Connect with us

Telecom

Ogunsanya, Airtel’s Boss is CEO’s Brand Personality of the Year

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Segun Ogunsanya, managing director and chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, has been named the CEO’s Brand Personality of the Year by leading marketing communications magazine, Marketing Edge.

According to the foremost brand and marketing publication, Ogunsanya’s enviable track record as CEO of Airtel Nigeria, marketing-facing accomplishments and immense contributions to the development of the Nigerian marketing communications industry, set him apart as the CEO’s Brand Personality of the Year (2014).

Receiving the award on his behalf at a colourful ceremony held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently Maurice Newa, chief commercial officer, Airtel Nigeria, dedicated the award to the company’s stakeholders, thanking telecoms consumers for voting for the Airtel brand with their SIM cards.

According to him, Airtel appreciates the belief, trust and confidence its customers repose on the brand, noting that the telco will continue to go the extra mile to delight telecoms consumers with innovative mobile Internet and voice solutions as well as first-rate customer experience.

He also commended the organizers of the award and publisher of the Marketing Edge publication for playing a flagship role in the development of the marketing communications industry in Nigeria.

He encouraged the publisher to continue to blaze the trail in the marketing communications terrain just as he urged him to position the platform as a global brand.

The event attracted icons from the brand, advertising and marketing domain including Chairman of the Troyka Group, Biodun Shobanjo; Chairman of STBMcCann Group, Sir Steve Omojafor and Chairman, Reckitt Benckiser, Chief Olu Falomo, among other notable dignitaries.

Within his first 12 months as CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ogunsanya led the telco to reclaim market leadership in customer market share, also consolidating the company’s position in revenue market share with eyes firmly fixed on the number one position.

Under his watch, Airtel became famous for its efforts at transforming the mobile Internet landscape and democratization of telecoms and ICT, fully establishing the telco as Nigeria’s fastest growing data operator, according to data from industry regulator, Nigeria’s Communications Commission.

Aside the several accolades that Airtel has won under Ogunsanya’s leadership, his transformational leadership style has also rubbed off positively on the organization.

His penchant for building and empowering the leadership pipeline as well as creating a truly Nigerian organization with world class spirit has resulted in the appointment and promotion of several Nigerian talents into top management positions at Airtel.

Under his watch, many exceptionally talented Nigerians have been appointed as members of management team in other Airtel operations scattered in 16 different countries across Africa.

Passionate about developing people and impacting positively on the Nigerian society,  Ogunsanya personally drives the Airtel’s Corporate Social Responsibility agenda with an overriding objective of earning a social license for the Airtel brand.

Under his watch also, Airtel has catered for thousands of Nigerian children, providing them quality primary education and top-notch health-care services.

Ogunsanya is arguably the voice of reason in matters relating to the Nigeria’s telecoms industry. An interviewer’s delight, he is known for his brilliant perspectives on issues, authoritative insights, sheer candour and passion for matters affecting technology and ICT.

 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Telecom

TD Africa Empowers Nigerians with Sustainable Energy Solutions

Published

on

Kindly share this post

TD Africa, a leading technology distribution company in Africa, has unveiled its Green Hero Initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to tackle Nigeria’s persistent energy challenges and promote the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.

This initiative underscores TD Africa’s commitment to advancing cleaner, more affordable energy alternatives for Nigerian households and businesses.

As the cost of fossil fuels continues to rise, the urgency for a shift to renewable energy has never been more apparent. Recognizing this need, TD Africa has partnered with global industry leaders Huawei and EcoFlow to introduce innovative renewable energy solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of Nigerian consumers.

“The Green Hero Initiative is more than just a product launch; it’s a commitment to a sustainable future,” said Chidiebere Nwabuko, Business Manager, Renewable Energy Solutions at TD Africa. “We’re empowering Nigerians to take control of their energy needs, reduce their carbon footprint, and enjoy the benefits of reliable, clean power.

“By partnering with global leaders like Huawei and EcoFlow, we’re bringing cutting-edge technology to the market that is not only affordable but also tailored to the specific needs of our customers and Nigerians across the country.”

Through the Green Hero Initiative, TD Africa is offering a variety of renewable energy solutions that cater to diverse energy needs. These solutions include the powerful Huawei ISite Power M, ideal for powering homes and small businesses, and Huawei ISite Power S, designed for commercial and industrial applications.

Additionally, EcoFlow’s portable power stations are made up of the River series and Delta series that attend to the needs of low and mid-range Nigerians and provide a convenient and clean energy source for residential homes, small and medium businesses and outdoor activities or backup power.

By promoting the adoption of renewable energy, TD Africa is committed to significantly reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for Nigeria. The company’s Green Hero Initiative is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

To ensure accessibility, TD Africa has made these solutions available through various online platforms. Consumers can conveniently shop for these products at justownitapp.com or KongaPlus via konga.com. Authorized partners of TD Africa can also access the range of offerings through the TD SuperApp at superapp.tdafrica.com.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Call, Data Tariffs Will Increase – Nigerian Minister, Tijani Declares

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has announced that telecom tariffs in Nigeria will soon increase, but not by the 100 percent proposed by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

Following a stakeholders’ meeting with the MNOs in Abuja on Wednesday, Tijani confirmed that consultations and engagements are ongoing, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will soon approve and announce the new tariffs to the public.

“You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs. They are requesting for 100 percent tariff increase. But it will not be by 100 percent; the NCC will soon come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it. We want to strike the balance as a government, to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly,” Tijani said.

He emphasized the importance of regulating the telecommunications sector to ensure its growth and sustainability. Tijani also stated that the Federal Government would no longer leave infrastructure investments solely to private companies, as they tend to invest only where they can see short- to medium-term returns.

“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. What the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity, people want to have access to quality service. A part of it that the consumers may not be aware of is the investment that needs to go into the infrastructure that is used to deliver these services,” he added.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, explained that the stakeholder meeting was focused on ensuring the sustainability of the industry. He confirmed that a 100 percent tariff increase was unlikely and that ongoing discussions would determine the final percentage, with an official announcement expected within a week or two.

“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There is still some stakeholder engagements that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two,” Maida said.

He also mentioned that the NCC had implemented several tools and instruments to ensure compliance with service quality standards and urged MNOs to adopt simpler pricing models to help consumers better understand charges.

“We are moving away from the regime where you will have a main rate, then you will now have a bonus which is at a different rate. It makes it often complicated and difficult for Nigerians to actually understand what they are being charged for. There is this agitation that the MNOs are stealing our data,” he added.

The CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, represented by Airtel’s media spokesperson Femi Adeniran, defended the proposed tariff adjustments, citing rising operational and capital costs.

“The economic realities of rising operational and capital costs necessitated the proposed tariff adjustments. This is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector while unlocking significant benefits for Nigerian consumers,” Balsingh stated.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Banigbe, 9Mobile CEO Emphasizes the Need for Significant Investment in Infrastructure to Ensure Quality of Service

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Obafemi Banigbe, 9mobile CEO, has added his voice to the ongoing discussion on the proposed tariff hike, highlighting the telecom industry’s critical role in Nigeria’s economic growth.

He said “The telecom industry is a critical enabler of economic growth, but we are facing unprecedented challenges. We must find a balance between affordability and sustainability to ensure the industry remains viable and continues to provide quality services to Nigerians. The current situation has not achieved that balance, which is why we are having this conversation about sustainability,”

According to him, the industry is facing significant challenges, including macroeconomic headwinds, rising operational costs, and declining profitability. He emphasized that these challenges threaten the industry’s sustainability and ability to invest in infrastructure and quality of service.

“As you can imagine, both our capital and operational costs have risen dramatically, mainly because many of these costs are denominated in foreign currency or indexed to it, while our revenues are in local currency.

For instance, the Naira, which was previously around 400 to 450, has now officially surpassed 1,500—representing a nearly 350% increase in just the past two years.

This foreign exchange devaluation has caused our costs to surge. Even though the industry is seeing growth in top-line revenue, the increase in local currency revenue has not kept pace with the rising cost base,” he explained.

Banigbe’s comments come as the telecom industry continues to navigate the complexities of the proposed tariff hike. While some stakeholders have expressed concerns about the potential impact on consumers, others have argued that the hike is necessary to ensure the industry’s long-term sustainability. The telco chief said that if the sector does not remain viable, customers will not receive the services they expect.

Drawing from 9mobile’s experience, he pointed out that a lack of investment in recent years has led to a decline in service quality, causing customers to switch to competitors that offer better quality.

He stressed that this situation poses a significant threat to the industry’s sustainability.

“What we are saying is that every business must generate enough revenue to cover its costs and allow for reinvestment into the business. If we fail to generate sufficient revenue, we will have no choice but to borrow, either from shareholders or the capital market.

“Over the past two years, this is what many of us have been forced to do. However, this is not sustainable in the long term, as it will eventually become impossible to continue borrowing without a clear plan for repayment.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending