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Transcorp Spots Leakages in Nitel, Plans Transformation

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Transnational Corporation has moved to end the monthly leakage of about N1.7bn from the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited where it has 51 per cent equity stake.

Mr. Tom Iseghohi, group managing director, Transcorp, made this disclosure in Abuja at an interactive session with top management of the company who pledge their loyalty to transformation of Nitel.

Sources of the leakages identified by the GMD and Nitel staff included uncollected bills and credit control. Iseghohi said Nitel even in its present state is capable of making N1bn a month.

Mr. Abdulkarim Momoh, general manager in charge of audit at Nitel, said there was the need to probe the company’s investment in continental submarine cable popularly known as SAT-3.

Momoh pointed out that even though SAT-3 has the capacity to generate funds to run Nitel, only a paltry part of the capacity was being utilized thereby leaving a lot that could have been tapped from the facility.

All participants from Transcorp and the top management of Nitel, who participated at the interactive session, agreed that there were huge potentials in the First National Operator that needed to be tapped to reposition the company in the Nigerian telecom industry.

Speaking on the interim transformation of the company before the sale of some equity to a new core investor, Iseghohi said the company has received commitments for the $100m required for the project.

According to him, the interim plan would not see the company completely out of the woods but is meant to reposition it to be able to attract the right kind of core investor envisaged by both Transcorp and the Federal Government.

One of the key areas that need a quick fix he identified is the backbone and transmission infrastructure. Iseghohi said the plan is expected to begin to yield result within a period of three to four months.

He also said the first priority in the plan is to boost staff morale, an area which most workers of Nitel at the meeting pleaded with him to take urgent steps to address.

"Transcorp has exercised its right to restructure the company. This move will return Nitel to rightly place in the Nigerian telecom industry," he said.

On why Transcorp had not fully moved into the company earlier and implement the transformation plan, the GMD said the company needed to move in gradually and carry every stakeholder along since it was not the only shareholder.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Gbenga Olaleye, general manager, Human Resources, Nitel, reassured the GMD and his team that Nitel has a crop of dedicated and skillful staff that are committed to transformation that Transcorp had chosen to steer Nitel in the next four months.

More so, Mr. Kevin Uche, head of Finance and Admin at the company, said Nitel remained a goldmine that must be tapped by Transcorp and the workers.

"I appreciate the coming of Transcorp to take hold of Nitel at this point in time. Many have been asking why this action had not been taken since but I think it is better to plan before taking any action. This is a welcome development," he added.

 

Celtel Lands in Ghana, as Westel becomes Zain

Celtel Ghana holdings, part of the Zain Group, a leading telecommunications company in Africa and the Middle East, has marked its official entry into Ghana with announcement of its plan to roll out commercial services before the end of the year.

The company has also announced that the company will henceforth be called and addressed as Zain Communications Ghana, in line with the global strategy of the Zain Group, a hugely successful mobile company in Africa through the Celtel brand.

Philip Sowah has been appointed as the country manager of the Ghana operation, the new owners of cellco Western Telesystems Ghana (Westel), said last week in Ghana.

The company expressed its determination to make a significant contribution to the growth of the telecommunications sector in Ghana.

According to the company, Zain Group is considering plans to roll out EDGE and/or 3G services in the country

On 14 December 2007 the government of Ghana finally completed the agreement to allow Celtel International take control of Westel, which had received a licence to operate GSM-based mobile services in November 2006. The acquisition of Westel is very important to Celtel as it gave the mobile operator a "gateway to West Africa".

Westel is the second national operator in Ghana and is licensed to provide fixed and mobile (GSM) telecommunications services.

The acquisition of Westel cements Zain’s leading position in Africa mobile market through the Celtel brand, which currently has its footprint in 14 countries. With the addition of Ghana, Celtel is now present in 15 African countries, bringing the Zain Group’s total operations to 22 networks (countries).

Celtel now has a footprint in neighbouring Ecowas or West African countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, Africa’s largest telecom market.

Westel is expected to benefit from both Group and Celtel synergies in branding, human resources, and best practices, and from the innovative Celtel’s "One Network".

Speaking about the award of the licence then, Dr. Saad Al Barrak, chief executive officer, Zain expressed happiness on their entry to Ghana, one of the most important markets in Africa. "We look forward to offering Ghanaians the quality telecommunications services which we provide in all the countries in which we operate. Based on our pan-African experience we are confident that the increased competition in telecommunications will benefit the people of Ghana and support the already robust national economy of the country," he said.

Dr Al-Barrak said Celtel will be investing millions of dollars in a state-of-the art telecommunications network and associated services to offer its unparalleled experience as a pan-African operator, bringing telecoms services to over 24 million customers in 14 countries across the continent (15 with the addition of Ghana).

According to him Celtel prides itself on offering attractive career opportunities in its countries of operation, not only with the company directly, but also via its network of distributors, suppliers and advisors. Westel’s current management and staff, who have worked under challenging circumstances to date, will play an important role in taking the company forward.

The company also looks forward to promoting Ghana as a gateway to West Africa through its One Network, the world’s first borderless network. This offers Celtel’s customers the opportunity to move freely across geographical borders using the same services they would access in their home country, and to make calls without roaming surcharges and without having to pay to receive incoming calls and messages.

 


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Treepz Doubles Down on Corporate Mobility in Africa with Launch of a New Website

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Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has expanded its corporate mobility and employee transportation services across the continent with a fresh new look for its website.

 

The company’s new website boasts a sleek, user-friendly interface with added features to better showcase Treepz’s range of services for companies looking to efficiently and sustainably move employees and clients in major African cities. From on-demand employee shuttles, and school bus solutions to intra-city group trips for events and conferences, Treepz is positioning itself as an all-in-one corporate transportation provider.

Managing transportation logistics across multiple sites has always been an operational nightmare for companies,” said Onyeka Akumah, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Treepz. “Our goal is to streamline that experience through Treepz’s powerful technology platform.”

With nearly 6,000 employees of companies daily relying on Treepz’s innovative tech and reliable fleet for employee transportation or staff bus commutes, we understand the complexities of managing corporate transportation firsthand. “Our revamped website simplifies the process, offering businesses a seamless solution to optimize their transportation needs and empower their workforce in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana,” Onyeka added

Key Features of the New Treepz Website

  • Trackable Dashboard for a bird’s eye view of all guests’ trips in real-time when using Treepz.
  • 24/7 customer support to assist with all mobility inquiries.
  • Wide selection of vehicle options, each with professional drivers tailored to specific needs.
  • Friendly interface for easy navigation and booking.
  • Client testimonials and case studies showcasing Treepz’s success stories.

Treepz’s mission extends beyond just transportation – they aim to revolutionize how over 1 million daily commuters experience mobility across Africa. Since its launch in 2019, the company has provided employee transit for top firms like Tekexperts, Wakanow, Somasource, and Brighter Monday across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. This has resulted in the transportation of about 5 million passengers since then.

With this digital reinvention, Treepz doubles down on transforming corporate mobility through tech-driven solutions. The company welcomes businesses seeking smarter ways to move their people to explore the new website www.treepz.com.


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Nigerian Business Leaders Partner Google for Strategic Advantage, Seeks Competitive Edge in Privacy-First Era

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Leading companies from Nigeria joined Google West Africa at a roundtable to discuss the shift towards privacy-first marketing as third-party cookies are phased out. The forum brought together leaders from FairMoney, Konga, Mondelez, Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Bank, highlighting a collective commitment to redefining consumer engagement in the digital age.

Businesses recognize that building consumer trust is essential in a world that increasingly values privacy. In this new era, adapting marketing strategies to be more privacy-focused is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards building sustainable customer relations. This transition challenges businesses to innovate while maintaining transparency and respect for consumer data privacy, turning potential constraints into avenues for deeper consumer engagement.

“Customer trust is the new currency,” noted Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google. “Consumers are demanding more control over their data, and the savviest businesses are seeing this shift as an opportunity. This is about reimagining how we engage with technology and data, ensuring that innovation and privacy go hand-in-hand.”

The discussions emphasised this point, highlighting the competitive advantage of adopting privacy-first strategies. Google showcased innovative solutions like Google Tag and Enhanced Conversions. These tools demonstrate a commitment to both high performance and privacy standards. Success stories illustrated how other businesses have successfully navigated this shift, offering valuable insights.

“We stand at a crucial juncture,” remarked Oluwadamilare Akinwunmi, Chief Data & AI Officer at Interswitch. “The winners of tomorrow will be those enterprises that strike a balance between innovative, data-driven marketing and a profound commitment to data protection and privacy-first practices. The essential dialogues we engage in, and the subsequent actions we take, set us on the path to achieve precisely this”

The roundtable underscores a pivotal shift towards privacy-first strategies in Nigeria’s digital marketing sphere, emphasising the critical role of collaboration and innovation in this transition. It marks a collective stride towards a future where consumer trust and data privacy form the cornerstone of business growth and competitive advantage.

“We are committed to empowering Nigerian brands in building a privacy-forward future. By harnessing AI and privacy-centric technologies, we aim to empower our partners to thrive amidst these changes,” stated Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google.


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MTN Nigeria, PAU Open Applications for 3rd Edition of MTN Media Innovation Programme

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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the School of Media & Communications, Pan-Atlantic University have announced call for applications from qualified media practitioners to participate in the 3rd edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP-3), which will commence on May 20, 2024, at the Main Campus of the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. 

MTN Nigeria in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, launched the Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP) in 2022 to enable media practitioners gain deeper insight into the ever-evolving media landscape.

The six-month, fully-funded certificate fellowship, which includes a study visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and an innovation hub to incubate ideas, is open to media practitioners across all strata of the media industry including the print, electronic and online platforms. The programme is also open to social media content creators.

Speaking on the impact of the programme, Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria said: “The media play a crucial role in shaping the society. It is important that they are enabled with tools and opportunities to do their jobs better as this ultimately benefits the society.

“Our commitment is to continue to empower media practitioners, regardless of platforms, to be able to innovate and create technological-driven solutions to our world. This is what the MTN Media Innovation Programme seeks to accomplish.”

On his part, the Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, stated that the programme brings into play the wide experience that the School has in the training of media practitioners.

In our various programmes targeted at journalists, we at the School of Media and Communication have always laid a lot of emphasis on the importance of creativity, ethics and professionalism.

“The Media Innovation Programme is one more opportunity to drive home these values but with a new emphasis on innovation.

“Journalism remains as important as ever to the society, and it is driven by the same values, but journalists require a retooling to meet the technological changes and challenges of today.

“This is the role that the Media Innovation Programme aims to play, and we are quite happy to be able to partner with MTN to achieve this goal.”

At the end of the training, the 20 successful applicants will qualify as Fellows for the 2024 cohort. The Fellows would be coached on Nigeria’s technology sector, the relationship between media and technology, and equipped with the skills to adapt to the changing realities that guarantee career and financial success in their professional practice.

Fellows will also have access to professional resources and mentorship from PAU’s erudite faculty.

Interested journalists, bloggers and content creators can apply for the Fellowship at https://smc.edu.ng/mtnmip

Applications open on Friday March 23 and close Wednesday April 10, 2024.


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