MTN Group has committed to deliver rural broadband and deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria, the company’s biggest market.
The telco, which operates in 19 markets with 272 million customers, derives a large portion of its revenue from Nigeria.
Forty percent of the value of MTN Group lies in Nigeria, and as such, its achievements are key to the company’s success, according MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita.
In the current reporting period, MTN Nigeria increased mobile subscribers by 7.6% to 74.1 million, active data users increased by 13.2% to 36.8 million, while active fintech subscribers rose by 87.3% to 11.5 million.
Mupita and group chairman Mcebisi Jonas this week hosted MTN Nigeria’s board of directors and executive committee in Johannesburg for a strategy retreat to come up with strategic priorities for the business over the next three years.
The MTN Group CEO highlighted the importance of Nigeria to the group, committing the company to broaden rural broadband and extend its financial inclusion push in the region.
“As MTN Group, we are committed to supporting the business and ensuring its success goes beyond just strong operational and financial performance, but also represents success for all stakeholders.
“Initiatives such as extending rural broadband, driving financial inclusion from MTN Nigeria’s Payment Services Banking licence and ensuring further localisations remain critical for success and sustainability,” said Mupita.
The MTN Nigeria delegation was led by chairman Ernest Ndukwe and CEO Karl Toriola, while Jonas and Mupita also invited international relations and cooperation minister Naledi Pandor and communications and digital technologies minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni for engagements.
The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa Muhammad Haruna Manta was also in attendance.
Jonas reflected on the significance of Nigeria, saying: “Strong bi-national relationships between Nigeria and South Africa are critical for Africa’s progress. As MTN, we appreciate that our own progress cannot happen without the two nations building stronger and stronger ties, and providing leadership to the continent.”