Dipo Olowookere
Episodes of the newly launched Airtel Touching Lives season 5 have been scheduled to begin airing on television stations following its premiere, which held in a grand ceremony over the weekend in Lagos and was attended by a plethora of eminent guests.
The first episode is set to air on Sunday, February 2, 2020 across national and cable TV stations, including African Magic Urban and Africa Magic Family by 6:30pm, NTA Network by 6pm, Ebony Life TV by 7pm and Farin Wata by 7pm.
The new season follows various heartfelt stories, showing how Airtel has brought succour to underprivileged families, saved individuals from despair, and rendered a helping hand to people in hard-to-reach communities.
Snippets of the new episodes were shown to some high-profile attendees, including Nigeria’s Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja I, among others.
Held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos, the episodes were met with positive reviews, with several guests lauding Airtel for truly touching the lives of those in dire need of help.
In his keynote address, Mr Osinbajo commended the telecommunications giant for supporting government’s efforts in helping the vulnerable through improved access to healthcare, welfare, housing, among others.
“I really want to laud the effort of Segun Ogunsanya and his team at Airtel for touching so many lives and for doing so in the past five years without fanfare. Listening to the stories of the lives that have been touched must be a reminder of so many others in despair who need our help and comfort,” he stated.
A major highlight of the new season is the story of how Airtel confronted the issues being faced at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Borno, Maiduguri.
The facilities at the camp were overpopulated, with inhabitants crossing the 30,000 limit in 2018. Camp managers revealed that in January of 2018, new arrivals exceeded 3,000 as the Boko Haram terrorist group displaced more people from villages around Borno.
Airtel soon intervened by providing a myriad of supplies, including toilet facilities, drugs, electricity generators, fans, school desks and books, and school bags for over 3,732 children on the camp.
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, stated one of the goals of the new season is to permeate the culture of giving among Nigerians.
“Airtel Touching Lives serves as a platform to promote the culture of giving, self-sacrifice, love and charity among Nigerians.
“The initiative is designed to offer practical relief, succour, hope, opportunities and credible platforms to liberate and empower the underprivileged, disadvantaged individuals, families and communities in the Nigerian society,” he said.
