MTN replaces 285 expatriates with Nigerian workers

Leading digital mobile operator, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, has replaced 285 expatriates with Nigerian workers in a move to save costs and also encourage local content in the company.

The Corporate Service Executive, MTN, Mr. Wale Goodluck, disclosed this at MTN Leadership Forum in Abuja, where leading management author, Dr. Ram Charan, spoke on the imperatives of growing the Nigerian economy.

Goodluck said at the time MTN entered Nigeria in 2001, the company had expatriate staff of 300, but added that the burden of catering for the large expatriate workers was heavy, thereby informing the decision to replace them with Nigerians.

He said MTN was able to replace the expatriates through the twin policy of poaching Nigerians in the Diaspora and investing in the training of local engineers.

Goodluck added that the investment of the company in training of Nigerian engineers had paid off, with MTN now sending them to work in other countries.

Delivering the lecture, which was attended by key persons in government, including the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Prof. Nwanze Okidegbe, Charan said it was important for the Federal Government to focus on a few things in order to attract quality Foreign Direct Investments.

Charan said it was difficult for any nation to make it without sufficient FDIs, adding that Nigeria did not need to eliminate corruption before jump-starting the economy.

Positing that corruption was inherent in all countries, he said while Nigeria could put some energy into fighting it, the most important thing to do was to pick a few things to focus on and create the large picture in the minds of the people.

In a similar development, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, emphasised the need to raise the human capital to ensure the transformation of the nation.

Angaye, who spoke at the opening of an ICT capacity-building workshop for senators in Abuja on Thursday, said NITDA had embarked on massive investment in ICT capacity-building.

“The development of requisite ICT human capital will enhance the capacities of individuals and working teams, whilst improving organisation systems and process as well as fostering national development, economic growth and global competitiveness,” he said.

The NITDA boss added that well-developed human capital would enhance productivity and provide additional source of foreign exchange for the country.