The MTN Group has said it has a plan to invest $3.5 billion in the Nigerian economy over the next five years.
This is part of a broader vision of becoming a pan-African company by moving investments from the Middle East and focusing more on Africa, especially Nigeria, where it gets the highest Return on Investment (RoI).
MTN Group Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas, made this known when he led a delegation to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja at the weekend.
Jonas congratulated the President for the upswing of interest in the country within a short period since he assumed office, May 29, 2023, promising to support in mobilisation of other investors with about $1.5 trillion to look towards Nigeria, “where reforms had been styled to favour business and encourage inclusive development.
“The message you have given us is that Nigeria is investible, and with your election, we are seeing decisive, prompt and keen interest in structural reforms,’’ the MTN Group Chairman noted.
Jonas said the new investment comes with the group’s broader vision of becoming a pan-African company by moving investments from the Middle East and focusing more on Africa, especially Nigeria, where it has been getting the highest return on investment.
He lauded Tinubu for what he considered the upswing of interest in the country within a short period since the President assumed office on May 29, 2023.
He promised to mobilise other investors to invest about $1.5 trillion in Nigeria, where he believed reforms had been styled to favour business and encourage inclusive development. “The message you have given us is that Nigeria is investible, and with your election, we are seeing decisive, prompt and keen interest in structural reforms,’’ the MTN Group chairman noted.
Responding, President Tinubu assured the manufacturing and service sectors that more reforms would be unfolded to enable efficiency and attract investments, saying the ongoing economic ‘‘revolution’’ would be deliberately steered to capture and favour the teeming youths in the country.
He added, “We have a responsibility to revolutionize the economy so that our youths can share in the prosperity of the nation, otherwise we are only waiting for the dreams to be charted.
“If you have any problems or impediments, do let us know. We are ready to remove bottlenecks to investments in the economy,’’ the President noted while acknowledging the sweeping changes across the world, largely driven by technology.
He said the growing rural-urban migration can only be controlled with more investments in digital technology that would directly improve healthcare systems and education for the poor.
“I am happy you are moving from corporate social responsibility to be more incisive and inquisitive with technology so that we can see how we can partner structurally.
“You can do a lot for the economy by partnering with us. We believe no one can succeed alone. The structural adjustments we are making are to ensure we face the right direction and arrive at a destination that caters for our people.
“You and I will make sure that the people have a share of that prosperity. We will, together, build a well-informed society. We have to re-assess the journey. I am glad that the stock market is responding positively to the structural adjustments,’’ he said.
The Group president/chief executive officer of MTN, Ralph Mupita; chairman of MTN Nigeria, Ernest Ndukwe; and MTN Nigeria chief executive officer, Olutokun Karl Toriola, were part of the meeting.