Vice President of Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Africa, Emeka Oparah in a Facebook post writes on his 21 years career in the Telecommunications sector.
Last Saturday, I clocked 21 years in the telecommunications industry!
I was delighted to receive a notification, early on Saturday morning, from the great Airtel Africa HR team reminding me of and congratulating me for my dedicated service to the organization!
Yes, I have spent all of 21 years in the same organization with neither shame nor regret but delight and a sense of accomplishment. Of course, there have been low moments, but overall, it has been an amazing journey.
In return, I want to thank Airtel Africa for providing me with the platform and opportunity to demonstrate my God-given talents. And what a journey!!!
I can never forget the concerns expressed by family and friends, including my parents, over my decision to leave the known (Cadbury Nigeria Plc), where I had built my name, to the unknown (Econet Wireless)!
I will not forget the changes from Econet to Vodacom to V-Mobile to Celtel to Zain and eventually to Airtel. I witnessed it all and played a significant role in those momentous occasions of ownership, brand and management changes. I’m not sure I know how I survived it all except to say God loved me (and still loves me) extravagantly!!!
When the “turbulence” started immediately I joined the company in 2002, to those who loved me, it was like “Emeka, but we told you!”. The HR Director of Cadbury Nigeria, a very good man, Mr Dayo Olawaiye (God bless you sir), kept reminding me that my position as Media Relations Manager was still kept vacant, just in case I wanted to escape and return!
But I trusted God and persevered and believed that the storms and dark clouds would ultimately give way to sunshine and bright blue skies. The rest, as they say, is history!
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I am realizing my childhood dream is probably one of the best places to work regardless of its imperfections and I don’t take it for granted.
To my Chairman, Sunil Barthi Mittal, I remain in awe of your doggedness, your determination and your commitment to making history in the global telecommunications industry.
To my boss, brother and friend, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, I cannot thank you enough for believing in me and trusting me and also giving me the opportunity to serve, learn and grow. I have absolutely no words for your choice to give me the chance despite all odds. Together, you and I have expanded our service, our focus, our clout and our mandate from Nigeria to Africa!
Finally, I thank God for His extravagant love and munificence bestowed so generously on a mostly undeserving Widow’s Son, the humble son of poor primary school teachers whose name is now firmly on the global map of business leaders and telecommunications experts.
Guess what? I believe my journey has just begun. Insha Allah, there’s great plenty yet to come!!!
