The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Airtel

  • Airtel lifts SME group

    Airtel lifts SME group

    In its quest to help Nigerian entrepreneurs boost their businesses, Airtel has reiterated its commitment to small and medium businesses with proven and cost-effective communications solutions.

    Besides, the telecom has offered to create free website and emails to over 50SMEs under the umbrella body of the Association of Small Business Owners in Nigeria ASBON.

    The occasion was the unveiling of ASBON last Thursday, where Airtel, unveiled some of its products designed to enhance growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises across the country to owners of small business under the umbrella of the association.

    The Senior Manager, Small and Medium Enterprises (Sales), Airtel, Unu Eke, who made a presentation at the event, noted the importance of technology to the existence of SMEs in this age, adding that owners of small businesses should adopt modern technology in their operations since most businesses can hardly operate without it in this dispensation.

    In her presentation titled: “Small Business Today, Market Leader Tomorrow,” she said, “Airtel, believes in SMEs and therefore supports them with solutions that can help them thrive. Every entrepreneur seeks to grow his business, lower cost and provide excellent services.

    “The known brands that we have today who have become acceptable in many countries of the world started as small businesses. So, these small businesses we have here today can also grow to become international brands. With Airtel’s products and services which can be grouped into voice, data, solutions and devices, SMEs can achieve great results with the cost-effective communications solutions.”

    Speaking further, she pointed out there are over 17 million macro, small and medium businesses in the country today and they contribute about 46.5 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that about 5 million of them are incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    The raffle draw which was conducted by Airtel at the event produced two winners of smart phones. The winners of the phones who are members of ASBON expressed their appreciation for Airtel for supporting the association and for the smart phones.

    Chairman of ASBON, Dr. Olufemi Egbesola, in his speech noted that the goal of the Association was to assist and protect small businesses in Nigeria, giving them the needed support in various ways. He also thanked the sponsor of the event, Airtel, for its commitment to growth and development of small businesses in the country.

    The Centre Manager, Technology Incubation Centre, Ogun State, Dr John Oni, who also made a presentation at the event urged private organisations to contribute to the development of SMEs in Nigeria, saying the responsibility is not for government alone. He said the small business owners in Nigeria need to have the right support and enabling environment in order to thrive.

    Made up of 14, 000 members, ASBON have 10 state chapters and affiliations in US and London. The association provides a networking platform for micro, small and medium business owners in Nigeria.

    The unveiling event, which took place at Ikeja, Lagos was attended by Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joe Odumodu, among other personalities from government agencies and ministries as well as members of ASBON from various chapters.

  • Culture, pomp at opening of Nigeria’s largest shopping malls

    Culture, pomp at opening of Nigeria’s largest shopping malls

    All roads led to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last week Thursday.

    It was the opening of the N3 billion Heritage Mall and Cocoa Mall built by the Yoruba business flagship, Odu’a Investments Company Limited.

    The event served, in a way, as a reunion for various classes of Yoruba elite, including politicians, traditional rulers, technocrats, industrialists and other professionals. It was also an occasion for the celebration of the creative ingenuity and business acumen of the founding fathers of the conglomerate.

    Not only were guests excited at another opportunity to reconnect with Odu’a, many relished the idea as a great addition to what was inherited from the founding fathers.

    The inauguration was not just a celebration of a new project, the rich culture of the Yoruba was on display including the use of Yoruba Language in conducting part of the programme by culture ambassadors and other leaders.

    As early as 9:00 am, the Cocoa Building complex, which houses the malls and the famous high rise Cocoa House, had been filled with vehicles. It was under the close watch of teams of policemen, men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence.

    Despite of the arrangement, there was still traffic around the building due to its location in the city’s central business district.

    The sprawling canopies under which the programme held wore gold and white colour with a splash of green. It stood beside a cluster of entertainers who displayed at the various stands of official partners and other known brands such as Maggi, Milo and Airtel. Music blared from the stands while professional dancers rolled their bodies to the sweet tunes.

    When the programme commenced at 1:00 0’ clock, the Awise of Osogbo, Chief Yemi Elebu’bon, was ushered to the microphone for the opening prayer by the trio of Messrs Yanju Adegbite, Laolu Olatubosun and Wale Rufai who served as compere for the occasion.  Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu led in Christian prayer.

    The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the conglomerate, Mr Adebayo Jimoh, was a happy celebrator, having capped his achievements as the helms man with the building of the malls. Jimoh’s leadership has seen many old properties of Odu’a redeveloped to modern estates and shopping complexes. Under his leadership, the real estate portfolio of the conglomerate has risen to over N 65 billion.

    An elated Jimoh expressed satisfaction with the project, saying the huge malls have been attracting an enormous number of shoppers, giving store owners real value for their investments as well as changing the lifestyle of residents of the city.

    He praised Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi for his “strong support on the project since the beginning”.

    He gleefully reminded his audience that while Heritage Mall is sitting on the former Kingsway Store and the premises of the rested Sketch newspaper, Cocoa Mall is occupying the same building used by the defunct UTC Store but which was redesigned to meet modern needs.

    For him, the malls are succeeding in keeping shoppers in Ibadan, thereby rejuvenating the economy of the city while also creating opportunities for locals in the area of business and jobs.

    “We are adding to what we inherited.” Jimoh declared with glee.

    He added: “we believe that the success of the Heritage Mall and Cocoa Mall in Ibadan will definitely encourage the opening of new malls in the Odu’a states of Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.”

    Jimoh said Ajimobi should be commended for making investors come to Oyo State through enthronement of peace and security, disclosing that over 2000 jobs have already been created by the two malls.

    The Chairman of the firm, Alhaji Sarafadeen Alli, also lauded the project and thanked all stakeholders for supporting the project.

    In his speech, Ajimobi commended Jimoh and his team and pointed out that the project was in line with his administration’s transformation agenda.

    He said: “From the eye of commerce, the vision of the Board was to redirect home the footsteps and the foreign currencies of high net-worth individuals who spent time and money travelling far distances of Europe and America for shopping. Today, that vision has become a reality. It has given birth to one of the most attractive shopping malls in this part of the country and a place that anyone with an eye for shopping would not be at their shopping peril.

    “Let me confirm to you that this vision by Odu’a Investment Company Limited in constructing these malls rhymes with our transformation agenda as an administration. Indeed, the zeal behind the vision is a replica of the can-do spirit with which we have broken the barriers of developmental impossibilities in Oyo State.

    “You will recall that during my inauguration on May 29, 2011, I promised the good people of Oyo State that our administration would vigorously pursue the vision of peace and order, as against the chaos that we inherited. We also promised to run an efficient and result-oriented government that has an eye on making our state welcoming, business-friendly, leisure-friendly and an attraction to investors.

    “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to report to you that, after successfully maintaining peace and order in the last two years or thereabout, after embarking on an aggressive environmental clean-up and provision of infrastructure, investors are now making Oyo State their Mecca.”

    The governor, however, charged the company to replicate the mall in other owner states.

    Tokunbo Omisore, an architect, who designed and partnered with Odu’a for the construction of Cocoa Mall, said he was satisfied for building an affordable and sustainable mall. He thanked WEMA Bank for providing the loan at a time other banks rejected the idea because the location is outside Lagos and Abuja.

    Dignitaries at the event include a former military governor of the old Oyo State, Gen. Oludayo Popoola and representatives of the four other governors.

    Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr Ganiyu Owolabi.

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun was also represented by the state’s SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa. While Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, was represented by the Director of Commerce, Mr Robert Adewole, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters.

    Traditional rulers at the event include the  Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Aladesanmi; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and  Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Idowu Adamo.

    The Ooni of Ife was represented by Oba Toyosi Akindoyin, who is the Jagunosin of Ife and Oba Adebowale Olafare of Erefe. The Olubadan of Ibadan was represented by the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye while the Ataoja of Osogbo was also represented by his chiefs.

    Others include the Chairman, WEMABOD Estates Ltd, Dr Ismail Adewusi;  a former Chairman of Odu’a, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Proprietor, Lead City University, Prof Jide Owoeye;  Chief Lekan Alabi; Chief Mrs Alaba Lawson; Senator Olabiyi Durojaye; Senator Iyabo Anisulowo;  Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede, Tokunbo Omisore; Bashorun Dehinde Adegbofa; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Sir Olaninun Ajayi and Baale Taye Ayorinde.

    Others are Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu; President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) Chief Bayo Oyero;  Chief Bode Amoo; Alhaji Gboyega Arulogun; Apostle Sunday Popoola and Pastor Olubi Johnson.

    Others include  Chief Kola Bajomo; Head of Service, Oyo State, Alh. Tajudeen Aremu;

    directors of subsidiaries, associate companies and partners of the conglomerate as well as

    representatives of New Nigerian Development Company Ltd from Kaduna. They were led by Alj Alli Gombe.

    Others are the Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Akin Oke; Dr Lekan Are; Hon. Abiodun Awoleye; Hon. Saheed Fijabi and the Director-General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr Dipo Famakinwa.

  • Airtel boss named Credit Personality of the Year

    Airtel boss named Credit Personality of the Year

    Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, has been named the Credit Personality of the Year, 2013, by industry professionals and seasoned finance personalities.

    The award, which was conferred by the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), is aimed at celebrating outstanding professionals within the industry.

    According to the organisers, Ogunsanya was recognised for his role in improving the credit profession as well as strict adherence to the ethics of the credit management and its code of conduct.

    The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, ICA, Dr. Chris Onalo and Former Executive Director/Chief Credit Risk Officer, Zenith Bank, Andy Ojei, presented the award to Ogunsanya at a colourful event held in Lagos recently.

     

  • Airtel’s CEO named Credit Personality of the Year

    Airtel’s CEO named Credit Personality of the Year

    Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, has been named the Credit Personality of the Year, 2013.

     The award, which was conferred by the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), is aimed at celebrating outstanding professionals within the Industry.

     According to the award organizers, Ogunsanya was recognized for his role in improving the credit profession as well as strict adherence to the ethics of the credit management and its code of conduct.

     A citation read in his honour said the prestigious award is designed to further motivate him to continue exhibiting excellent performance in general credit management, credit operational policies and procedures, as well as capacity building of credit work force in organization.

     The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, ICA, Dr. Chris Onalo and Former Executive Director/Chief Credit Risk Officer, Zenith Bank, Andy Ojei presented the award to Ogunsanya at a colourful event held in Lagos at the weekend, Saturday, October 5th 2013.

     Earlier at the conference preceding the award ceremony, the Airtel CEO, delivered a paper titled Credit Management in Telecommunications.

    In his presentation, he identified effective credit management system as a critical factor for the growth of stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.

     According to Ogunsanya, organisations within the ICT sector must put in place efficient credit risk management systems in order to avoid collapsed or severe financial problems.

     He added that poor credit management system could lead to reduced liquidity, increased costs of collections and credits, increased finance costs through extra borrowings and declined reputation of the company arising from failure to meet its obligations to its creditors, among other problems.

     The Airtel boss also noted that effectively managing credit and extending same to customers operating in the Telecommunications industry can help attract many more customers inclusive of those who normally would not be able to afford the products.

     The event, which was held at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, was attended by notable credit professionals including the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), Dr. Chris Onalo, Andy Ojei, Former Executive Director/Chief Credit Risk Officer, Zenith Bank, Adeniyi Akinlusi, MD/CEO Trustbond Mortgage Bank and Solanke Abimbola, Financial Controller, Airtel Nigeria

  • Airtel, Nokia partner over Asha series

    Airtel is partnering Nokia on the new Asha Series 501 and 210 which were recently introduced into the market to enhance the quality of products and better service delivery.

    Nokia Operator Account Manager Beatrice Olumhense said the belief is that the devices are modelled to change the way consumers experience the internet as well as being able to keep in touch with what is going around.

    She spoke while unraveling the qualities embedded in the new Asha series in Lagos, adding that the Asha 501 device is made of a monobody able to resist scratches as usually experienced by mobile phone users. The device provides consumers with ranges of bright luring colours.

    “Today, we are introducing the 501 series with stunning that actually takes turn from the successful app. We know that our youths drop their phones, scratch their phones when using them for different things. Now we have made sure that these colours are scratch proof and even when you scratch, the back has a capacity torch. We have also ensured that our consumers have a choice of what colour to pick from,” she added.

  • Which is the most preffered mobile network?

    Which is the most preffered mobile network?

    Telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria has emerged the preferred mobile
    telephone network in a recent poll conducted by The Nation newspaper.

    The poll was conducted via question posted on the company’s website,
    www.staging.thenationonlineng.net.

    The poll ran for almost a period of three weeks with 2, 342 participants. MTN emerged favourite with 756 votes, representing 32.28 per cent, followed by Etisalat with 511 votes (21.82 per cent).

    Globacom had 506 votes, representing 21.61 per cent to place third while 498 (21.26 per cent) voted for Airtel as the preferred mobile network to place fourth. There were 71 votes (3 per cent) for other  networks.

  • Ajimobi commissions 1,000-staff call centre in Ibadan

    OYO State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has commissioned a 1,000-staff call centre of Airtel Telecommunication.

    Ajimobi, who inspected the call centre located on the last floor of the old Kingsway building at Dugbe, Ibadan, the state capital, said his administration will continue to partner with the private sector for job creation.

    The call centre was established by Spanco Group for Airtel Telecommunication.

    The governor further disclosed that government would soon institute an e-governance system and outsource some services to create a support system that will improve information-sharing across various areas.

    Also, through a partnership between government and the Spanco Group, he assured his administration will roll-out a Government to Citizen (G2C) Help Line to establish an information link between government and citizens.

    This, Ajimobi said, will cover various initiatives by the state like Health Helpline and Medical Care, Health Emergency and Hospital/Ambulance Management, Agriculture Helpline, Land Registry, Women in Distress and Police Helpline aside any other new initiatives and programmes in the future.

    He said: “All over the world, the trend now is for organisations to fan-out the execution of key aspects of their responsibilities to professionals and experienced solution-providers.”

  • Amosun’s wife lauds Airtel’s school project

    Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has urged corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to support worthy causes. She was reacting to Airtel’s gesture to adopt a primary school in Oke-Agbo, in Ogun State.

    Inaugurating the block of four classrooms and three offices renovated by the telecoms firm under its ‘Adopt-a-School’ scheme at St John’s Primary School last Thursday, Mrs Amosun said such efforts would make the society a better place. Mrs Amosun said the initiative agrees with the policy of the Ogun State government to provide quality education to underprivileged children.

    “Airtel’s Adopt-a-School programme is in tandem with the policy of the Ogun State government, aimed to provide quality education to underprivileged children. As you know, Ogun State government is committed to creating a conducive learning environment where both privileged and underprivileged children would have access to quality education,” she said.

    As beneficiaries of the gesture, Mrs Amosun counselled the pupils to be serious with their studies as it was the only way they could repay the company’s gesture.

    “It is not for you to dance and say thank you that Airtel wants. They want you to become governors, presidents, tomorrow. Focus on your books. It is left for you to use what you are given well,” she said.

    The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said Airtel Nigeria is committed to alleviating poverty and illiteracy from the country through education.

    Ogunsanya said:”Quality education offers children the best opportunity in life to realise their dreams and become the leaders of tomorrow. A great environment is also critical to the development of a sound mind.

    “It is therefore in recognition of the importance of education and as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility vision that we have committed to the adoption of public primary schools across Nigeria.

    “We are adopting government – owned primary schools located in an undeserved, rural and semi-urban areas and providing them with requisite infrastructure and learning tools including classrooms, textbooks, furniture, school uniforms, school bags and relevant training to improve the teaching skills of our teachers.”

     

    Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Victoria Boyejo, said she was overjoyed about the scheme which she said has changed the school’s status.

     

  • Airtel, refund my N900

    Airtel, refund my N900

    SIR: I have heard several complaints of illegal deductions by telecoms operators in Nigeria and had noticed in passing minimal reduction in my airtime a couple of times in the past, but none shook me to my marrow like the incident of Sunday, May 5.

    On the said day, I had loaded N1500 worth of airtime on my Airtel line (08127270177) to activate my Black Berry subscription having been disconnected on May 1 as against the May 9 the company originally told me my subscription should elapse.

    After sending BCM to 440 to hook up my BB, the exercise failed after several attempts only to receive an SMS that “you still have active service” with accompanying deductions coming via SMS.

    Miffed by the development, I called 121 (customer care line) and a staff confirmed that some illegal deductions had taken place on my account and as such I can’t be connected on BB since the money left was N665, indicating that N900 had been deducted by the operator for no service done me.

    He thus told me that the complaint had been forwarded to the appropriate unit for redress (refund of my money) and an SMS to authenticate this was sent reading “Your case ID is ANG201305057098376”. Six days later, Airtel responded via SMS again informing me that the case had been resolved, but to my utmost chagrin, my account is yet to be credited with the sum.

     

    • Clarkson Eberu

    Rutam House, Lagos

     

  • Airtel commissions new express shop

    A few days after the launch of the new Mobile Number Portability (MNP), Global System network for Mobile phone operator, Airtel Nigeria has commissioned a new express shop at Utako District, in Abuja.

    The Managing Director/CEO Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya disclosed that Airtel Nigeria opened the Express Shop in order to allow customers who wish to join the Airtel network to port easily while still retaining their mobile numbers.

    Ogunsayan said the network has already ported three customers just few days after the launch of MNP in Lagos. He urged customers to join the “red train” because the network is one of the best in the country.

    He said: “Why we need customers to join the red train, we have been selected as one of the best networks in this country. We are not only saying we are good, the regulators said so. It is another thing to say you are good, it is more important for the person who is recognised as the official regulator to say so. Ncc confirmed that we made all their parameters.