The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Airtel

  • Airtel trains youths on leadership development

    Airtel trains youths on leadership development

    … Restates commitment to empowering young Nigerians

    In line with its commitment to empower young Nigerians as well as create a credible platform for youths in Lagos to leverage on, leading telecom operator, Airtel Nigeria, has partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth Development to organise an intensive capacity building workshop for select, exceptional youths across the state.

    The one-week long training exercise, which climaxed last week at a colourful presentation ceremony at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Lagos, offered many youths a rare privilege to hone their leadership skills, network, brainstorm, initiate and implement specific programmes to accelerate their personal development as well as personal effectiveness.

    The highlight of the closing ceremony was the emergence of Lana Promise Elijah as the new Lagos State Ambassador for youths. He emerged winner among the top five participants from the week-long intensive training.

    The new Lagos state youth ambassador who was presented with a brand new laptop by Airtel Nigeria was charged by the telco to lead by example and set a good standard for all youths in the state and beyond.

    The other top 4 finalists who emerged the best participants at the grand finale were each awarded with an Apple iPad from Airtel Nigeria and recognised as Lagos State Youth Ambassadors for their respective divisions.

    In the first leg of the programme, a total of 500 participants went through a five-day intensive training exercise held at designated youth centres located in the five administrative divisions of the State.

    Ten outstanding participants from each centre were then selected for the leadership camp where they acquired leadership skills, group management skills and partook in various outdoor activities.

    Participants in the IBILE initiative are required to have a minimum qualification of SSCE/WASC and the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) card in order to register for the programme. Registrations forms were made available at designated Youth Centres across the state.

    The week-long activities featured exciting games, life coaching session and skills acquisition training. Specifically, the leadership training programme was designed to equip participants with the core ingredients required for a promising bright future.

    Speaking at the ceremony, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf hailed the Airtel for its commitment towards the development and empowerment of youths in Lagos State.

    “Airtel Nigeria has demonstrated the commitment to helping and empowering young Nigerians to achieve their dreams. The Lagos State government will continue to find innovative ways through which we can collaborate more with Airtel to empower many more young Nigerians,” Mrs Akinbile-Yusuf stated.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, who was represented by the Director for Enterprise Business, Tawa Bolarin, noted that as a youth-centric brand, Airtel strongly believes in empowering, nurturing and inspiring young Nigerians to achieve their full potentials.

    Dignitaries at the closing ceremony of the IBILE Youth Academy include the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf; Director of Enterprise Business, Airtel Nigeria, Tawa Bolarin; Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Youth & Social Development, Honourable Adedamola Richard Kasumu and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youth & Social Development, Mr. Hakeem Muri Okunola.

  • Cerebral palsy takes centre at Airtel’s Touching Lives

    Cerebral palsy takes centre at Airtel’s Touching Lives

    Lagos-based single parent, Banire Omolabake whose daughter, Pearce, struggles with cerebral palsy, a debilitating movement disorder, has received Airtel’s attention.

    Banire, a final year student, is resolute in her drive to ensure quality care and rehabilitation for Pearce while not losing sight of her own goals to be educated and empowered.

    This ninth episode of the third season of Touching Lives, airing Saturday and Sunday on terrestrial and satellite television across Africa, raises the standard for more understanding of the condition and the challenges faced by the undaunted care providers. It also brings attention to the need for adequately funded facilities that can provide the much-needed rehabilitation for the children and training support for their care-givers.

  • It’s episode children on Airtel Touching Lives

    It’s episode children on Airtel Touching Lives

    Telecom service provider, Airtel, has used the latest episode of its Airtel Touching Lives to show how timely intervention can save the lives of children who are in dire need of medical attention.

    The sixth episode of the philanthropic programme’s third season, which aired at the weekend, features two little girls, both of whom received a Touching Lives relief package from Airtel.

    One of the children suffers from a congenital heart condition, and the other, an orphan, is a victim of HIV/AIDS.

    Six-year-old Hannah Enakrakpor was born with a heart defect that makes her breathless after walking a few steps. “Our daughter is dying,” said Andrew Enakrakpor, her father. “I don’t want to lose my daughter.”

    However, to keep Hannah alive, the parents said they must pay for an expensive heart surgery in India.  “But I don’t have that kind of money,” her mother, Rebecca Enakrakpor said. “In fact, I don’t have anything.”

    The other child, nine-year-old Simbiat Taiwo, currently lives with her indigent 80-year-old grandmother in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State. Both parents died when she was only six years old and in 2014, after she fell into a curious illness, doctors discovered she had HIV.

    “When we found her, she had a massively swollen head and unexplained sores on her body. She wasn’t going to school,” said Olubiyi Love Ogundipe, a social worker at St Joavics, a non-governmental organisation devoted to orphans and widows. Taiwo’s condition was “shocking,” he added.

    Aside from that, “we have been grappling with the question of who will take care of Simbiat after her grandmother passes on,” he said.

    Airtel paid for a corrective surgery for Hannah Enakrakpor and created a scholarship worth N1m for Simbiat Taiwo. Aside from that, the telecom company will pay Taiwo’s grandmother’s rent for two years.

    Hosted by Wana Udobang, Airtel Touching Lives will return to television networks all over the continent on Saturday and Sunday, the company said.

  • Airtel mulls operations cut in Nigeria, 14 other African countries

    Airtel mulls operations cut in Nigeria, 14 other African countries

    India’s largest mobile-phone operator, Bharti Airtel Ltd. is considering mergers or stake sales at some of its Africa operations.

    It explained that the measures became necessary for it to reduce its debt burden and make its offshore acquisition profitable.

    Its  Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, who stated this in an interview with Bloomberg, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said some of the firm’s businesses in 15 African countries would be affected by the cut.

    This could result in job cuts at various levels and shrinking of businesses in its countries of operations in Africa including Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

    Mittal further said the cut in operations in the continent could be completed within a year. Faced with an escalating price war in its home market, Bharti is looking for ways to pare net debt equivalent to about $12 billion as of September.

    The company has sold its Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso operations, as well as some of its tower businesses, as it reorganises the assets it bought in 2010 in a $9 billion deal with Kuwait’s largest mobile-phone operator, Zain.

    Bharti’s African unit lost $91 million in the quarter ended September, compared with a $170 million loss in the previous year. As part of the debt reduction, Bharti is also considering selling a stake in BhartiInfratel Ltd, its tower unit.

    The Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has urged the Federal Government to address the shortgae of foreign exchange (forex) in the country so that they could improve on capacity and service delivery.

  • HIV/AIDS: Community hails Airtel Nigeria for support

    HIV/AIDS: Community hails Airtel Nigeria for support

    …As Airtel conducts free tests and counselling for Nigerians

    Residents of the Ilaje community in Costain area of Lagos state have hailed leading telecommunication services provider, Airtel Nigeria for its efforts in the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS in the area.

    This commendation was made by the residents in December 2016 when the telco rolled out its HIV/AIDS awareness campaign outreach in the area.

    Airtel Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) embarked on a community-wide awareness campaign in Ilaje to sensitise the residents and educate them on HIV/AIDS, provide free testing and counselling as well as distribute medications and relief materials to members of the community.

    With over 80 testers and counsellors on hand to attend to the community, the elated residents turned out en masse to benefit from this awareness campaign which is aimed at preserving the lives of members of the community.

    Lanre Babalola, a resident of Ilaje community hailed the smartphone network for remembering his community. “I am very happy that Airtel is in our community today because it feels good to be giving service to a community that is less serviced. Things like this rarely happen for us here and today Airtel has put a smile on our faces.

    “Another resident Bishop Okoro said “I love Airtel because they have remembered little people like us who live in this area. We at Ilaje are usually forgotten but today a large corporate organisation like Airtel Nigeria has remembered us.

    “Also speaking at the event, the Baale of Ilaje community, Chief Oladipupo Arowojolu noted that the community has a health challenge and Airtel in partnership with LSACA have come to their aid. Arowojolu said “Health is wealth and with this HIV/AIDS awareness we are given a chance at a better and healthier life. With Airtel’s help, Ilaje and Otubara community will pursue good health in order to preserve the lives of members of our community.”

    As a reputable corporate organisation, Airtel Nigeria is committed to improving the lives of Nigerians by creating a better, healthier and more prosperous society, where everyone will be treated equally as well as respected irrespective of their status, social class and location.

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  • Airtel, Best in Support of Youth Devt

    Airtel, Best in Support of Youth Devt

    Airtel  has been named the Best Company in Support of Youth Development by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State Chapter.

    The award was presented to the telco at the maiden edition of the Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LaPRIGA) organised by the group.

    The organisers commended Airtel’s contributions toward the development of youths through its various empowerment and youth-oriented programmes, which were described as consistent and impactful.

    Chairman of NIPR, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Olusegun McMedal,  said: “Airtel is one of the responsible corporate bodies that give priority to youth development by investing in meaningful initiatives targeted at youth not only in Lagos State, but in Nigeria as a whole.

    “That is why the organisation has been recognised for its commitment to youth development. And we encourage the company to keep it up.”

  • Airtel, UAC partner to feed 5000 underprivileged

    In the spirit of the Yuletide, Airtel has partnered with UAC Restaurants, owners of Mr. Biggs brand, to feed 5,000 underprivileged Nigerians under its CSR initiative dubbed ‘Five Days of Love.’

    As part of the programme, Airtel and Mr. Biggs will spread love, joy and happiness of the season to communities by spending quality time and providing wholesome meals supplied by Mr. Biggs to over 5000 less privileged people.

    The initiative kicked off at the Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos, with the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel, Segun Ogunsanya, leading his colleagues to feed hundreds of people that graced the occasion.

    Speaking on the occasion, Ogunsanya noted said Christmas season is not just a time for celebration but also an occasion for sharing and giving.

    “Indeed, Airtel is passionate about uplifting and empowering Nigerians and we shall continue to create and support platforms that will make lives better for telecoms consumers.

    “My colleagues in the North, South and West of Nigeria will also be hosting this same party, marking the theme of this campaign, Five Days of Love,” he said.

    The Airtel Five Days of Love train will hit Enugu tomorrow, targeting over 1,000 beneficiaries at the Local Government Headquarters, Igbo-Eze South, Local Government Area of the state.

  • Airtel’s ‘DataIsLife’ excites subscribers

    Airtel’s ‘DataIsLife’ excites subscribers

    Airtel Excites Nigerians with ‘Data is Life’ Thematic Campaign Airtel Nigeria has launched an exciting thematic campaign dubbed #DataisLife.

    The new campaign, which is already creating buzz across key digital platforms, demonstrates the company’s positioning as Nigeria’s network of choice for mobile Internet and data services.

    The TVC featuring multi-talented singer and actor, Gabriel Afolayan, tells the story of a man who was lost on an island for what seemed like ages and could not get help despite several efforts.

    The ad is a metaphor for how digital natives feel when they are out of data or are on a network that is not reliable.

    The new TVC, which is a perfect blend of metaphor, compelling narrative and a captivating soundtrack made an instant connection with consumers online who could not hold their excitement with the creativity and concept.

    Since its launch, the new TVC has gathered over one million views across multiple digital platforms and has gone on to spark a new wave of viral conversations on social media with #DataisLife.

    The campaign, which has received a lot of critical acclaim, highlights the irreplaceable value which quality Internet service offers to consumers. It also showcases the unique Internet experience which telecom subscribers can access on Airtel’s Smart Speedoo package.

  • Airtel unveils Nigeria with Airtel Business

    Airtel unveils Nigeria with Airtel Business

    Airtel Nigeria has launched ‘Nigeria with Airtel Business’, a bouquet of services designed for global, large and medium organisations in the public and private sectors.

    The product offers end-to-end telecom and connectivity solutions to companies under one roof, thereby eliminating the challenge of dealing with multiple vendors and integration issues associated with same.

    The  solution is aimed at considerably improving the ease of setting up a business in Nigeria, given the critical role telecom and connectivity solutions play in today’s environment. Airtel’s global telecom network and integrated product portfolio is perfectly placed to offer a seamless one stop solution to companies and improve their go- to-market speeds.

    The solution offers a complete suite of ICT services Including mobile voice and data, Nnational and international network connectivity on leased line, MPLS and VSAT, IP Transit, IP Access, Data Centre, Cloud, Managed Services, M2M mobile advertising and extensive suite of Value Added Services.

    Airtel will offer global companies, particularly those in the digital space, extensive market reach through joint go-to-market programs.

    Airtel Director Enterprise Business, Tawa Bolarin said: “Given the impetus from the government’s ‘Made in Nigeria’ initiative, Nigeria is fast becoming a definite strategic market for multinationals across the globe.

    “With Airtel’s integrated product portfolio, we believe that we are uniquely placed to seamlessly serve the connectivity needs of companies looking to set up businesses in Nigeria. Also, companies can leverage Airtel’s deep understanding of the Nigeria Enterprise market and our vast customer and distribution network.”

  • MTV Africa Music Award: Airtel congratulates Patoranking

    MTV Africa Music Award: Airtel congratulates Patoranking

    Airtel Smart Icon, Patoranking was amongst the big winners at the recently concluded MTV Africa Music Awards in South-Africa. He raked in the Song of the year award with his hit song ‘My Woman, My Everything’ which featured Wande Coal.

    patorThe Girlie O crooner, who has been receiving a lot of critical acclaim to his recently released debut Album ‘God over Everything’ (GOE) beat fellow Nigerians Harry song (Reggae Blues), Olamide (Shakiti bobo), Korede Bello (Godwin), Emtees ft. Wizkid (Roll Up), DJ Maphorisa ft. Wizkid (Soweto Baby) and Sauti Sol (Unconditionally bae) to clinch the Award.

    He also delivered a mouth-watering performance worthy of mention at the award ceremony which held at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, where he performed hits after hits including No kissing baby with Sarkodie.

    Patoranking came into the limelight in 2014 with his hit single Alubarika and has grown to become one of Nigeria’s biggest superstars in such a short time. He also coached alongside Music Veteran and legend Tuface Idibia, Timi Dakolo and Waje at the recently concluded The Voice Nigeria music competition. Indeed, nobody wey no fit to make am.