepreneurs and technology companies, the shift could create opportunities to move beyond traditional support services and develop products and expertise that can compete across African and international markets.

Corporate Procurement Can Help Businesses Scale

The NSACC session also featured several business leaders who discussed how access to structured corporate procurement had helped their companies grow from smaller operations into businesses with wider market reach.

Among the panellists were Afolabi Sobande, Group Chief Operating Officer of Computer Warehouse Group; Udeme Ufot, Group Managing Director of SO&U; Yemi Chukwurah, Chief Executive Officer of Seams and Stitches; and Ayeni Adekunle, CEO of BlackHouse Media.

Their experiences highlighted the role large corporate organisations can play in helping indigenous businesses build capacity, secure predictable demand and expand their operations.

Nigeria’s Next Growth Phase Will Require Stronger Local Businesses

The discussions at the Lagos forum centred on the need for a stronger commercial ecosystem capable of supporting Nigerian companies as they grow.

Stakeholders pointed to patient capital, transparent access to corporate opportunities and continuous skills development as important ingredients for building businesses that can survive and compete over the long term.

For local enterprises, the message is increasingly clear: opportunities created by Nigeria’s growing economy will come with greater expectations for quality, technology and professionalism.

As businesses prepare for the next phase of Nigeria’s industrial development, building genuine capacity rather than depending solely on protection or preferential treatment could determine which indigenous companies eventually become major players in Africa and beyond.