Airtel
Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation,
the non-profit that operates Wikipedia, to offer their consumers across the
country access to Wikipedia through their mobile phones free of data charges,
reports ITRealms.
The initiative dubbed Wikipedia Zero, ITRealms gathered is the first of its kind in
Nigeria, aimed at reaching and empowering billions of people around the world
whose access to the Internet is primarily through a mobile device.
Also ITRealms gathered that Airtel Nigeria subscribers
could with this partnership now access Wikipedia free of data charges at
m.wikipedia.org.
With
the new partnership, Airtel will help deliver knowledge and information of
Wikipedia to 21 million of new users in the West African region.
The Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel
Nigeria, Maurice Newa, said the initiative is in line with the company’s
corporate vision of becoming Nigeria’s number one Internet Company, saying the
new service will help connect Nigerians with relevant knowledge and information
that will empower them to succeed in their personal and professional
endeavours.
“We are excited with our partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation
and we will continue to provide innovative solutions that will uplift Nigerians
in line with our brand promise of becoming the most loved brand in the daily
lives of Nigerians. At Airtel, we are passionate and committed to creating
solid educational and youth empowerment platforms that will enrich and
transform the lives of telecoms consumers across the country,” he said.
“We
commend Airtel Nigeria for taking a leadership role in empowering their society
through information access, and we’re thrilled to partner with them,” said
Carolynne Schloeder, Head of Mobile Partnerships at the Wikimedia Foundation. “Expanding Wikipedia Zero
to the people of Nigeria is a big step forward for free knowledge in Africa,” she
said.
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