Leading Telecommunications Services Provider, Airtel Nigeria unveiled its new number range, 0701 to Guests at the Airtel Night of Influence, a high profile event, recently in Lagos.
With the introduction, guests at the exclusive event were offered a special privilege to reserve their preferred numbers in the 0701 series. Numbers allocated to customers will become fully active as soon as Airtel finalizes arrangement to kick off with the implementation of the new number range.
Airtel number scheme previously included 0802, 0808, 0708 and 0812.
The new numbering scheme reflects the increasing growth in both the capacity of the network as well as its subscriber base. Airtel’s Chairman, Oba Otudeko disclosed during the event that the network has capacity for double its existing 22 million subscribers.
Airtel added additional 5.5million subscribers in less than two years and its growing rapidly as it reaps the gains from its trend setting and revolutionary approach to empowering telecoms consumers.
The Airtel Night of Influence is a high-octane networking platform provided by the leading telecommunications services provider for interaction and discourse on issues in the Nigerian and African political economy.
CNN anchor Dr Fareed Zakaria provided insights and analyses of African and Nigerian political economy for the distinguished audience of high net worth persons at the event at the Zinnia Hall of Eko Hotel & Suites.
Speaking at the event, Zakaria, renowned journalist, internationally acclaimed author and host of popular Fareed Zakaria’s GPS on CNN called on Nigerian leaders to take charge of the country’s future by investing in the educational sector to provide quality foundational education for children.
Zakaria who spoke on the theme, Africa’s Political Economy: The Challenge of Leadership at the Airtel Night of Influence observed that a focused investment in human capital development and building strong institutions to safe-guard society from human failings are important requirements for lifting developing nations out of the lowest levels of economic growth.
The cerebral TV anchorman also advised that rather than “subsidizing the present or buying votes, leaders should invest in education, invest in Infrastructure, invest in healthcare and invest in the future.”
Citing Taiwan and South Korea, he further observed that although these countries do not have natural resources, they have emerged strong economies with impressive GDP growth rates because of their efforts in developing human capital and building strong institutions.
He also noted that the United States of America currently exports human capital in Liquefied Natural Gas and other areas because the country had invested in research, training and development in those areas.
“There is so much human talent in Africa and in Nigeria. These talents need to be unlocked through education. It is an irony that countries experiencing high GDP growth are countries without natural resources. Look at Taiwan. What they have is typhoon… they do not have any natural resources; yet, they have managed to emerge as one of the countries with the highest GDP growth rate,” he said.
Guests included former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Chief of general Staff Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, former minister and World Bank Africa director Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former Health Minister Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu.