MTN named 'Brand of the year'

MTN Nigeria has been adjudged the best brand in the telecom category by the National Institute of Marketing, a professional body for the Marketing profession in Nigeria.

Corporate Services Executive at MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, disclosing this in a press statement made available to ITRealms, and said “we are humbled by this significant endorsement of confidence in our operations by these reputable institutions, considering that MTN is just a little over four years in Nigeria”.

She also said, the award recognizes the commitment to excellence and innovation and long-term contribution to the development of Nigeria’s economy.

“It also challenges us to continue to provide the best levels of service everywhere you go” she declared.

Mrs. Oyagbola noted that this endorsement by the apex marketing body is the fourth time MTN would receive from different institutions in Nigeria and it confirms the company’s leadership status in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

It would be recalled that last weekend, MTN Nigeria was also pronounced the second “Nigeria’s Most Respected Company” in an award ceremony organized by PricewaterhouseCoopers and BusinessDay Newspapers at an event held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

This award is a global initiative instituted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and this is the first time it is being organized in the country.

Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Ken Igbokwe, said MTN met the parameters for selection, which included, “good corporate citizenship, social responsibility and adherence to high ethical standards; unique and excellent leadership style coupled with strong management principles and structure.”

He also said that the most respected company is “a visionary and revolutionary company with strong focus, an innovative company, with good corporate governance practice, high shareholder interest and value, with an excellent/creative marketing programme and customer service/focus.”

Mrs. Oyagbola further pointed out that MTN has won a number of awards from inception including, THISDAY Newspaper award of “Brand of the Year”, 2002 and 2004.

This, she said, has been sustained by the winning of the position of “Brand of the Year” at the 2005 Nigerian Telecoms award and the City People Award for Excellence.

MTN also won a Gold Award for creativity and Quality of Service delivery at the Nigerian Information Technology & Telecom Awards NITTA 2002 and a Microsoft awards for doing the most to drive up the standards of IT services delivery in Nigeria.

She recalled that in 2004, MTN was voted the “Best Voice Calling Marketer of the Year at the Marketing Leaders Awards, and a “Leadership Awards 2004” from Card Technology Africa.