News
Airtel elevates Dinesh Balsingh to Chief Commercial Officer


- Appoints Solanke and Kupoluyi Directors
BY: Justice Godfry
Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has elevated Dinesh Balsingh, erstwhile Marketing Director, to the position of Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately.
The company has also announced the appointments of Seun Solanke as Information Technology Director and Femi Kupoluyi as Sales & Distribution Director.
In his new role, Dinesh will directly supervise Airtel’s Sales & Distribution, Marketing, Customer Service and Regional Operations functions with responsibility for growing revenue market share, customer market share, brand development, customer experience as well as leading and driving innovation.
Dinesh, an alumnus of TSM in South India, has over 20 years’ experience spanning the entire marketing spectrum including Products, Customer Lifecycle Management, Data & Content, Revenue Planning and Brand.
Prior to his role as Marketing Director, Airtel Nigeria, he was Vice President for Tata Docomo, India (2011-2013) managing National Prepaid Product Marketing. Dinesh also had stints of Chief Marketing Officer for Airtel across India, including one of India’s largest telecom circle, Mumbai, Maharashtra & GOA. Prior to that, he has managed various assignments across Hutch and BPL Mobile.
Dinesh began his career in 1995 as a Business Development Executive at Parry Agro, South India and later took up a role as Sales & Marketing Manager for TVS Rubber, India
Seun Solanke joined Airtel Nigeria from Ericsson MEA where he was hitherto the Senior Director & Head of Solution Area BSS for Middle East & Africa and Director & Head of Digital Services Customer Unit, Nigeria. Prior to his role at Ericsson MEA, he worked at Oracle as the Digital Sales Lead for Nigeria.
Solanke started his career as a Middleware Architect at Hewlett Packard Enterprises in Houston, Texas, growing rapidly through the ranks to become the Engagement & Pursuit Centers Manager, Greece & Africa over nine years later. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Systems from the Morgan State University, Baltimore and he is an alumnus of the Said Business School – University of Oxford.
Femi Kupoluyi has over 20 years cross-functional experience in relationship management, sales and marketing operations, forecasting and planning.
Prior to his appointment as Sales & Distribution Director, Airtel Nigeria, he was the Franchise Director, North and Central Region for Coca-Cola Nigeria and has been responsible for the design and implementation of profitable product portfolio growth models that revived and drove the growth of Coca-Cola Light and Fanta Flavour segments.
Kupoluyi holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) and an MBA from the University of Benin.


Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.


The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
News
Family Marks one-year Memorial of Late APC Chieftain, Ojougboh with Charity Outreach
By Ikenna Oluka


The family of the late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, led by his wife, Mrs. Bose Ojougboh, marked his one-year memorial anniversary with a series of charitable initiatives aimed at honoring his legacy of philanthropy and service to society.
The memorial activities included the donation of school books and bags to pupils of Erigbe Primary School, in Agbor within the Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education.
The outreach also included extension of financial assistance to patients at Central Hospital, Agbor, and the provision of toiletries, cash, and food items to children at the Salve Regina Children’s Home, Agbor.
The outreach was carried out under the ‘Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation’, a family-led initiative established to immortalise him and continue his lifelong commitment to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Speaking during the event which took place recently, Mrs. Ojougboh reaffirmed the family’s dedication to sustaining the ideals of the late APC chieftain, describing him as a man who strongly believed in education and giving back to society.
“We are here to celebrate the life of my husband, Late Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who passed on a year ago. In his honour, we decided to give back to society. He was a man who valued education and was always willing to help others. It is only fitting that we continue his legacy through acts of generosity,” she stated.
Honouring his passion for education
The first visit was to Erigbe Primary School, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education. The Foundation distributed school bags, writing materials, and food packs to the pupils. The family encouraged the pupils to take their education seriously and strive to become responsible citizens.
Supporting patients at Central Hospital, Agbor
At Central Hospital, Agbor, Mrs. Ojougboh and her entourage moved through the medical wards, offering financial support to patients to assist with their treatment costs. The hospital staff and beneficiaries responded with prayers and words of gratitude for the kind gesture.
Reaching out to orphaned children
The outreach team also visited Salve Regina Children’s Home in Agbor where they donated cash, food items, and toiletries to the children.


The Matron of the home expressed her deep appreciation to the Ojougboh family, commending their commitment to sustaining the late politician’s legacy of compassion and social impact.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh’s enduring legacy
Reflecting on her late husband’s contributions to society, Mrs. Ojougboh emphasised that his legacy of generosity and service to humanity would not be forgotten.
“Dr. Cairo was a selfless man who touched many lives. His contributions to the Nigerian political landscape, his mark in Agbor Kingdom, Delta State, and the country at large, will always be remembered. He may be gone, but his impact will continue to be felt for generations,” she said.
The Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has pledged to continue supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives in his memory, ensuring that his vision for a better society lives on.