Nigeria: Airtel aims to enhance access to telecomms

Named Project Sunny, the initiative is designed to strengthen distribution structures in the state through the supply of motor bikes and other incentives to local entrepreneurs to enable them to provide access to telecommunications products and services as well as act as customer touch-points.

Airtel said the project will ultimately result in enhanced customer satisfaction, filling of distribution gaps, improved network quality arising from greater feedback and quicker problem resolution and greater economic well being of the areas.

During the launch of the programme in Calabar, motor bikes, helmet, megaphones, parasols, and SIM registration machines were presented by Airtel to the beneficiaries. The Cross Rivers State government, which is participating through the Micro-finance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA), an agency of the State that is responsible for rural empowerment and development, made available N50 000 for each of them to buy stock.

Chief executive officer and managing director of Airtel Nigeria, Rajan Swaroop, who was represented by the regional operations director (South Region), Godfrey Efeurhobo, expressed the company's delight to be associated with the government of the State in its quest to lift the rural economy and enhance the quality of life generally.