By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has been commended by the Lagos State Local Council in Eti-Osa East and the residents of the Ajah-Ilaje community in Ajah, Lagos State, for its role in uplifting and empowering local communities.
Speaking, on Monday at the inauguration of an industrial borehole donated by Airtel to the Ajah-Ilaje community in Ajah, Chairman of Eti- Osa East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Olufunmi Olatunji, expressed appreciation to Airtel for partnering with the Local Council in the provision of potable water for the local people.
“We definitely appreciate Airtel’s gesture in choosing to bring sweet water to the people of Ajah-Ilaje and we would like to encourage Airtel to continue to partner with the Government as both the public and private sectors join hands to develop our communities,” he said.
The Baale of Ilaje-Ajah Community, Mr Sunday Ogunkeyi, was full of praise for Airtel as he lauded the telco’s efforts in making lives better for residents of the community.
“I am really delighted to see this day with the people of the Ajah-Ilaje community. We thank Airtel for this great gift and we urge the company to continue to do more for the Ilaje community,” the Baale said.
The youths, women and children performed a heartfelt song in honour of Airtel during the inauguration. Singing in the Ilaje dialect, young men and women as well as children and older ones danced vigorously as they rejoiced and felicitated with one another.
The industrial borehole was in fulfillment of a pledge Airtel had made to the community during the fourth season of its revolutionary Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Airtel Touching Lives.
Airtel’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Emeka Oparah who represented the company’s Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Segun Ogunsanya, said Airtel is committed to partnering with the relevant government in driving development across local communities.
Two weeks ago, Airtel announced the commencement of Season 5 of the Touching Lives programme, noting that it is relentless in its vision to empower more underprivileged people as well as encourage other corporate organizations to support the disadvantaged.
“Since we launched the Airtel Touching Lives initiative four years ago, we have achieved remarkable success, having restored hope of despaired individuals and families, saved many from the throes of death and empowered many underprivileged Nigerians.
“With the launch of season 5, we remain relentless in our vision to empower more people in the various communities where we operate and also inspire other corporate organizations to reach out to the underprivileged,” the firm said.
