UNICEF, Airtel’s Collaboration Empowers Nigerians

Airtel Nigeria and United
Nations Children’s  Fund, (UNICEF)      have entered an agreement to expand their collaboration across all 36 states and FCT in Nigeria.
The partnership will increase access to social change related information and provide opportunities for participation whilst pushing forward U-Report, an innovative project supported by UNICEF.
The agreement allows UNICEF to tap into Airlel’s mobile services to make health, education, child protection and community-focused content available to Airtel Customers across the country.
Though improved connectivity, more Nigerians will have free access to mobile applications and services developed by UNICEF such as U-Report.
U-Report, an innovative SMS based platform empowers Nigerians to participate and engaged in policy-making governance and to access real time information on key social issues.
The platform which was launched officially in Nigeria in April 2015 has over 400,000 registered users.
This makes Nigeria the leading U-Report platform user globally among other countries that are running the same application.
Commenting on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya said the company was committed to empowering Nigerians and is keen on supporting programmes that will enrich the lives of its various stakeholders.
“At Airtel Nigeria, we constantly look for opportunities to excite, delight and empower our customers.
“This innovative partnership with UNICEF offers Nigerians a golden opportunity to transform the country and we are glady to be part of the U-Report project”, he said.
Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria said UNICEF is committed to providing innovative solutions towards better delivery of services and social change.
He said the partnership with Airtel has the potentials to empower millions of Nigerians through access to information and with opportunities to help them transform their societies.
About 15 million text-messages were sent and received through the U-Report Platform while the battled Ebola in 2014 ahead of the official U-Report launch this year.
The awareness messages and real time responses via SMS and on the U-Report Social Media Platforms sent out during the Ebola outbreak were able to combat rumours.