Emir of Kano hails Airtel

By Emmanuel Otokhine

ยท As Airtel re-state commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility projects

Kano, Nigeria: December 15, 2010: The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Dr. Ado Bayero, has commended Airtel Nigeria for the successful launch of its brand in Nigeria and the promise to provide Nigerians with improved quality of service.

Dr. Ado Bayero, who was speaking during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Rajan Swaroop, described Airtel Nigeria which has been consistent in its focus on delighting its customers.

He charged the organization to ensure that its coverage of Kano city and its environs is better and more robust under the new brand name.

The Emir, who was represented by the Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abass Sanusi, wished Airtel Nigeria the best and pledged to support the organization within his domain.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Swaroop had assured the Emir that Airtel is committed to taking its network deeper into Nigeria, ensuring that its services touch the common man and bridge the digital divide in the country.


He stated that over the coming years Airtel will win the hearts of customers across Nigeria and emerge as one of the most admired brands in the country.


He noted that the company had already taken relevant steps to crash call tariff across the country with the launch of its 2Good tariff plan. He said with the plan, customers can now make calls after the first minute of the day at 20 kobo per second. This would apply to all calls (on net and off net) for all local destinations and to the US.

According to him, the new tariff offer from Airtel clearly lives up to the expectations of Nigerians and the challenge laid down recently by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the launch of the Airtel brand in Abuja, where he urged the company to make telecoms services more affordable for consumers.

Swaroop further added that Airtel is committed to providing quality education to poor children, saying that education of less privileged children will result in true freedom, empowering children to experience the freedom to earn, to choose and to live right.


He said Airtel will construct schools across the country, equip the schools with furniture, provide uniform for the students and upscale the skills of the teachers. He equally informed the Emir that the company has decided to commence the education project on a pilot scale similar to Airtel's model in India where the mobile operator started with one project and later expanded it to 254 schools throughout the country.


On completion of the pilot school project near Abuja, according to him, the social investment programme will be extended to other parts of the country.


The Chief Executive Officer also expressed the desire of Airtel Nigeria to create jobs for Nigerians, stressing that the jobs will be created directly and indirectly in the coming weeks. He said plans are underway to increase the number of staff in Airtel call centre from 600 call agents to 1000 with the aim of providing its Nigerians improved customers service.


The new Airtel brand comes with a promise to meet the emerging needs of customers with innovative, affordable and relevant solutions to empower consumers, giving them the freedom to do what they choose and provide them with the tools to meet life's daily challenges.

The red primary colour of the logo reflects the warmth and vibrancy of the African continent. It is the colour of life and of the African sun at dusk. These qualities are reflected in Airtel's brand personality of being brave and bold, sensitive and empathetic. The new curved addition to the logo is a symbol which will help ensure instant recognition across our diverse international markets.