Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news as they happen

    What's Hot

    PIPELINE: Paramount Leaders, Stakeholders Commend PINL Operations In Rivers

    January 22, 2023

    Birthday Bash of Princess Jayden Iseghohimen in South Africa.* 

    January 22, 2023

    Intercontinental Prophet, Joshua Iginla Reveals God’s mind on Tinubu, Wike, Peter obi and others As he released 2023 prophecies

    January 3, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Megastar Magazine
    • Politics

      2023: ‘One Day Governors’ Urge Nigerians To Vote For Tinubu As Nigerian President Under APC

      December 5, 2022

      Tinubu/Shettima Ticket: Outrage over Babachir Lawal’s Comments On Channels Television

      November 26, 2022

      APC appoints SDNON President, Femi Davies, as Ogun State Publicity Committee chairman

      November 23, 2022

      NED NWOKO BEGINS DELTA NORTH SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

      November 7, 2022

      Canadian PM Assures Of Greater Ties, Welcomes Nigeria Conference Of Speakers of State

      September 19, 2022
    • Entertainment
      1. People
      2. Events
      3. Fashion
      Featured
      Entertainment December 14, 2022

      Zambian finest and NOLLYWOOD Actress SHERINNE PHIRI win big at AMPMAN FILM FESTIVAL IN TURKEY

      Recent

      Zambian finest and NOLLYWOOD Actress SHERINNE PHIRI win big at AMPMAN FILM FESTIVAL IN TURKEY

      December 14, 2022

      TOP NOTCH NOLLYWOOD ACTORS SET FOR 20TH NOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL IN GERMANY 

      July 14, 2022

      AMPMAN SUPPORTS MEMBER WITH ONE MILLION NAIRA.

      June 4, 2022
    • Business

      It’s Double Honours for Aruwa Capital Management CEO, Adesuwa Rhodes In London

      October 17, 2022

      Olu of Warri Presented With Key to the City of Brampton.

      June 14, 2022

      T’suut’ina Nation Calgary Canada twin Warri Kingdom for Trade, Investment and Cultural exchange. 

      June 3, 2022

      Olu of Warri: Pictorial @ The Ogiame Atuwatse III Economic Summit.

      May 26, 2022

      Investor, Entrepreneur, and Women Empowerment advocate, Adesuwa Listed Among Top 40 under 40 Black Women In Asset Management globally

      May 13, 2022
    • Health

      MALARIA VACCINE ; NED NWOKO FOUNDATION MEETS SANARIA INC FOR COLLABORATION ON PRODUCTION OF AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE.

      June 23, 2022

      Wuwu Ore: Frenzy As Olori Atuwatse lll Brings Succour To Delta Community 

      April 4, 2022

      Olori Atuwatse III To Champion Free Medical Outreach In Delta

      December 8, 2021

      2021 Keffi Polo: Immortalize Late Capt Hosa Organizers Urged FG

      November 12, 2021

      Ned Nwoko Foundation to lead partners in promotion and Implementation of RTSS malaria vaccine

      October 13, 2021
    • Culture

      An Uninformed Generation -By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

      June 26, 2022

      Tsuut’ ina Nation Receives Olu of Warri In Canada Amid Pomp And pageantry 

      June 3, 2022

      Olu of Warri To Visit Canada, Set To Explore Investment Opportunities.

      May 25, 2022

      Christmas Without Captain Hosa Okunbo

      December 26, 2021

      [Watch] Thanksgiving Ceremony – 30 years of Lee Engineering Construction & Company Limited

      December 17, 2021
    • Lifestyle

      King Brutus celebrates Princess Omoye Iseghohimen on her birthday.

      November 11, 2022

      Titilayo Eboh Mary, The Woman With A Passion For Giving Titilayo Eboh-Mary, The

      October 31, 2022

      SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GREETING TO ESAMA OF BENIN AT 88

      September 22, 2022

      SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MAMA MERCY EZEGWU EBERE OCHOGA

      September 9, 2022

      ERELU OKIN: FOOTPRINTS OF A BENEVOLENT PEACOCK

      August 14, 2022
    • Sports

      World Tennis champion, Serena Williams retires after winning 73 titles in 27 years, bids farewell at US Open.

      September 6, 2022

      Late Capt. Hosa Immortalize As Keffi Polo Tournament Dedicates Trophy

      November 16, 2021

      2021 Keffi Polo: Immortalize Late Capt Hosa Organizers Urged FG

      November 12, 2021

      PRINCE HON NED NWOKO UNVEILS NED NWOKO ANIOMA CUP 2021

      March 28, 2021

      NFF President Amaju Pinnick Elected into FIFA Executive Council

      March 13, 2021
    • Contact
    YouTube Facebook Instagram WhatsApp
    Megastar Magazine
    Home»Business»The day I discovered the true wealth of Nigeria __It’s not all about oil- Strive Masiyiwa, founder Econet and Liquid Telecom
    Business

    The day I discovered the true wealth of Nigeria __It’s not all about oil- Strive Masiyiwa, founder Econet and Liquid Telecom

    Ifetayo AdeniyiBy Ifetayo AdeniyiSeptember 29, 20204 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email Telegram
    Share
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Email

    When I first arrived in Nigeria to set up the country’s first GSM mobile network, Econet Wireless Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria), I had to serve as the company’s interim CEO for about six months, until we appointed someone substantive. This meant I practically lived in Nigeria for most of that time. It was a remarkable experience, and one which will remain with me all my life. Nigeria is one of the most exciting countries in the world, and could be the next China before the turn of this century.

    I just want to share with you one particular incident which led me to that conclusion: As many people know, today Nigeria has over 120m mobile phones users. To imagine that I made the first ever official GSM mobile call in Nigeria on 6th August 2001 seems almost unbelievable…

    Our company Econet Wireless Nigeria was in a race with MTN Nigeria, the only other operator at the time, to meet a deadline set by the regulator for 8th of August. We beat the deadline and MTN by two days, and as Interim CEO, I had the privilege to call the regulator to tell him we were “Live”!

    What a moment in my life! It’s something I’ll always cherish. I don’t really care whether I own or don’t own a mobile operator there today. My success will always be measured in terms of my small contribution in kick starting the largest mobile industry on the African continent, and it is Nigeria.

    Several months before the launch deadline, I’d arrived with over 100 engineers and technicians, drawn mostly from Zimbabwe and South Africa. At the time, since Nigeria had been delayed by the military governments from acquiring GSM, it was one of the last markets without this new technology. President Obasanjo, who had just won the election two years earlier, wanted to change that and had issued three licenses, but one had been delayed.

    This meant that when we started operations, Nigeria had no homegrown engineers or technicians with experience in GSM mobile technology. (Today it has more than Southern Africa combined!)

    So whilst setting up the network to meet the deadline, we used expatriates from other African countries that already had GSM. We also began the process of recruiting Nigerian engineers and technicians who we would retrain for this exciting new industry to take over from the expatriate team, which wanted to do in the shortest time possible.

    We had literally thousands of posts to fill.

    In one instance, we placed newspaper adverts in all leading newspapers asking for people qualified in electronic engineering, at degree level, and with minimum five years relevant experience. I’ll never forget the response. I came into the office to find postal bags, piled to the ceiling!

    “I only want to see the applications from people who meet our requirements, and not from chancers who aren’t qualified,” I complained.

    “Sir, these are the ones we have vetted.”

    “What?! You mean there were more than this?”

    “Thousands, sir.”

    Then I came up with an idea: “Why don’t you separate for me, the most qualified academically. Set aside people with MBAs, and even PHDs.”

    A day later, another postal bag of applications was delivered to my office. I was staggered!

    There were thousands of people with qualifications in just this one discipline with MBAs and PHDs! Many had qualified in the best universities around the world. There were also GSM-qualified Nigerians working internationally, including in America and Europe, wanting to return home!

    I was blown away by the qualifications. I thought to myself: “You can start almost any business or industry here. I wish investors would one day discover the wealth of this nation.”

    Whenever I hear people talk about the wealth of Nigeria in terms of oil, I shake my head to say: “You have no idea what you’re talking about!”

    The true wealth of Nigeria is its extraordinary human capital, and passion for education. Unleash that and no one can stop them!

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleWorld Tourism Day: Prince Ned Nwoko calls on communities to showcase their tourism potentials
    Next Article Malaria Eradication Project: British High Commissioner hosts Prince Ned Nwoko.
    Ifetayo Adeniyi
    • Website

    Adeniyi Ifetayo Moses is an Entrepreneur, Award winning Celebrity journalist, Luxury and Lifestyle Reporter with Ben tv London and Publisher, Megastar Magazine. He has carved a niche for himself with over 15 years of experience in celebrity Journalism and Media PR.

    Related Posts

    News December 25, 2022

    NED NWOKO FELICITATES WITH CHRISTIANS AT CHRISTMAS, URGES PEACE AND LOVE AMONG NIGERIANS.

    News December 14, 2022

    SDNON Loses Member, Michael Alonge

    Lifestyle November 11, 2022

    King Brutus celebrates Princess Omoye Iseghohimen on her birthday.

    News November 2, 2022

    Ben tv london emerges as Best Nigerian Television in Diaspora at NMNO Award.

    Lifestyle October 31, 2022

    Titilayo Eboh Mary, The Woman With A Passion For Giving Titilayo Eboh-Mary, The

    News October 24, 2022

    Joshua Iginla condemns the cruel Attack on Apostle Suleman(Video)

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Don't Miss
    People January 22, 2023

    PIPELINE: Paramount Leaders, Stakeholders Commend PINL Operations In Rivers

    PIPELINE: Paramount Leaders, Stakeholders Commend PINL Operations In Rivers. Following adherence to core professionalism…

    Birthday Bash of Princess Jayden Iseghohimen in South Africa.* 

    January 22, 2023

    Intercontinental Prophet, Joshua Iginla Reveals God’s mind on Tinubu, Wike, Peter obi and others As he released 2023 prophecies

    January 3, 2023

    NED NWOKO GREETS NIGERIANS AT NEW YEAR: HARPS ON RESCUE MISSION.

    January 3, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news as they happen

    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    About Us
    About Us

    We are Multimedia company that specializes in Events Coverage and Planning, Media Publicity, Publishing, Awards and Outsourcing in giving styles to your event and creating brand visibility for your products and services.

    Email Us: info@megastarmagazine.com
    Contact: +234 705 311 1111

    Our Picks

    PIPELINE: Paramount Leaders, Stakeholders Commend PINL Operations In Rivers

    January 22, 2023

    Birthday Bash of Princess Jayden Iseghohimen in South Africa.* 

    January 22, 2023

    Intercontinental Prophet, Joshua Iginla Reveals God’s mind on Tinubu, Wike, Peter obi and others As he released 2023 prophecies

    January 3, 2023
    New Comments
    • Nene on Ohanaeze Ndigbo Women Solicits for a Panacea Peace,Unity Progress and promotes culture
    • Favour Egbune on EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: LOVE TO WORK WITH BURNABOY SOON, SAYS KENDRICK AWE.
    • Akpobo on Olu of Warri: Ex-President Jonathan Congratulates Tsola Says His Emergence Divinely Ordained
    • Austine on God is my role model,every other person copied from other people in a way or two – Hopey J
    Megastar Magazine
    YouTube Facebook WhatsApp Instagram
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    © 2023 Megastar Magazine. Designed by MANNDI

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.