Determined to enrich Nigerians and provide succour to the under-privileged members of the society, leading telecommunications company, Airtel Nigeria, has launched a major CSR programme, Airtel Touching Lives.

This, according to the telco, is a philanthropic gesture designed to connect and alleviate the suffering of helpless people across the country.

An initiative which underscores the company’s determination to enrich lives and contribute to humanity, the programme seeks to identify underprivileged persons with specific challenges, pains and struggles with the ultimate objective of providing the needed help to empower and enrich the lives of these individuals.

Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, yesterday described the programme as a timely, deliberate and responsive CSR initiative aimed at empowering underprivileged Nigerians and tackling the various challenges confronting millions of people.

Ogunsanya noted that the empowerment program could be personal or commercial challenges adding that “it could also be to turn a negative story to positive or a positive story that need more empowerment.”

“At Airtel, we are passionate about the people we serve and the Nigerian society. Airtel Touching Lives provides a platform for the underprivileged in our society to be identified, heard and also cared for,” Ogunsanya said.

“It is our commitment to connect with millions of Nigerians, alleviate their suffering and bring smile to their faces,” the Airtel CEO added.

Ogunsanya also explained that the company primarily embarked on the initiative because of its genuine interest in the general well-being of Nigerians, especially people with special needs.

He added that the project is one of the vehicles by which the company complements the developmental efforts of various governments.

Although already on in Zambia and Ghana, Airtel Touching Lives Season 1 is scheduled to run on both satellite and terrestrial TV stations as a 13-week series with a weekly feature of two individual stories of beneficiaries of the project. It opens with a call for entries from the focus groups over a period of four weeks.

Entries can be sent in via SMS, phone calls to the short code 947 or via email to:
touchinglives@ng.airtel.com

Also, nomination letters not more than 1,000 words can also be submitted at Airtel Showrooms, shops and dealers outlets nationwide. Interested people can also go to Airtel Facebook page and Airtel CSR/Touching Lives web page for further information.

•Photo shows, L-R, Ogunsanya, Mrs. Azizat and Jibril Saba HR Director, Airtel, at the launch of Airtel Touching Lives . . . yesterday in Lagos.