Airtel Nigeria has once again been recognized for its commitment to sustainable development, carting away the Partnership of the Year award at the 18th edition of the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS) held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, 14th December, 2024.

The award celebrates Airtel’s continued success with its Re-imagine Education Initiative, a ground-breaking collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) aimed at transforming education in Nigeria through technology.

Airtel’s consistent focus on creating social value through strategic partnerships reflects its position as a key enabler of progress in the Nigerian education sector.

Commenting on the award, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, highlighted the significance of the winning the Partnership of the Year award for the second time with the Airtel collaboration with UNICEF to provide digital access to quality educational resources for more than 1,200 schools in Nigeria.

“Winning this award for the second consecutive year is a reflection of our enduring belief in the transformative power of technology in education. We are deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of Nigerians, and this recognition fuels our resolve to do even more,” he said.

The SERAS Awards, widely regarded as Africa’s most prestigious platform for celebrating sustainability and corporate social responsibility, brought together leaders from various industries to honour organizations driving impactful change.

Airtel Nigeria remains steadfast in its mission to foster inclusive growth, empower communities, and champion a sustainable future for its stakeholders and the environment.

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee (PFPTRC) has disclosed that MTN Nigeria contributes over N200 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) monthly, making it the largest contributor to the nation’s VAT pool.

Oyedele made the disclosure recently while speaking as a panellist during Channels Television’s Town Hall on Tax Reforms.

He used the platform to highlight disparities in the current VAT distribution system and explained the reforms aimed at addressing them.

According to the tax expert, the current system allocates all VAT paid by the country’s biggest telco to Lagos State, where the company’s headquarters is located, even though the services that generate this revenue are consumed nationwide.

“MTN is the largest contributor to VAT in Nigeria. So they, in fact, pay VAT of over N200bn every month; the gap between them and number two is huge.”

He added, “Today, all the VAT paid by MTN is credited and attributed to Lagos State, even as calls are made in Kano, the FCT, Ekiti, Edo, or Kebbi.”

Part of the reform bill proposes adjustments to ensure a more equitable distribution of VAT revenues across states based on actual consumption rather than the location of corporate headquarters.

To demonstrate the implications of the proposed reforms, Oyedele provided a hypothetical redistribution model of MTN’s VAT contributions.

He illustrated how the reforms would allocate the VAT revenue based on consumption rather than the location of the company’s headquarters.

Under this new framework, Lagos State, which currently retains the full N200bn, would see its share reduced to approximately 20 per cent, while other states across the federation would benefit from a fairer distribution.

“This adjustment ensures that states where the VAT is generated get their fair share,” Oyedele said.

“When you analyse the data, you see Lagos State’s share reduces slightly, but every other state gains.”

The tax reform bill, which aims to address longstanding issues in Nigeria’s fiscal policies, includes provisions for revenue redistribution, addressing inefficiencies, and promoting fairness in the tax system.

The reform proposal has sparked debates recently, with some critics accusing the committee of pushing policies that could adversely affect some parties.

Oyedele dismissed these claims, emphasising that the current system is flawed and unfair. “If you’re doing the wrong thing, how can Lagos State disagree with us when we propose to fix it?” he argued.

Airtel Nigeria has commenced its annual 5 Days of Love campaign, a philanthropic initiative designed to spread the joy and warmth of the festive season by feeding thousands of underprivileged Nigerians and supporting communities across the country.

Marking its 10th edition, this year’s campaign themed ‘5 Days; 6 Cities; 6,000 Meals’ successfully kicked off in Lagos on Monday, 16th December 2024, at Holy Cross Cathedral School, Onikan, Lagos, with 1,000 individuals, including children, youth, and the elderly, receiving packed meals. The event created a festive atmosphere filled with joy, celebration, laughter and entertainment.

Speaking on this year’s edition of the project, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, represented by Lagos Regional Operations Director, Airtel Nigeria, Peter Francis, emphasized that the broader significance of the 5 Days of Love festive period program was beyond meal distribution.

“At Airtel, we pride ourselves in being a people-centred organization. This event is not only about providing meals; it is a meaningful way to connect with communities, share moments of warmth, joy, and togetherness, and create a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and love.

“Today reminds us of the core values of joy, love, kindness, and shared humanity that define this initiative and Airtel’s mission. Together, we can continue to make a lasting positive impact.”

Following the successful completion of Lagos event, the 5 Days of Love train moves to Borno on Tuesday, 17th December; Abuja on Wednesday, 18th December; and Enugu and Rivers States on Thursday, 19th December; before concluding in Osun State on Friday, 20th December 2024.

Also speaking during the event, Executive Chairman, Lagos Island East Local Government Development Area, Honourable Muibi Alade Folawiyo, lauded Airtel Nigeria for a thoughtful initiative of sharing love with individuals and communities, encouraging the telco to keep the program alive.

“This is a remarkable act of kindness, and I appreciate Airtel for its dedication to uplifting lives and spreading love to individuals. I am grateful to Airtel Nigeria for spreading joy to us in this part of Lagos,” he said.

The 5 Days of Love campaign reflects Airtel Nigeria’s commitment to enriching the lives of Nigerians through meaningful community engagement and support. By fostering a sense of togetherness and goodwill, Airtel continues to exemplify its role as a socially responsible organization, creating lasting positive impact during the festive season and year round.