Fidelity Bank partners  WorldRemit on mobile money

Digital money transfer service WorldRemit has joined forces with Fidelity Bank, one of Nigeria’s top financial services providers, for instant money transfers to four million Fidelity Bank accounts in Nigeria.

The new partnership further expands WorldRemit’s footprint in the country and allows the 15 million-strong Nigerian diaspora living in over 50 countries - including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany - to send money directly from their phones to recipients in Nigeria. The deal supports WorldRemit’s plan to serve 10 million customers connected to emerging markets by 2020.

Fidelity Bank is one of the largest banks in Nigeria with an extensive network of branches across the country. The bank is committed to innovating its digital products to provide convenience and ease of banking for its customers. The collaboration with WorldRemit supports Fidelity Bank’s dedication to innovation and increasing financial inclusion.

Remittances play an increasingly important role in Nigeria’s economy. The World Bank estimates that in 2017 alone Nigeria received over $22 billion in remittances, making it the largest recipient in Africa and fifth largest recipient globally.

Regional Director of Africa and the Middle East at WorldRemit, Andrew Stewart, says: “Nigeria remains our largest and fastest growing market in Africa, and WorldRemit’s second biggest market globally. We are delighted to be partnering with Fidelity, a leading bank in Nigeria and a major player in the remittance business, to introduce its customers to our best in class online money transfer service, which offers a safer, faster and more cost-effective way to send and receive funds.”

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, comments: “WorldRemit offers a low-cost way to send and receive money. The opportunity for our customers to receive money from over 50 countries in a quick, affordable and convenient manner with WorldRemit is in line with our promise to deliver a new standard of service in the financial services industry.”

Last year, WorldRemit became Arsenal FC’s first-ever online money transfer partner in a global sponsorship deal. WorldRemit customers complete one million transfers every month from over 50 countries to over 145 destinations. More than half of its transfers go to Africa.

9mobile Acquisition on Course as Parties Agree to Extension of Timeline

 The Board of 9mobile has announced the extension of the timeline for closure of the acquisition process, a company statement inked by CEO, Boye Olusanya, said.

The timeline extension, we understand, was considered necessary to enable parties involved in the sale process to finalise the requisite transaction documentation to facilitate a smooth closure and transition to the new investor.

“The Board of 9mobile is pleased with the progress made thus far and expects the acquisition process to be completed as soon as possible. Further updates in this regard will be provided in due course.

We hereby thank our invaluable customers for their support and reiterate our continuing commitment to providing best-in-class telecommunication service,” stated Olusanya.

…Partners Girl Effect, iSON to Empower Girls

Meanwhile, 9mobile, has reiterated its commitment to the development and empowerment of the girl-child by partnering with Girl Effect, a not-for-profit, and iSON Group, an IT company, to facilitate delivery of a unique service that enables girls to listen to pre-recorded inspiring stories on their mobile phones and then connect to a specially trained role model who provides answers to their questions.

Tagged Girls Connect, this initiative is a pioneering partnership created by Girl Effect - a Non-governmental organisation (NGO) that uses media and mobile technology to empower girls, and IT company, iSON Group. Together they developed the innovative service that enables girls to draw inspiration using an interactive voice response platform on their mobile phones, and also learn more from qualified women that talk through the stories they have heard to make them more meaningful to the girls’ lives.   

With 9mobile’s support for the initiative, girls and young female adults will be able to access on-the-go and free of charge, information that can enhance their economic wellbeing, state of health and wellness as they interact with the specially-trained role models on their mobile phones.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Kano on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 the Chief Human Resource Officer, 9mobile, Abigail Isokpan, said the partnership was borne out of the telecom company’s passion for development of its customers, host communities, and indeed Nigeria.

“We are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to create value; and one of the ways we are achieving this is by aligning our business agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have been consistent in seeking ways to drive sustainability of our business through platforms and programmes that ensure progress of our critical stakeholders, in recognition of the fact that their success is our success. Girls Connect is one of such platforms”, she stated.

Describing the initiative as ground-breaking, she said Girls Connect is designed to improve the lives of girl-children in Nigeria in line with the key objectives of the SDGs, which include elimination of poverty, promotion of good health and wellbeing, economic growth, and bridging inequalities especially for the girl-child.

Isokpan added that, “All these goals tie-in to the ideals and objectives of Girls Connect, therefore we are pleased to be partnering on this initiative. At 9mobile, we are mindful of our responsibility as a corporate citizen, and as such we are appreciative of opportunities such as this, that enable us to build on our work in making the Nigerian society healthier, safer, and more productive.”  

She also revealed that the Girls Connect initiative further enables 9mobile to utilise its core competence as a telecommunications company and to affirm its position as a leader in leveraging technology to promote social good.

Girl Effect and iSON Group ran a successful pilot of Girls Connect across five locations in Kano last year.  44,000 calls were made to the service during the eight-week campaign, five times more than originally expected. With the support of partners including 9mobile, Arewa24, and respective State Governments and Ministries of Women Affairs, the initiative is now live in Kano state and will be launched in Edo State later this month. The service is accessible in Hausa language and Pidgin.

9mobile over the past nine years has been at the forefront of promoting and supporting initiatives that make positive impact on its stakeholders across Nigeria. It instituted the first taught Master’s Programme in Telecommunications Engineering in West Africa at the Ahmadu Bello University; and has awarded scholarships to undergraduates in more than 30 universities across Nigeria under its Merit Awards programme.

Through its Adopt-a-School initiative, it has built and renovated educational structures as well as provided ICT equipment to primary and secondary schools, and conducted teacher’s training programmes in three states. It has also distributed tens of thousands of insecticide-treated nets to communities most affected by the malaria scourge; and continues to tackle HIV/AIDS by enabling subscribers make toll-free calls to receive information on its prevention and control.

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Kwesé TV, 9mobile Ink Distribution Agreement           

Kwesé TV, Nigeria’s newest satellite pay-TV network, and 9mobile have signed a distribution agreement for the sale of Kwesé TV decoders through 9mobile Experience Centres across Nigeria.

With this strategic partnership, prospective Kwesé TV customers can easily walk into any participating 9mobile stores and purchase a Kwesé kit comprising a dish, decoder, including one-month free subscription, and installation for N10,960.

This partnership which will be rolled out through a phased approach has been launched in key 9mobile Experience Centres situated at The Palms Shopping Mall, Ikeja City Mall, Adeola Odeku Street on Victoria Island, Mushin, Surulere and Festac Town; all in Lagos.

Kwesé TV offers 70+ premium channels for family viewing with an extensive programming line-up including wholesome children’s programs, live sports, lifestyle shows, movies, series and so much more! Kwesé’s appeal is not only its world-class content but its innovative industry-first ‘pay as you watch’ payment model which gives customers the choice between purchasing 3-day, 7-day and 30-day subscription packages to its full entertainment and sports bouquet.

The partnership with 9mobile will also see 9mobile subscribers access the Kwesé iflix app through exclusive video data bundles for the Kwesé iflix 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day VIP passes.

Speaking about the partnership, General Manager, Kwesé TV Nigeria, Elizabeth Amkpa, said: “This partnership extends our distribution network and makes our products accessible to even more Nigerian consumers. We are currently operating in select 9mobile Experience Centres in Lagos, and we will soon be available in other major cities across the country in partnership with 9mobile.”

Also commenting, Vice President, Marketing, 9mobile, Adebisi Idowu, said, “We are excited to be working with Nigeria’s newest pay-TV provider to offer premium TV and video content to our customers. This newest partnership is a further demonstration of our commitment to continuously deliver innovative services that enable Nigerians to enjoy more, across all our brand touchpoints.”

Adebisi added that 9mobile will continue to forge partnerships and build bridges that enrich the lives of its teeming customers and enable them to enjoy best in class quality of service (QoS) at all times. “9mobile is determined to continue meeting the passion point of Nigerians, especially, customers on the network; and Kwesé TV offers yet another major platform to do so”, he enthused.

9mobile has been acknowledged as Nigeria’s most innovative and customer-friendly telecommunication company, and through its revolutionary fastest data package, Moreblaze, it has consistently offered its tech-savvy customers functional innovations thereby setting the market pace for competitive offerings in meeting the clients’ wants and needs.