Our correspondent who visited some outlets in Lagos, reports that the shops were deserted with few people clearing and carrying out repairs as a result of damage by the hoodlums.

An MTN officer who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity said the decision to lock up the outlet was to prevent further attacks on South African companies.

Some customers at the Surulere sales outlets expressed, however, mixed feelings on the attack and damage on MTN offices.

Kunle Adigun, a banker, said the attack on MTN outlets was not the solution to the xenophobia going on in South Africa.

“We sincerely do not support xenophobic attacks on our brothers in South Africa but this is not the best solution.

“Unfortunately, most property destroyed in South Africa belong to Nigerians, Nigerian government should take strong actions against that country,” he said.

Juliet James, a subscriber of the mobile network, expressed dismay about the way Nigerians were being treated in South Africa.

“I am very upset about the treatment lashed on Nigerians in South Africa, it is high time our government took action and because of this, I have decided to stop using MTN.

“I am porting to a Nigerian service provider; I have broken my sim and will not have any business with anything from South Africa,” she said.

It was reported that MTN conveyed the information to the public via text messages on Wednesday, that its offices remained shut to all of its customers in the country.

The company, however, gave an option for customers to reach MTN via Twitter, MtNonline.com, chat or call centre by dialing 180.

The post Xenophobia: MTN sales outlets shut after attack in Lagos appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

It was reported that the irate youths allegedly threatened to attack South African-owned businesses such as MTN, Shoprite malls, Multi-choice among others in Lagos.

Our correspondent observed that Shoprite mall located on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street and MTN located on Bode Thomas, Surulere had to close early for business following the protest by the angry youth.

It was reported that the youth who were mainly males expressed their displeasure at the way South Africans were attacking Nigerians in their country.

They called on the Federal Government to take proactive diplomatic actions that would stop how most Nigerians were being maltreated in South Africa.

One of the protesters said “enough is enough” adding that it was high time that President Muhammadu Buhari did something about the situation before they (youths) take the law into their own hands.

One of the MTN officials who begged for anonymity said that they opened at 8 a.m., today just like any other day until he got a call saying that the neighbouring mall: Shoprite, was under attack and that they (MTN) should close shop as soon as possible.

“We were scared and that led us to shut down the premises around 2 p.m., and asked all our staff to go home,” he said.

One of the police officials from the Surulere Police Division who refused to disclose his name said that everything was under control, adding that they were there to enforce law and order.

Our correspondent observed that several police vehicles were parked in front of Shoprite mall while the uniformed men were pacifying the irate youths.

Our correspondent also noticed that the irate youths did not disturb the activities going on inside Leisure Mall which is the neighbouring shopping mall to Shoprite in Surulere.

The post Xenophobia: Irate youths allegedly threatened to attack Shoprite, MTN offices in Lagos appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The Company Secretary, Mr Uto Ukpanah, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos and said that the retirement would take effect on Sept. 2

According to him, it is due to the expiration of their tenure and in compliance with applicable codes of Corporate Governance.

He listed them as follows; Dr. Pascal Dozie, CON, Chairman; Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), Vice Chairman; Chief Victor Odili, OON, Non-Executive Director.

Other non-executive directors are Malam Ahmed Dasuki; Mr Babatunde Folawiyo, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, MFR.

Acknowledging the vital contribution made by the outgoing directors over the last 18 years, MTN Nigeria CEO Ferdinand Moolman offered the company’s heartfelt thanks to the pioneering Chairman, Dozie and the outgoing Directors.

“Our journey over the last 18 years has been incredible, and it would not have been possible without the initial entrepreneurial spirit of our founding directors, and their unfailing and dedicated support for MTN Nigeria’s vision over the years.

“I could not have asked for a more supportive, knowledgeable and experienced group of advisors,” Moolman said.

Speaking on behalf of the outgoing directors, Dozie said, ”in 2001, when I made the first call on the MTN Nigeria network, I don’t think anyone envisaged the pace and scale of growth that we, and the broader telecoms sector would achieve over the next 18 years.

“It is a unique story that we are immensely proud of, and having served as chairman of MTN Nigeria for all of those 18 years, I achieved a long -held ambition earlier this year, when MTN Nigeria listed on the NSE, providing an opportunity for a wider pool of Nigerians to become investors in the company.

“I cannot think of a better time to be handing over the reins of the company to a new Chairman, and to a new group of distinguished Nigerian Directors.

“Not only is this in line with best practice, which we are fully committed to, as a member of the premium board of the NSE, it is also absolutely aligned to the company’s future.

“On behalf of the out-going directors, I will like to thank the board and management of MTN Nigeria for their support over the years and to welcome the incoming directors.

“They have a hugely exciting future in front of them, and I believe the opportunity to make the next 18 years even more successful than the last,” Dozie said.

The Board of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc also expressed its appreciation to the six directors for their commitment, leadership and extensive contributions to the success of the company since their appointment in 2002.

The Board wished them the very best in all their future endeavours.

The Company announced the appointment of Mr Ernest Ndukwe as the Chairman designate of MTN, and the addition of the following directors with effect from Sept. 2.

According to the statement, with the changes, the board will comprise: Dr Ernest Ndukwe, Chairman Designate, Mr Ferdinand Moolman- Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Onochie Ajukwu – Independent Non-Executive Director, Mr Muhammad K. Ahmad, OON -Independent Non-Executive Director.

Others listed are Mr Andrew Alli – Non-Executive Director, Mr Rhidwaan Gasant, Independent Non-Executive Director; Mrs Omobola Johnson, Non-Executive Director; Mr A.B. Mahmoud, OON, Non-Executive Director; Mr Ralph Mupita, Non-Executive Director.

Others also are Mr Paul Norman, Non-Executive Director; Mrs Ifueko Okauru, MFR, Non-Executive Director; Mr Jens Schulte-Bockum, Non-Executive Director; Mr Rob Shuter , Non-Executive Director; and Mr Karl Toriola, Non-Executive Director.

Acknowledging the incoming directors, MTN Nigeria CEO Ferdinand Moolman extended a warm welcome to the incoming Directors.

“The technology industry is fast -moving, and our next 18 years offer a wealth of new and exciting opportunities as a fully digital operator.

“Their combination of extensive experience across the worlds of technology, finance, regulatory and policy development and corporate governance offers a hugely synergistic set of skills that will be of great benefit to us as we move into a new phase of growth,” he said.

The post MTN Nigeria board Chairman, Paschal Dozie, 5 other directors retire appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

MTN said on Thursday in Johannesburg that it’s earnings for first-half of the year had rebounded.

It said that its headline earnings came in at 3.9 billion rand ($294.40 million), or 212 cents per share, in the six months to end June compared with a loss of 4.9 billion rand, or 271 cents per share, a year earlier.

“These numbers give us hope for the future. It is a very encouraging platform upon which to build our strategy,” said Rob Shuter, former Vodafone European head, who became chief executive in March.

MTN’s shares were nearly 3 per cent higher at early trading due to the positive results.

The results were bolstered by the absence of charges related to a $1.1 billion fine imposed by Nigerian authorities last year in a long-running dispute over unregistered SIM cards.

Founded at the end of white rule in 1994, MTN’s clashes with regulators in the past few years had held back growth and threatened to tarnish its image as one of post-apartheid South Africa’s biggest commercial successes.

Shuter’s appointment is expected to put the company back on a growth path with a shift away from basic telecoms services toward the ability of its users to pay bills or watch live football matches on their phones.

MTN has more than 200 million users in more than 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

MTN had said last week that the loss in the first half of last year was mainly due to “non-recurring costs”, including the Nigerian fine.

Shuter, along with his new executive team that includes the new head of M&amp, A Stephen van Coller, and finance head, Ralph Mupita, may have other tricky issues to tackle in Nigeria and also Iran.

The post MTN returns to profit-making after turbulent 2016 appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

MTN’s Public Relations and Protocol Manager, Mr Funso Aina, said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that the company had not increased prices of recharge cards

“MTN Nigeria hereby use this medium to inform all its subscribers that it has not increased the prices of recharge cards.

“The cost of recharge cards remain the face value stated on the physical vouchers.

“Any increment from any quarters across the country on our recharge cards is without our knowledge,” Aina said.

He said that the telecommunications provider had taken quick steps to ensure compliance on sales of its recharge cards at the stated face value by its trade partners and retailers.

“While we are working assiduously to resolve claims of illegal increases, we apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this might have caused.

“Alternatively, we advise our customers to explore other options of purchasing airtime such as MTN Virtual Top Up (VTU), Diamond Yello Account (DYA) or MTN Auto Top-up,” AINA said.

Our correspondent reports that the service provider has been sending Short Messaging Service (SMS) to its customers on the purported increase on prices of recharge cards.

It reads: ‘Dear customer, please do not agree to pay more than the amount that is printed on any MTN recharge card. Remember – what you see is what you pay!’.

The post Don’t pay above normal price for our recharge cards, MTN tells customers appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Students of Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State with copies of Enterprise Development for Schools and Colleges

The flagship programme on Monday was held at Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
At the programme, the author of the book who is also the Chairman of Enterprising Nigeria Project, Pastor Dele Osunmakinde, said about 50,000 copies of the book are set to be distributed free in the first phase of the project.
Explaining the purpose of the project, Osunmakinde noted that the missing link in the development of entrepreneurship in Nigeria is the unavailability of an appropriate and comprehensive literature that provides the guide and knowledge needed by entrepreneurs to thrive in their respective ventures.
This vacuum is what the book is set to fill.
According to him, “It is in fulfilling this objective of igniting and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship and as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility that we have, in conjunction with MTN Nigeria, initiated Young Entrepreneurs Learning Series (YELS), an initiative borne out of the current need to encourage Nigeria’s economic growth and development by promoting entrepreneurship amongst the Nigerian youth, to start, grow and create value and consequently, jobs.
One of the guests at the event, Mrs. Olamipo Jinadu encouraged the students to be focused and refuse to be carried away by the many distractions around.
Jinadu, a Lawyer who graduated from the school in 1991 told the students that by constantly renewing their minds and having a determination to succeed, the students will do exploits in life.
Mr. Segun Obadimu, Principal of Abeokuta Grammar School, also tasked the students to read the book and explore their entrepreneurship potentials so as to be a good support system to their parents and be worthy ambassadors of the school.

L-R: Mr. Segun Obadimu, Principal Abeokuta Grammar School; Mrs. Olamipo Jinadu, Publisher Law and Business Review; Pastor Dele Osunmakinde, Chairman Enterprising Nigeria Project; Ms. Alice Oludimu, President Benchris Development Foundation and Mr. Femi Owoyele, CEO Profemative Concepts Int’l at the flagship programme for free distribution of the book, Enterprise Development for Schools and Colleges, written by Dele Osunmakinde, sponsored by MTN Nigeria in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Monday

The post MTN, Enterprising Nigeria commence free book distribution appeared first on NEWSVERGE.