Nigeria is big market for MTN – Farroukh

The managing director, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Mr. Ahmed Farroukh has said that Nigeria is a big market for MTN, hence the company has reaffirmed its commitment to the economic growth of the country.

According to him, this commitment has been evident through continuous lending of its weight to activities aimed at putting the country on the path of economic renaissance.

He made this declaration at the company’s sponsored high profile seminar led by Harvard University scholar and Comparative Strategy expert, Professor Michael Porter.

“We are committed to playing our part in the national effort to reposition the economy. This was why MTN Nigeria decided to support the initiative to bring the world renowned business strategist, Professor Porter to Nigeria to lead discussions on Nigeria’s competitiveness,” he said.

The seminar, with the theme Enhancing Nigeria’s Competitiveness Through Public-Private Collaboration, attracted the governors of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and Anambra State, Peter Obi, as well as top executives of MTN, captains of industry and top executives of blue chip companies, among numerous others.

MTN Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Derek Appiah, in his remarks emphasised Professor Porter’s postulation that for Nigeria to be competitive, productivity needs to be enthroned and the public and private sectors need to collaborate.

“Events like this Michael Porter Seminar enable us to understand each other, speak with one voice and, more importantly, collaborate. MTN Business is a division focused on assisting businesses realize their full potential by enabling them to become more productive through an array of innovative products and services. That is why we spearheaded the sponsorship of this initiative which has allowed critical stakeholders to come together and understand what needs to be done to put the country’s economy on the path of recovery” Appiah said.

In his remarks, chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie, described Competitive Strategy as “a crucial catalyst for our national revival,” stressing that MTN’s business strategy underscores the need to sponsor activities that stimulate economic growth, such as the Michael Porter seminar,  which is likely to be the ‘tipping point’ towards Nigeria’s economic ascendancy.

He called for the creation of an enabling environment to ensure that the key drivers for Nigeria’s competitiveness are in place.

“I speak of the solid foundation created by an enabling operating environment which will attract foreign direct investment and stimulate    local manufacturing and industry.

“These elements include: the presence of the rule of law to enforce the sanctity of contract; improved security of lives and property; consistent government policies and forward planning; provision of a world class infrastructure – electricity, roads, transport; port reform and a comprehensive review of land tenure; stable government and a marked decrease in corruption,” he said.

Also commenting, the Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Wale Goodluck, said the sponsorship of such seminars by MTN would continue.

“We need sessions like this to enable Nigeria to realize the goal of being among the top 20 economies by year 2020. MTN will continue to lend its support to such initiatives,” he said.

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