Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced a strategic partnership with leading mobile phone maker, Apple, to officially unveil the iPhone 5s in Nigeria.

With this announcement, Airtel becomes the first mobile telecommunications services provider in Nigeria to officially seal a partnership deal with Apple.

The partnership will offer telecoms consumers across the country an opportunity to purchase the iPhones in Airtel showrooms nationwide or from the outlets of its channel/retail partners, including Slot.

Speaking during an event to unveil the iPhone 5s in Lagos on Monday, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, described the company’s partnership with Apple as the coming together of two great brands, saying the partnership is a demonstration of Apple’s trust in Airtel and indeed in Nigeria.

He added that the partnership underscores Airtel’s unwavering commitment to its vision of becoming Nigeria’s number 1 mobile Internet service provider.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we believe that the future of mobile telephony is mobile Internet and so we are repositioning to revolutionise this landscape with innovative value offerings and strategic partnerships,” Ogunsanya said.

“Our partnership with Apple is a glowing testimony to our desire to lead with Internet. Our enviable track record also provides us a leverage to empower more Nigerians to enjoy super-fast Internet services on their devices and mobile phones on the Airtel network,” he added.

Ogunsanya also noted that Airtel is currently embarking on a wide-scale expansion, modernisation and transformation of its network.

“Our goal is to ensure that telecoms consumers enjoy the best experience on VOICE, VISUAL and VIDEO as they engage and connect with friends and family members as well as transact their businesses on the Airtel network,” he said.

The iPhone 5s is described by telecoms pundits as the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world. iPhone 5s sets a precedent, with an amazing amount of technology in a remarkably thin, light design. It builds on that achievement with Touch ID — a fingerprint identity sensor. An A7 chip with 64-bit architecture. An even more impressive iSight camera. And ultrafast LTE wireless.

The launch of the iPhone 5s held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, attracting several telecoms consumers including prominent journalists, select youths, Airtel’s channel partners and other stakeholders within the telecoms value chain.

•Photo shows (L-R) CEO/MD, Slot Nigeria limited, Nnamdi Ezeigbo, Director, Products and Innovations, Airtel Nigeria, Nitin Anand and Director, Marketing and Brands, Airtel Nigeria, Obinna Anichie and Country Manager, iStore Africa, Sachin Verma at the launch of iphone 5s by Airtel Nigeria . . . Monday in Lagos.