L-R: Director, Internal Audit, Airtel Nigeria, Ngozi Akamelu; Director, Airtel Business, Ogo Ofomata; Former Director General, Nigeria Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh; Director, Human Resources, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias and Lead Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Airtel Nigeria, Chioma Okolie during the launch of Airtel Women Network at Airtel Headquarters, Banana Island, Lagos recently.

Airtel Nigeria, telecommunications service provider, has launched the Airtel Women network as part of its commitment to drive gender equity.

Former Securities and Exchange Commission boss, Arunma Oteh, led the conversation as the keynote speaker, on the theme “Empowering Global Leaders”, where she shared her experience and lectured female employees on becoming global leaders.

Chief Executive Director, Krishna Menon, who was represented by the Director of Airtel Business, Ogo Ofomata, described Airtel Women Network as a coaching platform to empower and mentor women to become global leaders while breaking stereotypes and closing gender gaps.

“We are an equal opportunity employer and it is embedded in our DNA to be fair, just and respectful. Airtel is committed to women advancement and achievements, both internally and externally, and out of many other initiatives, we have recently demonstrated this through our premium social investment platform ‘Airtel Touching Lives. Through ‘Airtel Touching Lives’, we have not only provided relief and succor to thousands of Nigerians but we have also thrown our full weight behind the Nigerian woman, helping them own their craft and even empowering women in technology” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Director, Human Resources, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, said, “Over the years Airtel women have contributed immensely to the success of the organizations and Airtel recognizes this and is committed to ensuring that the women thrive. We are currently at 25% and our target is to grow women’s representation at top-level management to 30% before the end of the year. To generally drive women inclusion, especially in technology, part of what Airtel has done is to promote digital financial inclusion by registering and training women as Smartcash PSB agents, at no cost”.

Aunmanh Oteh, while delivering her keynote speech and interacting with the employees, commended the brand for driving gender equity and also commended the male employees of Airtel for supporting women to launch of Airtel Women Network.

“The ability of any brand like Airtel to bring innovations like this means that they can do better than the others. I like that Airtel is being intentional about women empowerment and they recognize that they are not doing women a favor, rather empowering women is good for the business”, she concluded.