Information at our disposal
has it that Enetimi Alfred Odom popularly known as Timaya has joined Telecommunications and ICT giant MTN as a brand ambassador other artistes that were also unveiled include Headies Next rated award winner Seun Morihafen aka Sean Tizzle and Sound Sultan in addition to Dr Sid, Harry Song and Banky W.
It is no doubt that telecommunication companies in Nigeria have in the last four years turned the lives of our stars around for good ensuring they live the good life. Four major Telecom giants MTN, GLO, AIRTEL and ETISALAT have invested about N2 billion in bettering the lots of our entertainers as their brand ambassadors.
A recent report has it that MTN and Glo lead the park with 21 ambassadors each, Etisalat 6, while Airtel has 1. Glo expanded over N600 million on their current ambassadors. MTN, N500 million, Etisalat N190 million and Airtel N30 million. In 2010 P-Square broke the bank when Globacom scooped them up as brand ambassadors with an endorsement fee reportedly worth N240 million. P-Square charges an average of N2 million has performance fee for a show.
Three years earlier, Glo made a full swoop when they signed as ambassadors a host of actors from Nollywood including Chioma Akpota, Desmond Elliot, Uche Jumbo, Mike Ezuruonye, Ini Edo, Ramson Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic and later Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolanya, Van Vicker and Odunlade Adekola, each deal was worth N10 million to N25 million.
In May 2013, Glo made another swoop, this time signing a handful of prominent B-list musicians such as Omawumi, Waje, Flavour, Bez, M. I., Burna boy Naeto C and Lynxxx and Efya who  all joined Lagbaja, their deals varied but scored an average of N20 million each.
MTN who have been promoting and investing in other aspects of entertainment such as project fame music show, who wants to be a millionaire TV game show and International polo tournament amongst others shocked the industry in 2012 when they picked up Davido as an ambassador for their MTN pulse campaign, a deal reportedly worth N30 million.
It took about 13 months for the next set of endorsement deals to come, this time to past three winners of project fame this include singers like Iyanya N40 million, Mike Anyansodo N10 million, Chidinma N20 million and Praize N20 million. The deal came shortly after MTN has poached actor Hafeez Saka Oyetoro who made a famous move from another Telecom Company Etisalat in a sensational deal reportedly worth N25 million.
MTN then went on an endorsement spree signing on some of the biggest contemporary Nigerian musicians like Wizkid N45 million, Tiwa Savage N30 million, KCee N25 million and later on, Don Jazzy along with younger brother D’ Prince. The telecommunication giant added a new set of artistes to its rich list of brand ambassadors at an event held on Wednesday April 30, 2014 in Victoria Island Lagos.
The company unveiled amongst others Timaya and fast rising hiphop artiste cum Headies award winner Seun Morihafen aka Sean Tizzle. The unveiling completes an exclusive constellation of some Nigerian’s finest hiphop artistes who are doing amazingly well in their musical careers and also serve as MTN brand ambassadors. The addition of Timaya and Seun Tizzle brings to 21 the number of MTN brand ambassadors.
Banky  W., Harrybong, Dr Sid and Sound Sultan were recently announced as the ICT Company’s brand ambassadors just as the contracts of Iyanga, Mbuk, Wizkid and a host of others including Yaw Nedu, Mama Gee, Saka and Nkem Owoh aka Osuofia were renewed. Etisalat also broke record when they unveiled star actress, Genevieve Nnaji as their brand ambassador in a deal reportedly worth N100 million.
Culled from Encomium Magazine.