In the words of Sir Winston Churchill “Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.” As more and more people nationwide brace for the immense human, economic, and social cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to reassure everyone. We the staff, management and Board of Directors of MTN Nigeria and the MTN Foundation are committed to doing all we can to help you stay connected and support efforts to contain the outbreak. We are in this together.
COVID-19 is a new test of our collective strength. In response, we have deployed the first phase of a broad set of investments in support of the national effort to contain it. Including:
– Supporting government response efforts:
o Supporting government (Federal and State) with communication systems, analytical response management and risk profiling
o Over N500 million worth of airtime, data and analytics, through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in support to State governments tofacilitate communications during travel restrictions.
– Connecting medical personnel: Over N1.4 billion worth of airtime, data and devices for connectivity support to frontline health agencies including NCDC.
– Connecting customers with essential health information: Free data access to be used to access websites with validated information on COVID.
– Making it easier to stay in touch and support each other:
o Up to 300 free SMS per month for all our subscribers, ensuring they can communicate with loved ones;
o MTN has partnered with Ayoba, a messaging OTT provider, to grant free daily data access to its subscribers.
o Free money transfers using the MoMo Agent Network from Y’ello Digital Financial Services.
During this extraordinary time, it is vital that we are able to stay connected to the people we love, and to the tools and information we need to live and work. We understand this, and recognise the immense importance of reliable telecommunications services during this period and have taken the necessary steps to ensure that the services we provide remain available to our customers, in spite of the disruption. This is why our initial priority has been to focus internally on our systems, processes, structures.
Despite this, it is important to understand that our networks have come under unprecedented pressure as demand has grown rapidly. While all networks ensure there is significant redundancy in place to support peak periods, the level of demand we are seeing consistently exceeds those levels and so, with our regulator, policymakers and colleagues in the industry, we are focused on increasing capacity and sustaining that capacity where it is most needed.
As we continue to work with our stakeholders to assure operational sustainability, we are concentrating on the areas where we can provide the most effective support to the Federal and State governments. A significant part of our commitment is to ensure that our infrastructure can be utilised effectively by health services to guarantee they can carry out their duties. That’s why we have partnered with the NCDC to provide its staff with access to voice and data services, telephones and toll-free lines to co-ordinate their response. The NCDC is at the frontline of our response and needs to be given every chance to contain COVID-19.
We are supporting government at federal and state levels with communication systems, analytical response management and risk profiling. These tools will enhance the capacity and preparedness of each state to manage the outbreak proactively, enabling them to identify the vulnerable segments of the population who require social intervention during the lockdown. In addition, we are partnering with State Governments through the Nigerian Governors Forum to ensure they stay connected during this period and continue to deliver governance remotely. We are committed to providing this support for as long as necessary and will expand it if the pandemic becomes more acute.
One of the most important needs in this digital age is the ability to access reliable, validated information about the nature of this pandemic and how to protect yourselves. That is why our partnership with the NCDC includes a channel enabling the distribution of health information to all our subscribers as needed, and free access for subscribers seeking information from the NCDC through their toll-free lines or on the NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health websites.
We know that many of us are complying with the government’s order to stay at home. To ensure that all our subscribers, but most importantly those in the most vulnerable situations, can continue to communicate with and support their loved ones and friends, we are providing every subscriber with up to 300 free SMS messages per month; and our Y’ello Digital Financial Services subsidiary has suspended transaction fees for all money transfers using the MoMo Agent Network.
Recognising the challenges currently faced by small businesses at this time, MTN – which serves about 2000 SMEs, has also provided all SME customers of its enterprise business with one less thing to worry about: 30 days grace on their March invoices. SME’s unable to pay March invoices will enjoy uninterrupted services through April. This ‘grace period’ is aimed at mitigating the impact of the shutdowns on small businesses, which are the engine of our economy. It will be further assessed as the situation evolves.
Finally, we understand that access to telecommunication services is only one aspect of the solution that Nigeria needs. Access to healthcare, including the ability to identify and contain the infection, is vital. That is why the MTN Foundation has committed N500 million towards addressing emerging medical needs.
The MTN Chairman Ernest Ndukwe said; “The threat that COVID-19 represents to Nigeria requires an unprecedented response from the public and the private sector. We must all work together to develop and deliver the solutions that will allow us to contain this threat and protect the most vulnerable in our communities across the country.
This first phase of support is targeted at the interventions that we are best positioned to deliver at this stage. As the situation evolves, we are fully committed to deepening and extending these commitments in order to provide all the support we can to the government, and to our people. It is only by working together, that we can overcome this challenge. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the collaborative spirit with which all stakeholders are working to contain COVID-19.
We all have a role to play in stemming the upheaval we have seen brought on by this pandemic globally. To protect each other, our families and keep the most vulnerable in our communities healthy we must all make it a priority to STAY SAFE. Listen to health experts, be disciplined about personal hygiene and practice social distancing. Working together, we can change the course of this pandemic. And because ‘We are good together,’ we will get through this.”
Lakinbofa Goodluck
Public Relations Manager
Tier one bank, Fidelity Bank PLC, has been named “Nigeria’s Best Private Bank” at the prestigious Euromoney Awards 2025. The recognition was formally unveiled at the awards ceremony held recently at The Savoy in London. 
Access Holdings PLC (“the Group”) (Bloomberg: ACCESSCO), a leading African financial services group, today, announced its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024. The Group delivered 88% year-on-year growth in gross earnings, rising from N2.594 trillion in 2023 to N4.878 trillion in 2024. The strong performance was driven by diversified income streams, with interest income growing by 110% to N3.480 trillion and non-interest income increasing by 47.8% to N1.397 trillion, supported by robust retail banking activities, digital expansion, and a dynamic trading strategy.Profit before tax (PBT) increased by 19% to N867.0 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) rose to N642.2 billion, despite inflationary and macroeconomic challenges. Total assets grew by 55.5% to N41.498 trillion, and customer deposits rose by 47% to N22.525 trillion. Shareholders’ funds also increased by 72%, reaching N3.760 trillion.In 2024, the Group made significant social and environmental impact across the continent, touching millions of lives and earning multiple industry accolades. Through various corporate social investment initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, health, and the environment, the Group reached over 21 million individuals across Africa. Its employee wellness programmes also covered 28,000 staff across operating entities. Access Bank, the flagship subsidiary, through its W-Initiative, disbursed loans to over a million women-led SMEs, advancing financial inclusion and gender empowerment.The Group’s efforts attracted prestigious recognition and awards, including three Euromoney Awards for Excellence (notably ‘Best Bank for ESG’); International Finance Award for ‘Most Innovative Bank for Community Development and Community Engagement’; and World Economic Magazine Award for ‘Most Sustainable Bank’.In terms of economic sustainability, Access Bank recorded strong strides through its Economic, Social and Governance (ESG) programmes. It facilitated $437.42 million in DFI inflows to support MSMEs across Africa, disbursed 1.6 million digital loans to low-income individuals, and booked its first N1.4 billion diaspora mortgage loan.The Group also achieved a 13.4% reduction in operational emissions, planted 57,302 trees, and enabled solar power adoption for 226 homes and businesses. Its headquarters was awarded the IFC EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Green Building Certification for sustainable design and construction
L-R: Chairman, Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR; His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON; Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Governor of Delta State, Rt.Hon. (Elder) Sherrif Oborevwori, during the admission of Jim Ovia to the Freedom of the City of London in the United Kingdom, on Monday.
