Airtel Supports SMEs in South-South, Trains 600 Entrepreneurs

Airtel Nigeria, leading telecommunications operator,  has pledged its commitment to the growth and development of the nation’s economy through a sustained empowerment of the Small and Medium Enterprise operators (SMEs).

Deepak Srivastava, chief operating officer and Executive Director, Airtel Nigeria, made the commitment in his welcome address at the Entrepreneurial Forum organized by the company for the people of Niger Delta region in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday.

According to Mr. Srivastava who was represented by Inusa Bello, chief sales officer, Airtel believes that scaling up capacity building for the sector would infuse confidence especially in the youth and motivate them to embrace entrepreneurship as one sure way of confronting the problem of unemployment in the country as well as eradicating poverty in the region.

Speaking further, Srivastava said, “It is interesting to note that efforts like this forum arose as a direct response to the yearnings of the youth who rather than wait for the so-called white collar jobs, are determined to take their destinies in their own hands by using their talents and skills to design a future of hope and fulfillment for themselves.”

He assured that Airtel would always welcome every opportunity to continue its role as a catalyst; nurturing the entrepreneurial dreams and aspirations of Nigerians and creating wealth across the country.

Said he; “I assure Nigerians that Airtel will always support initiatives that will unleash the talent and innate abilities of the Nigerian youths and open doors of economic abundance for all.

According to him, Airtel would continue to be innovative in its offerings and strategic in building capacities to ensure that both its existing and potential customers enjoy the best telecoms service experience that human ingenuity could offer.”

Speaking in the same vein, Fela Durotoye , chief executive officer of Visible Impact and Engr. Emeka Unachukwu, President, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, both speakers at the Entrepreneurial Forum, called on the Nigerian youths to take up the challenge of freeing themselves from the shackle of unemployment by taking bold steps towards creating jobs for themselves and others through entrepreneurship. 

The Entrepreneurial Forum which was attended by over 600 entrepreneurs from across the Niger Delta region was put together by Airtel in conjunction with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and VTB Consulting.

Amongst other objectives, the forum was intended to promote and enhance entrepreneurship in the Niger Delta Region, develop sustainable wealth creation capacity for budding businessmen and create platforms for networking, synergy and advocacy among emerging entrepreneurs in the region.