The recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that targeted Nigerians and other African nationals understandably provoked outrage across the continent. Images of frightened African migrants, burnt businesses, looted shops and angry mobs spread rapidly through social media and traditional news platforms, reigniting old wounds about African unity and the painful contradictions of post-apartheid Africa. In Nigeria, reactions were swift and emotional. Some lawmakers at the National Assembly even suggested that Nigerians working for South African-owned companies such as MTN Group and MultiChoice, owners of DSTV, should be recalled so that Nigerians could take over those jobs. The anger was understandable. But anger, no matter how justified, should not replace reason.
At almost the same period, another issue brought MTN into public scrutiny. Reports emerged that shareholders had approved huge remuneration packages for the company’s chairman and non-executive directors. The figures naturally raised eyebrows in a country where millions of subscribers struggle daily with rising inflation, unemployment, unstable electricity and poor living conditions. Questions quickly followed. What exactly do these directors do to justify such enormous earnings? How do their salaries compare with the wages of the ordinary staff members who work tirelessly in offices, retail outlets, technical departments and customer service units across Nigeria? Why should the disparity between executives and workers continue to widen in a developing country where poverty remains a painful reality?
These are legitimate questions that deserve serious public conversation, not emotional outbursts. Executive remuneration is not peculiar to MTN. Across the world, top executives and directors of multinational corporations earn substantially higher than ordinary workers because they are entrusted with strategic decision-making, policy formulation, investment oversight and corporate governance responsibilities. They make decisions capable of affecting billions of naira in investments, thousands of jobs and the future direction of the company. Yet, while this explanation may satisfy economic theorists and corporate analysts, it does not erase the moral concerns surrounding excessive inequality in societies where ordinary citizens face daily hardship.
In countries like the United Kingdom, high-income earners pay significant taxes that help governments provide social services and reduce the gap between very rich and very poor families. Progressive taxation ensures that wealth circulates more broadly within the society. In many African countries, however, weak institutions, corruption, poor taxation structures and inadequate social welfare systems often mean that large corporate profits coexist with deepening poverty among ordinary citizens. This reality fuels resentment whenever large executive pay packages become public knowledge.
Still, it would be unfair and intellectually dishonest to present MTN as an enemy of Nigeria. Since entering the Nigerian market in 2001 following the liberalization of the telecommunications sector, the company has played a major role in transforming communication in the country. Before the arrival of GSM operators like MTN, obtaining a telephone line in Nigeria was almost a luxury reserved for a privileged few. Communication was slow, unreliable and frustrating. Today, millions of Nigerians communicate instantly through mobile technology. Businesses have grown, digital banking has expanded, young entrepreneurs have found opportunities online, and countless families remain connected because of the telecommunications revolution.
MTN’s investments in Nigeria have also generated employment directly and indirectly. Thousands of Nigerians work for the company, while many more depend on its ecosystem through dealerships, recharge card sales, mobile money services, technical support operations and digital enterprises. The company has contributed billions in taxes and levies to government coffers and invested heavily in telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
Beyond its commercial operations, MTN has also undertaken several corporate social responsibility initiatives through the MTN Foundation. The foundation has funded scholarship schemes for students in science and technology fields, visually impaired students and high-performing tertiary institution students. It has supported healthcare interventions, educational projects, ICT training centres, music and youth empowerment initiatives, as well as community development programmes in different parts of Nigeria. During national emergencies and health crises, the company has also contributed support in various forms.
These contributions should not be ignored simply because emotions are running high over xenophobic incidents in South Africa. The truth is that neither MTN nor DSTV orchestrated those attacks. They were not official policies of the South African government, nor were they corporate decisions made by those companies. Punishing businesses that have invested billions of dollars in Nigeria for crimes committed by criminal mobs in South Africa would amount to a dangerous miscarriage of justice. It would also send negative signals to foreign investors who may begin to fear that their businesses could become targets whenever diplomatic tensions arise.
Africa’s development cannot thrive on retaliation and economic hostility among sister nations. Nigerians living in South Africa contribute meaningfully to the South African economy, just as South African companies operating in Nigeria contribute to Nigeria’s economy. Economic interdependence should encourage dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect rather than collective punishment.
However, while MTN should not be blamed for the xenophobia, the company must also understand the social climate in which it operates. Nigerians are becoming increasingly sensitive to issues of economic inequality and corporate responsibility. Citizens want to see multinational corporations move beyond profit-making into deeper and more visible investment in human capacity development. In many communities where MTN generates enormous revenues, basic infrastructure remains poor. Young graduates roam the streets searching for jobs. Brilliant students abandon education because their families cannot afford tuition fees. Rural communities still struggle with inadequate healthcare facilities and limited digital access.
This is where MTN can actually do better than it is currently performing.
A company that enjoys the patronage of millions of Nigerian families should see itself not merely as a telecommunications provider but as a long-term development partner. Scholarships should not be occasional public relations exercises but expansive and sustained investments in the country’s future. Thousands of exceptionally gifted but indigent Nigerian students need educational support in engineering, medicine, information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture and scientific research. MTN has the capacity to establish large-scale scholarship endowments that could transform countless lives annually.
The company can also expand vocational and digital training programmes for unemployed youths across all geopolitical zones. Nigeria’s greatest asset is its youthful population, yet millions of graduates remain trapped in unemployment and underemployment. Technology companies are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap by investing in coding academies, digital entrepreneurship hubs, artificial intelligence training centres and innovation incubators. Rather than concentrating opportunities mainly in urban centres, such programmes should deliberately target underserved rural communities.
Healthcare is another area where greater intervention is urgently needed. Many Nigerians still die from preventable diseases because of poor medical facilities and lack of affordable healthcare. MTN could establish or adopt community healthcare centres in partnership with state governments and reputable non-governmental organizations. Mobile healthcare outreach programmes, maternal health initiatives and telemedicine support systems would have far-reaching impact, especially in remote communities.
Education infrastructure also requires attention. In many public schools across Nigeria, students still sit on broken chairs or learn under leaking roofs. Libraries are outdated, laboratories are poorly equipped and internet access is almost nonexistent. A telecommunications giant with MTN’s resources can significantly improve educational standards by adopting schools, building digital libraries and supplying modern ICT equipment. Such investments would not only improve public goodwill toward the company but also strengthen the country’s technological future.
Furthermore, there is growing need for multinational corporations to embrace the environmental sustainability of their host communities. Communities hosting telecommunication infrastructure often complain about poor roads, inadequate electricity and lack of community amenities. MTN can deepen community engagement by implementing transparent local development partnerships that directly address the needs identified by residents themselves. When communities genuinely feel the impact of corporate presence, resentment diminishes and partnerships flourish.
The issue of executive remuneration also deserves reflection. While corporate boards have the legal right to determine compensation packages, companies operating in developing countries must remain sensitive to public perception. Excessive executive pay amid widespread poverty creates moral discomfort and public distrust. Corporate leadership should therefore strive to balance profitability with social empathy. Beyond salaries and allowances, executives should be evaluated by the lasting developmental impact their companies create within society.
This is not about demonizing wealth or condemning success. Those who build successful enterprises deserve rewards for their expertise and contributions. But in fragile economies marked by severe inequality, leadership must be accompanied by visible social responsibility. Great corporations are not remembered merely for their profits, they are remembered for how they transformed societies and improved human lives.
Fortunately, MTN already possesses the structures and financial strength to become one of Africa’s greatest agents of social transformation. What is required is a broader vision that places human development at the centre of corporate success. Nigerians are not asking multinational corporations to resolve all governmental failures. They simply want companies that profit immensely from local patronage to invest more meaningfully in the future of the people.
As for the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, African leaders must continue working toward stronger continental integration, better migration policies and deeper people-to-people understanding. Xenophobia contradicts everything the African Union claims to represent. Africans should never become enemies of fellow Africans on African soil or even outside the continent. Governments, civil society groups, businesses and the media all have roles to play in promoting tolerance and coexistence. MTN and DSTV should therefore not be treated as scapegoats for crimes they neither initiated nor endorsed. But at the same time, they should recognize the deep frustrations that fuel public anger whenever inequality becomes glaring. In moments like this, companies have an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with host communities through compassion, transparency and expanded developmental commitments.
Nigeria remains one of the largest and most profitable markets for South African businesses. The relationship should therefore be nurtured with fairness, mutual respect and a genuine commitment to shared prosperity. Corporate Africa must begin to see itself not merely as a collection of profit-driven enterprises but as a stakeholder in the continent’s social and economic destiny. And MTN can actually do better than what it is currently doing for Nigerians who sponsor their business.
Chief Sir Asinugo, PhD., M.A., KSC, is a veteran journalist and author
