Economy
Growth Plans Must Have Futuristic Potential – Airtel CEO
Dr Segun Ogunsanya, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Airtel Africa Plc, says organisations must hinge their plans on the potential of the future and not on previous success.
Ogunsanya made the remark at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) ‘April 2023 Sharing Experience Series’, with the theme: “Leading to Impact”, on Friday in Lagos.
Ogunsanya said this was necessary to capture futuristic market opportunities for profitability.
According to the Airtel CEO, companies must compete for the future in capturing market opportunities and must always be prepared to take on new challenges and risks as the opportunity arises.
He noted that while future trends for telecommunications was in artificial intelligence, automation, education and healthcare services without borders, companies must continue to evolve with the power of telecommunications.
Ogunsanya added that Airtel would continue to partner with government, regulatory agencies and civil societies to spread network coverage to rural areas to further drive connectivity.
“We will continue to deepen penetration in countries of operations and support lives in the country where we operate.
“In Mozambique, Airtel has about six women out of 12 in its leadership and has just launched a women in tech programme to encourage women take active part in technology.
“Beyond that, it is the right thing to have vast opinion from different gender and races for better quality and perspective. So, companies must encourage diversity for the value and good outcomes it adds to a company,” he said.
Ogunsanya advised businesses to align their values and purposes to gender, environmental and other sustainability practices beyond making profits to make impacts and transform lives.
According to him, Airtel has committed itself to transforming lives in Africa by connecting people via its services and is bound by this greater purpose which is immensely gratifying beyond making money.
He said that the company would continue to foster digital financial inclusion across Africa and further its mission to encourage female participation in the technology space.
He also stressed the need to maintain a healthy balanced work-life by consciously creating time for what was truly important and delegating others where necessary.
The Airtel CEO emphasised the need for brands to be able to effectively market themselves by providing incentives (either emotional or functional) and do all they could to tie the passion of their customers to the brand.
“You must learn to tie the passion of your customers to what you are selling and at Airtel, we look at music and entertainment as the connection to our brand.
“Sometimes you give freebies to encourage adoption and you must renew the love customers have for your brand to remain fresh in their minds everytime,” he said.
Ms Bisi Adeyemi, President, NBCC, said the ‘Sharing Experiences Series’ was designed to provide a platform for accomplished leaders in the organised private sector to share their experiences.
“These leaders could share experiences in the areas of entrepreneurship and professional career fueled by passion, audacity, and innovation.
“We have had the honour of hosting Mr Atedo Peterside, Mr Jim Ovia, Mrs Adenike Ogunlesi, Mr Aig Imoukuede, Mr Karl Toriola, and Mrs Ireti Samuel-Ogbu and now Dr Segun Ogunsanya.
“His vision and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the telecommunications sector in Nigeria, and we are honored to have him here today to share his valuable insights with us,” the NBCC president said. (NAN)
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion.
Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N59.715 trillion.
The All-Share Index also added 0.31 per cent or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.
68, against 98,206. 97 recorded on Tuesday.Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.
74 per cent.Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank For Africa(UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries among other advanced equities drove the market performance up.
Market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers and 17 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Africa Prudential, Conoil and RT Briscoe led by 10 per cent each to close at N14.30, N352 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
Golden Guinea Breweries followed by 9.95 per cent to close at N7.18, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70 per share.
On the other hand, Julius Berger led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N155.25, Secure Electronic Technology Plc trailed by 9.52 per cent to close at 57k per share.
Multiverse lost 7.63 per cent to close at N5.45, Haldane McCall dropped 6.07 per cent to close at N4.95 and Honeywell Flour shed 5.62 per cent to close at N4.70 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 49.44 per cent.
A total of 320.10 million shares valued at N6.48 billion were exchanged in 7,943 deals, compared with 939.41 million shares valued at N12.81billion traded in 9,098 deals posted in the previous session.
Meanwhile, ETranzact led the activity chart in volume with 70.27 million shares, while Aradel led in value of deals worth N1.22 billion.(NAN)
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, weakened 22 pips to 7.1870 against the dollar on Monday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)
Arewa Youths Initiative for Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has urged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to do everything possible to bring Kaduna Refinery back into operation.
National Coordinator of the group, Mr Bashir Al’Amin, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Al’Amin specifically called on the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to rejuvenate the refinery and bring it up to global standard.
He said that having delivered the Port Harcourt refinery, coupled with the establishment of Dangote Refinery in Lagos, attention should be shifted to Kaduna refinery for easy spread of petroleum products.
“We are calling on Malam Mele Kyari to expedite action on Kaduna refinery so we can be at par with other regions in the country.
“We equally beg the NNPCL to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not a blending plant.
“Kyari should resist any temptation that could make him do something that can jeopardise his good image,” he said.
Al’Amin said that since the extinction of groundnut pyramid and textiles in Kano State as well as PAN in Kaduna State and with the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of youths had lost their jobs.
According to him, all their hopes in the north are tied to the legacy refinery, expressing the hope that God would use Kyari to deliver it well and on time.
He said that the group was solidly behind NNPCL in prayer and would be ready to celebrate the company if its expectations were met. (NAN)
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