The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Etisalat

  • Etisalat names finalists in Geek Force contest

    Etisalat Nigeria has unveiled the Top 10 Finalists of its Geek Force Internship contest in what the telco said is an opportunity for innovative citizens of the country to join its workforce.

    Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Steven Evans, who spoke at the event in Lagos, explained that the contest which focuses on two core areas of innovation and customer satisfaction is another idea from the telecoms company, adding that it came about as a result of its commitment to provide a platform to help in the development of career opportunities in a creative and exciting way.

    He said the five winners of the contest, which started as an online competition designed to recruit innovative and technologically savvy individuals, will have the opportunity of one year paid internship with Etisalat Nigeria.

    The 10 competitors include Peter Ndirpaya, Habib Lawal, David Alozie, Victor Alayande, Muyiwa Iyowu, Onyemaechi Okafor, Okon Etim, Tajinere Sagay, Gbenga Olaoye and Valentine Ubalua.

  • Etisalat boosts African literature with new fiction prize

    Nigeria’s telecom giant Etisalat has launched an ambitious and value driven writing prize christened “The Etisalat Prize for Literature” which was launched recently at The Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, Lagos.
    According to Ebi Atawodi, Etisalat’s Head of High Value Events & Sponsorships, the prize is being set up because “African writing is going through an era of great impetus, with new writers emerging each year and the popularity of African literature clearly on display at international awards such as the Caine Prize, the Man Booker Prize and the Women’s Prize for Fiction. The best in African fiction may yet be ahead. It is now time to create a pan-African homegrown platform that promotes and celebrates emerging talent, especially in fiction.”
    Conceived as a pan-African prize, the prize will be awarded to the first published novel by an author of African descent.
    The prize winner will get a £15,000 cash prize, an Etisalat sponsored fellowship at the University of East Anglia, a four nation book tour and Etisalat will purchase and distribute 1,000 copies of the authors book to select schools.
    Speaking at an exclusive dinner party for patrons, judges and a select group of writers at the Lagos Yacht Club on Tuesday, Ebi said: “we are de-emphasising the money and focusing more on value for the writer and his craft.”
    She also added that the winner will be mentored by the award-winning author of The Last King of Scotland, Giles Foden, whom Ebi said is “very excited about the prize”.
    Steven Evans, MD/CEO of Etisalat in his short comment at the dinner party, said Etisalat is committed to the prize “which he believes that people in Nigeria will be proud of” while hailing the amazing literary talent coming out of Africa.
    The launch and press conference played host to a number of internationally known personalities and intellectuals including the Patrons and Judges Billy Kahora, Dele Olojede, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey (OBE), Kole Omotoso, Margaret Busby (OBE) and Pumla Gqola.

  • Etisalat introduces Easyflex

    Etisalat Nigeria has introduced a new Easyflex television commercial that features Nigerian-born Hollywood actor, Hakeem Kae-Kazim.
    The one-minute commercial opens up with the actor, who has starred in various Hollywood blockbuster movies including ‘Pirates of the Caribbean III’, ‘X-men Origins: Wolverine’ and the Oscar nominated film ‘Hotel Rwanda’, describing the all new Etisalat Easyflex bundle in an engaging monologue complete with special sound effects and high quality imagery.
    Easyflex is one bundle plan that allows customers to call more, browse more and text more to any network without restrictions. The plan comes in four variants: Flex N1000, Flex N700, Flex N500 and Flex N300.
    Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Enitan Denloye, said this was informed by the firm’s drive to be ‘uniquely different’ in all ramifications whether in the products and services it offers or the way it communicates.
    “We consider ourselves as innovators in the telecommunications industry, a description that has reflected in many of our value-added propositions and world class communication materials since inception in 2008,” he said.

  • We have 50% of ported numbers, says Etisalat

    We have 50% of ported numbers, says Etisalat

    •NCC: No data released yet

    Fifty per cent of the total number of subscribers that have ported in the ongoing Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme has ported unto Etisalat Nigeria, the telco company said yesterday.

    But in a swift reaction, both the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Interconnect Clearing House Nigeria Limited, said they have not made any data available to the public in this regard.

    A statement issued by the telco stated that seven weeks into mobile MNP scheme in the country, “Etisalat (is) already taking a huge lead with almost 50 per cent of ported numbers coming its way. This revelation was made after collating the successfully ported numbers at the end of the sixth week of the launch of the scheme and shows that Etisalat had almost 50 per cent of ported numbers so far.”

    Chief Commercial Officer at Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar, disclosed this without giving details of the actual figures of ported numbers. He said: “I can tell you that Etisalat Nigeria has gained almost 50 per cent of the total figure of ported numbers so far. This is a clear indication that the Nigerian consumers have made their choice based on current realities on ground.

    We set out early in our business to ensure that we developed products and services that suit the lifestyle of all our target customers. We have also ensured that we have a reliable network to accommodate existing and new customers and these efforts have been recognised by the NCC and other stakeholders in the telecoms industry”.

    Ammar cited the last quality of service indicators for mobile operators released by the NCC shortly before the launch of MNP as a clear indication that Etisalat was ready for business. The report shows that Etisalat met all the KPI targets as signed in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Traffic Channel Congestion (TCHcong) and Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCHcong). This he said, has even been acknowledged by the regulator, which has given it different awards.

    However, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Tony Ojobo, said the agency has not released any figure because of ongoing subscriber identification module (SIM) cards. He said any operator that is making any claim was free to do so, adding that it was all in the spirit of competition.

  • 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.

  • Etisalat supports entrepreneurs

    Etisalat supports entrepreneurs

    As part of efforts to contribe to the growth of young entrepreneurs in the country, telecommunications firm, Etisalat has lent its support to the Rise, Raise and Give (RRG) initiative, which is the maiden edition of the programme.

    The networking and shopping event, held in Lagos, according to a statement, is a platform to encourage young entrepreneurs with already established businesses to showcase their products and services in a highly interactive and relaxing environment. In addition, the event according to a statement, was organized in support of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria, a non-governmental organization that is committed to bridging the gap between Down syndrome patients with the rest of the society through various support systems.

    Head, Events and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani, said the company’s decision to come on-board the project was borne out of the need to encourage young men and women who dared to follow their dreams by converting their passions into profitable business ventures.

    “At Etisalat we are committed to spurring young entrepreneurs to maximizing their full potentials. We believe that the future of Nigeria’s economy lies with budding entrepreneurs, as such we consider them an important part of our target audience, designing products and services that speak directly to their needs,” she said.

  • Etisalat introduces 10k/sec community tariff

    Etisalat Nigeria has unveiled the revamped Easy Cliq for more value.

    Customers on the Easy Cliq platform will now enjoy 10k/sec tariffs in the biggest and coolest community of Easy Cliq subscribers, bonus on incoming calls, free 90MB data monthly, in addition to free midnight intra network calls from 12:30am to 4:30am.

    Speaking on the revamped package, the Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, said the new offering is to enable customers enjoy more value from the network.

    He said: “The revamped Easy Cliq gives customers access to lower tariffs based on their daily spends. This unique tariff plan is such that when a customer has used N25 in a day, his/her tariff to all networks drops instantly.”

    Mr. Ammar said the lowered tariff is in addition to the benefits EasyCliq customers are used to.

    “The threshold daily spend is N25, which calls would be at 40k per second to all networks. Upon attaining the N25 threshold, tariffs drop automatically to 10k per second for EasyCliq to EasyCliq calls, 20k per second for intra network calls and 30k to other networks. All these in addition to bonus free minutes on incoming calls, 90MB of free data monthly, unlimited free SMS intra network and N4 SMS to other networks,” he added.

    The EasyCliq package is tailored to support the communication needs of Etisalat’s youth customers.

  • Etisalat launches Telecoms Masters course in ABU

    Etisalat launches Telecoms Masters course in ABU

    Telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria, has launched a Masters programme in Telecommunications Engineering at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

    The firm will also be sponsoring lecturers of the department of Computer and Electrical Engineering for their PhDs abroad to boost their skills and knowledge to deliver the Masters programme.

    The programme, known as the Etisalat TelecommunicationAs Engineering Programme (ETEP), the first of its kind in West Africa, would be run in partnership with the ABU, Etisalat Academy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Plymouth University in the UK and Huawei.

    The programme is established at the Electrical and Computer Engineering department of ABU, one of five approved universities in Nigeria accredited to offer telecommunications engineering, but previously only at undergraduate level, with input from the National Office for Technology Acquisition & Promotion (NOTAP) as part of its oversight functions.

    Speaking at the event, Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie, said the MSc. course is aimed at contributing to local manpower with regards to telecommunications technology skills.

    “We are delighted to champion this first of its kind project in order to promote the telecommunications industry which has been dubbed as the backbone of the new economy and plays a central role in facilitating reliable and fast information exchange,” he said.

    Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Steven Evans disclosed that the pool of telecoms technology experts from the ETEP will serve as possible manpower for Etisalat, Huawei and other such companies.

    “The goal of this project is to produce Nigerian graduate-specialists in telecommunications engineering. Every year, about 15 to 20 students would be trained. Qualified university graduates of Electrical Electronics Engineering and related fields are eligible to apply. Etisalat will accept the enrolled students during their MSc. course for internships, to further broaden their practical understanding of telecommunications,” he said.

    “Over the next five-years, Etisalat will sponsor ABU lecturers to study for a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering at the Plymouth University, UK so that local expertise can be developed for the long term sustainability of the MSc programme. We want to ensure the smooth take-off of the programme. ABU and Plymouth University have agreed on the curriculum, with significant input from Etisalat Academy. Students, who are admitted for the MSc course, will enjoy the opportunity of learning from visiting lecturers that will include lecturers from Plymouth University and Etisalat Academy. We are set to make Nigerians technically equipped and proud,” Evans concluded.

  • Etisalat workers train Lagos pupils on counselling

    Etisalat workers train Lagos pupils on counselling

    Pupils from select public secondary schools in Lagos have benefited from a career counselling programme organised by Etisalat Nigeria.

    The event, the eighth to be organised by the company, was held in partnership with the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN).

    Over 500 pupils from Ogba Junior Grammar School, Oke-Ira Junior and Senior Grammar Schools, Ojodu Junior High School, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School, Omole Junior and Senior Grammar Schools and State High School, Ikeja learnt various career choices, creatively delivered by workers of Etisalat.

    A financial analyst Akinjide Obanewa, explained the rudiments of the accounting profession; Bankole Alao, Etisalat’s Manager, Data Marketing spoke on marketing technology while the sessions were rounded-off by a presentation on the attributes and duties of a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) professional.

    Representing the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans, Director of Legal Services, Adeolu Idowu, said the event enabled Etisalat employees to fulfil a desire to give back to society by volunteering time and their skills in providing career counselling and mentorship to the pupils.

    “Career counselling scheme brings a great feeling for us at Etisalat because it enables us to demonstrate our passion for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), through both internal and external platforms. We are aware that students need appropriate direction to make compatible and fulfilling career choices, because a wrong career move may have some serious negative long-term effects,” she said.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dolapo Biodun, praised Etisalat for its impact on the students’ knowledge bank, future contributions to society and self-development.

    Addressing the pupils, LEARN Executive Director, Mrs Bisi Awoyomi, encouraged the pupils to make career choices based on God-given talents, not because of family values or societal influence.

    There was excitement when Etisalat rewarded all winners of competitions with prizes, including laptops and HP printers.

    The competitions included mental exercises like spelling bee and inter-school debates. The students also watched a performance by Nigerian singer and producer, DJ Zeez and Sean Tizzle.

    The sponsors have lined up two more career counseling sessions for Lagos to hold in Surulere and Lagos Island later in the year.

     

  • Techno, Etisalat partner

    TECNO is partnering Qualcomm Incorporated and Etisalat Nigeria to launch the TECNO P3 in the country.

    Speaking at the launch, which held at the in Victoria Island, Lagos, Etisalat unveiled a 12-month special promotion for its subscribers, offering 100MB free data bundle on purchase of a TECNO P3 smartphone.

    The TECNO P3 is an entry-level smartphone that runs on Android 2.3Gingerbread operating system, and powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7225A processor to offer users the best 3G smartphone experience, good battery life, and easy access to the Internet and multiple social networks.

    TECNO Group Vice President, Mr Arif Chowdhury, said: “We realised that Internet savvy Nigerians are in dire need of a fast, innovative and seamless Internet experience. These experiences are what TECNO P3 smartphone brings, and that also informs we partnered with Etisalat.”

    Arif added that consumers can choose either the Etisalat customised version available at Etisalat Experience Centres and its partner retailers, or buy the un-customised version from TECNO’s partner retailers nationwide and it comes with the same data bundle offer as the customised version.

    Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, WaelAmmar, said: “The telecommunication industry has seen an increased demand for data and smartphones in recent times, and it is important for network providers and phone manufacturers to continue to collaborate and initiate products and services to satisfy this needs. Etisalat’s fast Easyblaze, 3.75G broadband service combined with these TECNO phones is yet another example of our continuous effort to bring our customers easy access to the internet.”