AI from the boardroom down at MTN Nigeria and South Africa

Cognit DX has delivered large-scale AI training and executive education programs for MTN Nigeria and MTN South Africa, two of the largest telecom operations within MTN Group, Africa’s leading telecommunications group.

In MTN Nigeria, Cognit DX delivered a multi-layered AI enablement program across the organizational pyramid, starting with the most senior leadership and cascading down to broader employee groups. The engagement included a dedicated AI for CXOs and Board Members session for 15 senior leaders, followed by AI training for the General Manager population, senior managers, managers, and large-scale awareness sessions for L1 and L2 employees.

The MTN Nigeria program reached approximately 2,000 employees across multiple levels of the organization. The structure was designed to ensure that each leadership layer received the right level of AI exposure, strategic context, and practical application based on their responsibilities.

For the General Manager population, Cognit DX delivered two cohorts of AI training, with each cohort receiving two full days of training. For senior managers and managers, Cognit DX trained approximately 320 professionals across eight cohorts, with each cohort receiving one full day of training. For L1 and L2 employees, Cognit DX delivered online AI awareness sessions for approximately 1,200 employees, divided into large cohorts of 100 participants each.

Following the success of the Nigeria program, Cognit DX began a similar engagement with MTN South Africa, starting at the top of the organization. Cognit DX has already delivered one AI for CXOs and Board Members session for approximately 20 senior leaders, followed by two cohorts for General Managers, with approximately 25 participants per cohort. The program is expected to continue cascading down the organizational pyramid.

Cognit DX has also been invited to deliver an AI session for the MTN Group CXOs and Board Members, with discussions underway to expand AI enablement delivery across MTN’s wider footprint of 18 operating companies.

Scope of Work Included

• AI for CXOs and Board Members
• AI training for General Managers
• AI training for senior managers and managers
• Large-scale AI awareness sessions for employees
• In-person and online delivery formats
• Telecom-specific AI use cases and examples
• Structured rollout across leadership layers and employee levels

Key Impact:

• Approximately 2,000 MTN Nigeria employees trained
• CXO and board-level AI education delivered
• General Manager and senior management cohorts trained
• 1,200 L1 and L2 employees reached through AI awareness sessions
• MTN South Africa rollout initiated with CXO and GM cohorts
• Invitation to deliver to MTN Group CXOs and Board Members
• Potential expansion across 18 MTN operating companies