Zain Nigeria, Ericsson, and the Earth Institute fight poverty in Millennium Village in Nigeria with mobile technology
May 24, 2009 by tim
Chief Executive Officer, Zain Nigeria, Bayo Ligali and the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, during the commissioning of communication service provided by Zain, Ericsson and the Earth Institute as part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s anti-poverty effort, the Millennium Village Development Project, in Pampaida, Kaduna State, Nigeria, ...today
Leading mobile operator in the Middle East and Africa, Zain, and leading telecom equipment supplier, Ericsson, have joined partners to lift 5,000 in rural Nigeria, out of the throes of poverty through the provision of mobile telecom service.
Working with the Millennium Villages Project which is run by the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) these world-renowned organizations have deployed communications services to fight poverty in a largely rural area of the country, pushing some of the poorest regions of Nigeria towards achieving the nationally endorsed UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The installation of mobile technology is part of the Millennium Villages Project which is a community-based initiative designed to empower the people of Pampaida in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State of Nigeria. It is helping to improve agricultural production, a foundation of the region’s economy, thus reducing poverty. Additional benefits include improving access to health, education and infrastructure, all under the umbrella of achieving the MDGs by 2015.
With the aim of bridging the digital divide and breaking the isolation that hampers development in rural Africa, the Millennium Village Project has a set objective of bringing mobile communication and the internet service to more than half a million people in select villages in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Chief Executive Officer of Zain Nigeria, Bayo Ligali says the company is collaborating with Ericsson to provide communications solutions that will help to improve the quality of life of people in one of the remotest parts of Nigeria.
“The Pampaida project is part of Zain’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes of creating and helping people to appreciate a wonderful world. The communication solutions that have been deployed will enable the people of Pampaida to make calls, access health services and education and improve their economic status,” he said.
“We are creating enormous opportunities for this community and we expect the impact of this project to outlive our generation. Jobs will be created, relationships will be enhanced and the communication gap between this community and the rest of the world will be bridged and a whole new communication experience, a truly wonderful world, will be created for the people of Pampaida.”
“The power of access to mobile communication to potentially transform lives in rural African villages and improve life, provide access to health care and education, create new business opportunities and create access to markets, and ultimately to help eradicate extreme poverty is well documented across the world.
According to him, “at Zain Nigeria, we are convinced that the attendant benefits and potential of this project will fast-track transformation of the lives of many of the residents of Pampaida from their current status especially economic position to one of ‘wealth’, he added.
Also speaking about the project, Leif Edwall, President of Ericsson Nigeria says ”By working with Zain and the Earth Institute, Ericsson is able to focus its contribution on bringing mobile voice and internet services to the community which enable access to health, education and small business. The project is one concrete example where we are realizing our commitment to the MDGs, while at the same time stimulating positive business impacts in Africa.
Zain and Ericsson have deployed a 2G/3G network in this village. Ericsson’s Fixed Wireless Terminals will improve coverage and connectivity in schools, health clinics, community centers and ICT kiosks. Zain will also provide a toll-free number and established emergency numbers to improve access to healthcare and emergency services especially to connect patients with on-duty medical personnel while Sony-Ericsson has provided handsets to community health workers.
