Airtel takes ICT to rural communities

Airtel Nigeria has announced an empowerment initiative that focuses on creating awareness to encourage the use of Information and Communication Technology in the rural areas across the country.

The company said the initiative was part of a strategic effort to empower more Nigerians in line with its key objective of becoming Nigeria’s number one mobile Internet operator.
The programme, Boost ICT Usage in Rural Areas, is designed to help consumers living in or visiting the designated locations in these underserved communities to have first-hand experience of the company’s data services with no financial implications to the consumers.
According to Airtel, the programme will also facilitate ICT/data penetration in the country’s rural settlements.
Currently, Nigeria has 55,930,391 mobile Internet users out of a population of 174,507,539 representing 32.9 per cent penetration rate with heavy concentration in the urban areas.
Speaking about the Boost ICT Usage in Rural Areas programme, Airtel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Maurice Newa, said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between consumers in the rural settings and the world of opportunities before them.
“We are pleased by the prospect of ensuring our customers in the rural communities experience data services aimed at enhancing their quality of work and living. As a responsible corporate citizen, we have consistently sought ways of rendering life-enriching services to them just as we have done with those in the urban areas,” Newa said.
He said, “There is a lot going on across the globe which ordinarily may fall outside the scope of the rural dwellers but which, if they are given the right access, may bring their dreams to fulfilment. So we are providing this trusted platform for them to achieve more. This initiative is in tandem with our vision of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians.”