Touching Lives, an Airtel initiative to better life

OKEY OBIOZO

It was in a convivial atmosphere that Bharti Airtel Communications Limited decided to launch their latest corporate social responsible programme that is targeted at the under privileged members of the society who are faced with daunting challenges in life.

The idea is initiated purposely as a medium for the communication giant to re-invest into the society where they have been able to do their businesses and further recouped on their investment.

So for this purpose, they have come up with an initiative to put smile on someone face and make dreams come through. Their aim is to aid the members of the society who will be able to benefit from them through assistance and developmental projects that will be wholly sponsored by them.

Therefore, the initiative was presented to the public on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

The event attracted dignitaries and members of the press who had to be part of the programme as it is people oriented and it is therefore seen as a progressive venture that is out to better the lives of the masses regardless of whether the recipient is hooked on their network.

Leading the train of the dignitaries is Airtel Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya, Mr Sperrow, the programme manager, The Lagos State governor, represented by Oluranti Oguntola, First lady of Lagos State, represented by Mrs Azizat Tijani, Muiz Banire, Legal practitioner and former commissioner of information, Lagos State and  Airtel Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Emeka Opara.

According to Airtel CEO, the project is an initiative that Airtel Nigeria warms up to start because it is created out of genuine desire to build an equitable society and that Airtel has been recorded to be doing so much in different areas where government cannot reach.

Therefore, the telecommunication giant is a partner in progress with the government in improving the lives of the masses who are daily touched by their incisive projects around the federation.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the programme has been in place in other parts of Africa where Airtel is presently doing business. The concept when it takes off in Nigeria will go to different parts of the country to meet individuals and communities that really needs help and be able to touch their lives and make their dreams come through.

Stressing however that the entry procedure is just to tell the story of someone or community that is going through any form of challenges in 1000 words and send the sms to 949. It will be vetoed by a team of independent organisation that will visit each of the entrants to ascertain the genuineness of their stories.

He cited the progress of Airtel rising stars football initiative, another of their project, where he categorically informed that the programmes was able to discover Olu Gabriel and so many other football stars that have don the nation’s flag in different junior and intermediate categories.

Responding however, the representative of Lagos state governor said that it is a welcome development for service providers to be remembering the people in the unique ways they do.

She categorised the programme as a wonderful initiative that need to motivate other companies whose business environment is in Nigeria to do more because helping others is the only way to get fulfilment and makes us humans in Nigeria.

“If all of us will have the conscience to impart on the society and make anywhere we find ourselves better than how we met it, because if we don’t the creator who brought us here will someday ask us what we have done with the talent, money and opportunities that we have.

“Congratulations to Airtel.” she pointed.

Muiz Banire while congratulating Airtel for the concept reiterated that as you touches others lives you touch your life too. He said that except we start touching the lives of the under trodden, many will never find sleep.

“A care for our neighbour and the less privileged is important so that at the end of the day, we will be able to sleep.”

As Airtel has positioned itself in touching the lives of the people as a mandate, member of the public have been encouraged to exploit the opportunity of the programme to convince people to undertake and participate in the initiative.