By Prince Osuagwu
MTN Nigeria last week said it was still committed to driving economic growth in Nigeria by supporting activities that would truly direct the country on the path of economic renaissance.
The company through its Key officials, at the Michael Porter Seminar in Lagos, last week noted that Nigeria was key to the company’s growth.

Porter is a Harvard University scholar and Comparative Strategy expert.
Speaking at the event, the company CEO, Mr Ahmad Farroukh, said that “Nigeria is a big market for MTN. We are committed to playing our part in the national effort to reposition the economy and this is why MTN Nigeria decided to support the initiative to bring the world renowned business strategist, Professor Porter to Nigeria to lead discussions on Nigeria’s competitiveness.”

The seminar, with the theme Enhancing Nigeria’s Competitiveness Through Public-Private Collaboration brought eminent Nigerian personalities like the governors of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and Anambra State, Peter Obi, as well as top executives of MTN, captains of industry and top executives of blue chip companies, among numerous others.

MTN Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Derek Appiah, in his remarks also emphasised Porter’s earlier assertion that for Nigeria to be competitive, it needed to enthrone productivity culture even as the public and private sectors also needed to collaborate.  According to Appiah, “events like this Michael Porter Seminar enable us to understand each other, speak with one voice and, more importantly, collaborate. MTN Business is a division focused on assisting businesses realize their full potential by enabling them to become more productive through an array of innovative products and services. That is why we spearheaded the sponsorship of this initiative which has allowed critical stakeholders to come together and understand what needs to be done to put the country’s economy on the path of recovery”.

Meanwhile, MTN  Nigeria Chairman, Dr Pascal Dozie, at the event, described Competitive Strategy as ‘a crucial catalyst for our national revival’, stressing that MTN’s business strategy underscores the need to sponsor activities that stimulate economic growth, such as the Michael Porter seminar,  which, according to him, may well be the tipping point towards Nigeria’s economic ascendancy.

He called for the creation of an enabling environment to ensure that the key drivers for Nigeria’s competitiveness are in place. “I speak of the solid foundation created by an enabling operating environment which will attract foreign direct investment and stimulate local manufacturing and industry. These elements include: the presence of the rule of law to enforce the sanctity of contract; improved security of lives and property; consistent government policies and forward planning; provision of a world class infrastructure – electricity, roads, transport; port reform and a comprehensive review of land tenure; stable government and a marked decrease in corruption.

Reiterating the company’s interest in further sponsoring events such as the seminar, Corporate Services Executive of the company, Mr. Wale Goodluck, said the sponsorship of such seminars by MTN would continue because “we need sessions like this to enable Nigeria  realize the goal of being among the top 20 economies by year 2020″.