MTN Group meets FG, others over Nigerian IPO

MTN Group has met with the federal government as part of its commitment to Nigeria and assures the government of its commitment on the planned IPO and diversification of shareholding to Nigerians.

The high-powered delegation led by its Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko, chairman; Rob Shuter, group chief executive officer; and Mr. Pascal Dozie, board chairman, MTN Nigeria, met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Villa.

The delegation also include other MTN Nigeria board members amongst who were Colonel Sani Bello (rtd); Chief Victor Odili; Mr. Tunde Folawiyo; Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman and the Corporate Relations Executive, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo.

The telecom giant’s entourage also held separate meetings with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

They also visited the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who commended MTN for the incredible work it is doing in the communication sector and reiterated the commission’s commitment to the growth of the sector.

Aside meeting with government officials, the MTN team also held planned strategic sessions in Nigeria solely to underscore the African multinationals commitment to the most populous nation on the continent.

The sessions were also geared towards the planned listing of MTN on the Nigeria Stock Exchange as well as finalizing an unprecedented partnership with Ecobank Group on the provision of mobile financial services across Africa.

It will be recalled that MTN Nigeria is the largest subsidiary of the MTN Group and Africa’s largest and most sophisticated telecoms network with over 53 million subscribers and a network coverage that spans 77.19% of Nigeria’s land mass servicing 89.39% of the population in 3,833 cities, towns and villages nationwide.

The telecommunications giant, according to a statement from the company, “employs over 500,000 Nigerians directly and indirectly; and to date has invested over $13 billion in fixed assets and facilities nationwide to build the most expansive network in the country.

“The company also set aside 1% of Profit After Tax annually to fund the activities of the MTN Foundation, the leading social impact organisation in Nigeria, which has expended over N18 billion in carrying out projects in 750 project sites in the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.”