Airtel’s Leading a Telecoms Revolution in Nigeria - Otudeko

Lagos, Nigeria; October 19, 2012: The Chairman of Airtel Nigeria, Oba Otudeko, has reiterated the path-breaking role of the telecoms operator in Nigeria's telecommunications industry with innovative offerings and bespoke business solutions that make telephone services easy and accessible to every Nigerian.

The telecoms chief stated this on Sunday in his opening remarks at Airtel Night of Influence featuring CNN's Fareed Zakaria in Lagos.

Oba Otudeko said the company is steadily evolving new ideas and products to ensure that Nigerians of all occupations and lifeclasss are fully integrated into the society with product offerings that speak to their individual needs.

His words, “We pride ourselves as the 'best friends' network. Indeed, Airtel is a true friend – a Nigerian and a network that is committed to leading change, pioneering innovation and creating the right platforms and opportunities to open new doors for Nigerians. Airtel Nigeria means business and we are challenging strongly for leadership in the industry.”

The Airtel Chairman also stated that the telecoms firm has embarked on a host of major initiatives aimed at demonstrating its commitment to network coverage expansion, capacity enhancement and improved quality of service. “We have a network that currently has capacity for double the subscriber base. With over $1.5 billion dollars invested over the past two years, it is only but a matter of time before we assume our rightful place in the Nigerian telecoms industry. Don't forget we were first to commence commercial operations on August 5, 2001! I am proud to say that we do not only have some of the most highly motivated employees in the industry, we also have the largest and the biggest 3.75G network in Nigeria.”

Speaking further, Oba Otudeko said the telecoms firm had in the last two years of operation in Nigeria grown its subscriber base to 22 million from 15 million. He noted that the vision of the company was to become the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians.

He said “On November 19, 2010, we declared our intention to revolutionize the telecoms industry in this country. I feel extremely proud today that we are fulfilling our promise. The Nigerian telecommunications industry has not been the same since Airtel set foot on Nigerian soil - be it in the area of innovative products, network quality and customer service experience. A few months ago, we were honoured as the Telecoms Brand of the year, Most Innovative Network and Best Customer Service Operator. The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management also recognized us for Best Practice in Human Resources within the telecommunications sector.”

In the keynote speech, guest speaker Fareed Zakaria said that Nigeria needs to focus on equipping her people, building strong institutions anchored on merit as well as providing necessary infrastructure for rapid and sustained economic growth. The CNN anchor and political economist affirmed that these areas, rather than focus on the exploitation of mineral resources, would yield greater benefits for the country.

Zakaria who is famous for presenting Global Public Square (GPS) on Cable News Network (CNN), also observed that a high sense of optimism prevails in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.

According to him, research has shown that in the last 30 years, resource-rich countries that relied on natural resources fared worse than those that concentrated on building people and institutions.

The CNN anchor cited a recent research that showed that the United States of America would soon emerge as the dominant producer of oil above Saudi Arabia, based on application of technology as proof of the importance of people over resources.

Maintaining that further research has also indicated that there is will always be boom and bust cycles in the global economy, Zakaria stated that what the history of the last 30 years shows is the importance of strong institutions founded on merit as well as focus on people as the bedrock of growth and development of countries.