RAJAB 11 1430 A.H.
FRIDAY JULY, 3 2009.
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Etisalat chair unfolds $2bn investment in Nigeria
From: Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria Mr. Hakeem Belo Osagie has unfolded the company's planned investment figure of $2 billion in Nigeria even as the telecommunication service provider formally registered the presence of it quality and efficient GSM services in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Mr. Osagie said Etisalat’s target was to stimulate and enhance services without compromising quality, efficiency and results with technical operational input that would satisfy the need of existing and potential customers in the telecoms market.
“ Our global mission is based on the vision to be one of the top ten telecommunication enterprises in the world by 2010 is fast becoming a present day reality”, the chairman disclosed.
The telecommunication outfit which flagged off the launch of it services in Sokoto centre, has a broad base operational heritage spread across 18 countries of the world with over100,000 workforce in addition to no fewer than 80 million subscribers.
Represented by a member of Board of Directors of Etisalat, Nigeria, Alhaji Bello Garba, the Chairman said Etisalat, as a fourth entrant into the telecoms business in Nigeria was poised to bringing rich pedigree acclaimed in the Middle East, Asia and the rest of Africa” same wealth of experience has seen us stamping our footprints in over five continents of the world with unprecedented 80 million customers through our innovative and creative strategies”, he pointed out.
According to him, Etisalat market strength in the telecoms industry was innovative base aimed at galvanizing communications services that would compete favourably with other service providers.
He acknowledged that Etisalat which had for a year been in commercial operations coupled with the stiff challenges could still do better within the shortest possible time ” yet the company is proud to state that it has achieved more than similar companies in the market for long”, he said.
The telecommunication outfit which flagged off the launch of it services in Sokoto centre, has a broad base operational heritage spread across 18 countries of the world with over100,000 workforce in addition to no fewer than 80 million subscribers.
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko who kicked started the services at the Dankanni Guest Palace in Sokoto with the presentation of N100,000 scholarship award each to 20 deserving students in Computer Science, Electrical Electronics engineering and Management Sciences of both Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and Kebbi state University, Aliero.
In Kebbi state courtesy Etisalat Education Merit Scheme, acknowledged the seriousness and commitment of Etisalat in maintaining its corporate social responsibility to the society and communities where it operates.
He said the state government was ready to provide the enabling environment for both local and foreign investors with the aim of stimulating the commercial potentials and by extension provide avenue for gainful employment to citizens of the state.
According to Wamakko, “ we are welcoming Etisalat and people are mindful of the fast growing services of the network. I wish to say here that we are proud of the development as we are now talking through the network”.
He said public/private partnership remain the pivot for the advancement of world economy, stating that “Sokoto is rich in culture and tradition and has the spirit of accommodating and extending hands of friendship to visitors”, he added.
“ I hope Etisalat will continue to keep the flag flying in serving Nigeria and Nigerians with the best of technology that would stimulate positive competition drive among other GSM service providers”, Wamakko hoped.
Earlier, the CEO of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans said the company observed that Nigeria was a country that needed a kin operator with reliable and quality telecoms service with dynamism in technical innovation and creativity this you can be guaranteed with Etisalat”, he said.
However, the telecoms CEO explained that the future of Etisalat in Nigeria was to launch a 3G wireless services feature with high speed
technonolgy as LTE among other latest services.
Mr.Evans explained that within 3 to 4 years, the company it would improve it capital with rapid attention to expansion of it network capacity to cover over 45% of Nigeria’s market base.
He said currently, Etisalat operates 2 major customer service centres in Lagos and Kano, respectively while hoping that more centres would be operational as the company launches it expansion scheme, pointing out that ” we are not limited to commercial services alone but bring to the doors of our esteem customers our corporate social responsibility benefits.”
He assured of Etisalat’s readiness to facilitate a more responsive service drive that would further guarantee customers maximum satisfaction in inter connectivity with modern innovation” we are prioritizing the issue of inter connectivity through a welldsigned network systems operation.”
