After nearly three years of influential leadership, Adia Sowho has stepped down from her role as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at MTN Nigeria. Joining the telecom giant in September 2021, Sowho played a pivotal role in driving substantial growth and innovation during her tenure.
Under Sowho’s guidance, MTN Nigeria’s Consumer Business achieved consistent year-on-year growth exceeding 20%. The data segment experienced a remarkable 50% increase annually, and MTN became the first Nigerian telecom company to launch 5G services. Her strategic focus on partnerships with OTT providers and OEMs significantly enhanced the digital economy through improved smartphone accessibility.
In a LinkedIn post announcing her departure, Sowho expressed gratitude to her team, colleagues, and CEO Karl Toriola for their support. Reflecting on her time at MTN, she stated, “Over the last three years, I have been blessed to lead the Consumer Business of Nigeria’s largest listed company by revenue. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served MTN Nigeria.”
Before her impactful role at MTN, Sowho’s career was marked by significant achievements. As VP of Growth and Managing Director at Migo, a machine learning-powered instant credit platform, she expanded the user base to one million and spearheaded the company’s entry into Brazil. Her tenure at 9mobile as Director of Digital Business saw her drive substantial digital product revenue growth and forge key partnerships with tech giants like Google and Facebook.
From August 2020 to August 2021, Sowho served as interim CEO of Thrive Agric, an agri-tech company that finances and aggregates the harvests of smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Her leadership was crucial in scaling the company’s operations and supporting the largest group of small holder farmers in the country.
In addition to her executive roles, Sowho serves on the boards of Hover Developer Services and Sankore Investments, contributing her expertise in strategic planning and executive management.
Adia Sowho holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Sheffield. Her diverse career spans telecommunications, finance, and technology, showcasing her ability to build and scale tech-driven businesses in emerging markets.
As Sowho embarks on new ventures, her legacy at MTN Nigeria will be remembered for her significant contributions to the company’s growth and the broader telecommunications industry.
