MTN executives, partners, staff and other stakeholders gathered on Wednesday at The Bells Event Centre to send off chief technical officer of MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Rufai, who is set to take up the role of chief executive officer at MTN Congo Brazzaville.
The event was filled with emotions as colleagues, staff and friends shared their experiences working with Mr Rufai and lauded him for his contributions to MTN over the years.
Rufai’s journey at MTN started in February 2004 as the regional project manager in Kano. In 2005, he moved to the MTN head office in Lagos, where he served as a radio high-level support manager and was subsequently appointed senior manager, network services.
Being an asset to the company, Rufai rose through the ranks at MTN, becoming a general manager in 2014. In 2015, he was appointed to lead MTN’s technical operations in Ghana as the chief technical officer.
Prior to being appointed chief technical officer of MTN Nigeria, he served as the general manager, technology of MTN South East Africa and Ghana.
Speaking at the event, chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria Karl Toriola expressed his happiness on Rufai’s appointment as CEO of MTN Congo Brazzaville. He lauded Rufai for his career growth at MTN and his dedication to work. “I am very proud of Mohammed’s appointment as CEO of MTN Congo Brazzaville. I met him in November 2006. At the time, he was manager, radio high level support and within the span of two years, he became the general manager in network operations. His talent, discipline and work ethic were outstanding.”
Affectionately known as “Alhaji 5G”, Rufai’s team spearheaded the successful execution and implementation of the MTN 5G launch in 2022, a testament to his leadership and innovative spirit.
Chief financial officer of MTN Nigeria Modupe Kadri attested to Rufai’s commitment to work and excellence, referring to the outgoing CTO as “fantastic, diligent and meticulous”.
Rufai’s personal staff were not left out of the celebration, as his chauffeur was also present to shower encomium on his boss, appreciating him for not just being his employer but also a father.
In a heartwarming farewell speech, Rufai reminisced on his journey at MTN which began 22 years ago, and how much the leading ICT company has grown since then. “When I first arrived in Kano, there were only six institutions, and we were operating from a garage with a security team. Twenty-two years down the line, MTN is the largest network in Africa,” he said.
The newly appointed CEO expressed his gratitude to MTN employees across all departments who work collectively towards the success of the telco. He also appreciated Mr Toriola for his mentorship, as well as other MTN executives and partners.
Rufai concluded on an emotional note, affirming the experience he had working at MTN Nigeria. “Working at MTN Nigeria was an absolute delight. It is truly a great place to work. I am excited about this opportunity, but I will miss MTN Nigeria and miss you all,” he said.
