Popular Nigerian newspaper, LEADERSHIP, has named leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, as the Telecoms Company of the Year, 2012.

This recognition is coming barely three months after Airtel was adjudged the Telecoms Brand of the Year, Customer Friendly Operator and Most Innovative Telecoms Company in Nigeria by organisers of the prestigious Nigerian Telecoms Awards.

Two months ago, the apex regulatory body of human resources practice in Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), also honoured Airtel Nigeria with the Best Human Resources Practices Award (2012) within the Telecommunications sector.

In a citation published in the December 3, 2012 edition of LEADERSHIP, Airtel was commended for its pioneering role in revolutionising the telecommunications sector, its focus in providing high quality customer service and its extra-ordinary effort in transforming education at the primary level.

According to the citation: “Eleven years after entering the Nigerian mobile telecommunications space, Airtel Nigeria has remained focused on providing high quality customer care service, which has won it dozens of awards across the country.

“But the mobile giant is also making waves in another area: Corporate Social Responsibility. For its robust customer service and is extraordinary effort to transform education which has led the company to adopt several schools as ‘our school’ this year, Airtel Nigeria is LEADERSHIP Telecom Company of the year 2012.”

LEADERSHIP also showered encomiums on the telecoms giant for rolling out the widest and largest 3.75G Network in the country, saying: “Airtel Nigeria’s 3.75G network is one of the fastest available and beneficial to large corporations, small and medium businesses and youth…. This has earned it plaudits from customers and regulators.”

Speaking on the recognition, Rajan Swaroop, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, said the company is encouraged by the trust, support and positive encouragement received by the company, as it works to realise its vision of being the most loved in the daily lives of Nigerians.

“While I dedicate this award to my colleagues for their hard work and to our over 22 million customers for their continued patronage, I want to thank the Management of LEADERSHIP Newspaper for recognising us with this great honour. Let me assure Nigerians that we are passionate about empowering telecoms consumers with innovative and affordable solutions just as we are committed to providing educational opportunities for less privileged children across the country,” Swaroop said.

News Express reports that Airtel Nigeria earlier this year announced plans to select nine primary schools under its adopt-a-school programme, a CSR initiative that has made tremendous inroads in the nation’s education system. Under the programme, Airtel renovates and rebuilds selected schools, provides learning materials for the pupils and re-trains teachers.

•Photo: Airtel Nigeria’s CEO/MD, Rajan Swaroop.