Leadership (Abuja)
George Okojie
11 June 2008
Etisalat's resolve to offer quality services to Nigerians through a phased roll -out strategy has won regulatory acknowledgement from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The commission has emphasised adequate preparation and readiness as key imperatives in the roll-out of services by GSM operators.
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, said that the government is more interested in telecom firms understanding the real need of the customers. Ndukwe added that: "My message to Etisalat is: make sure you are ready roll-out quality services so that people will be happy".
Ndukwe and the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Nakande were among VIPs that visited Etisalat's pavilion during the West African International Telecommunications and Information Communication Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel 2008) held in Lagos from June 3 to 5, 2008. They also experienced the quality of Etisalat's network firsthand at the exhibition as they made live calls on Etisalat's network.
Nakande commended Etisalat's entry and investment of US$400 million into the Nigerian telecom market as a major boost to the economy.
Etisalat pushed further to assure the Nigerian public of its readiness to offer them quality services with the announcement that it had concluded interconnection agreements with the other major GSM operators in readiness for full service launch.
Speaking at the Etisalat Day held on June 4, Saoud Al Shamsi, CEO of Etisalat Nigeria in a message delivered on his behalf by Ibrahim Dikko, Director, Government Relations declared: "We are not driven by profits to rush to sell services that are not robust. Our objective is to give consumers a world-class GSM network". He added that its service offering will be simple but of superior quality, stressing that at all times the company will show that it is a caring network.
During his visit to Etisalat's pavilion, Jide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment and Training, expressed delight at the assurance by Etisalat to offer world-class services, saying telecom customers are eager to enjoy quality services just like they do in other markets.
Makanjuola Alabi, the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), during his visit to Etisalat pavilion at W.Afri.Tel described Etisalat stand as excellent.
Etisalat made its maiden participation at the fifth W.Afri.Tel expo a unique and historic one as it hosted industry-wide Nigerian journalists that cut across ICT/Telecom, brand and communication and business segments at its pavilion.
In another development, MediaReach OMD, Nigeria's foremost media planning and buying agency, has once again scored another first by clinching the prestigious and highly sought after Etisalat Account.
According to impeccable sources, MediaReach OMD, the only truly stand alone media buying agency not sired by a creative agency, secured the Etisalat account on the strength of its pedigree and excellent performance on the MTN account which it handled from inception in 2001 on-till last year when it resigned the business.
Its novel handling of media penetration strategies for the new MTN Nigeria brand in 2001, as well as its ground-breaking push of the British American Tobacco brands over the years, has been acknowledged as landmark moves in the industry. It is on record that the agency developed the first set of backlit billboards in Nigeria on behalf of BAT, as a strong innovation that helped to showcase the BAT corporate name across the West African market through unique media campaigns in Ghana, Cameroon, Togo and others.
Etisalat, an international mobile telecommunications company recently granted license to provide world-class GSM services to Nigerians, already operates in 15 countries across the Middle East and Africa. Apart from mediaReach OMD, other marketing communications firms that have been appointed by Etisalat, which is expected to roll-out its operations very soon include Corporate & Financials (Public Relations) and One-For-One (advertising)
The Tolu Ogunkoya-led MediaReach OMD, which commenced operations in Nigeria in 1999, has over the years consistently recorded steady growth in its fortunes due to its innovations in the practice of media buying and planning. Strengths in research-based technology enabled media strategies, value-laden approach and transparency, have all combined in a perfect blend to lend credence to its claim of being one of the best in the industry.
A part of the OMD chain; one of the world's foremost media communications specialists, MediaReach has fully tapped into the size and scale the OMD global media opportunity provides, thereby further strengthening its position as one of the best in the industry.
MediaReach OMD has also consistently strived to drive home its vision to remain number one in terms of billings and reputation for integrity in media planning skills.
The firm also undertakes the publication of the Nigerian media Facts Book- an industry accepted data collection book about the Nigerian advertising scene, the design and use of the periodic Ad cluster analysis on virtually all sectors of the economy.
Etisalat has been the leading telecommunications service provider in the UAE since 1976. It was the first telecom operator in the Middle East to introduce a mobile phone service as far back as 1982. Since then, it has established itself as a regional pioneer, leading in introducing various products and services both 3G and MMS as far back as 2003.
Etisalat ranks 140th among the financial Times top 500 corporations in the world in terms of market capitalisation and is ranked by the Middle East magazine as the 6th largest company in the region, in terms of capitalisation and revenues.
It is pertinent to state that MediaReach OMD, which has expanded its operations to more countries in West & Central Africa, recently announced the appointment of two new senior media executives to strengthen its senior management team.
The new appointees are Mr. Amit Kishore who becomes General Manager, Operations and Mr. Nitinchandra K. Nandekar, Media Planning & Client Service Director.
The appointments, according to the Group Managing Director, Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, will help to bolster the technical competence of the team as the agency builds on its leadership position in Nigeria with the opening of offices in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon and Senegal.
In this position, Kishore will be responsible for managing the company's Research & Technology operations, including digital media, media sponsorships and new businesses
A graduate of Physics and a master's degree in Advertising & Media Communications, Kishore comes to MediaReach OMD with agency experience spanning over 10 years across India and Saudi Arabia.
Nandekar, on the other hand, has a first degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA and several years of strategic media planning experience acquired in India and Jordan.
His previous agency experience includes assignments on Telecom, Banking, and Aviation, Automobile and FMCG brands.
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