Group chief executive officer of Airtel Africa Plc, Dr Segun Ogunsanya has said, organisations must hinge their plans on the potentials of the future and not previous success to capture futuristic market opportunities for profitability.
Ogunsanya stated this at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) April 2023 Sharing Experience Series with the theme: ‘Leading to Impact’ held in Lagos.
He said, the companies must compete for the future in capturing market opportunities and must always be prepared to take on new challenges and risks as the opportunity arises.
He noted that, while future trends for telecommunications was in artificial intelligence, automation, education and healthcare services without borders, companies must continue to evolve with the power of telecommunications.
Ogunsanya explained that Airtel would continue to partner with government, regulatory agencies and civil societies to spread network coverage to rural areas to further drive connectivity, saying “we would continue to deepen penetration in countries of operations and support lives in the country where we operate.
“In Mozambique, Airtel has about six women out of 12 in its leadership and has just launched women in tech program to encourage women take active part in technology.
“Beyond that, it is the right thing to have vast opinion from different gender and races for better quality and perspective so companies must encourage diversity for the value and good outcomes it adds to a company.”
Ogunsanya advised businesses to align their values and purposes to gender, environmental and other sustainability practices beyond making profits to make impacts and transform lives.
According to him, Airtel will continue to foster digital financial inclusion across Africa and further its mission to encourage female participation in the technology space. He also stressed the need to maintain a healthy balanced work-life by consciously creating time for what was truly important and delegating others where necessary.
The president, NBCC, Ms Bisi Adeyemi, said the ‘Sharing Experiences Series’ was designed to provide a platform for accomplished leaders in the organised private sector to share their experiences in the areas of entrepreneurship and professional career fueled by passion, audacity, and innovation.
