9mobile, Nigeria’s fourth largest telecom operator by market size, has appointed Obafemi Banigbe as its new chief executive officer.
According to a statement, this strategic move marks a significant step in the company’s broader plan to initiate a new phase of business transformation.
Formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria, 9mobile was acquired by Teleology Holdings with the vision of a turnaround.
However, the operator has continued to face challenges in the Nigerian market. Since its peak of 22 million subscribers in October 2016, 9mobile has seen a decline, dropping to just over 15 million in November 2018. Currently, the operator has 11.7 million voice subscribers and 3.3 million internet users, according to the National Bureau of Statistics Telecoms Data released on Monday.
The statement further disclosed that Banigbe, who is a seasoned telecom expert and technology business leader, brings extensive experience at the C-suite level and a profound understanding of the African business landscape.
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He succeeds Juergen Peschel, who will continue to support 9mobile as a consultant, assisting with the ongoing transformation process initiated under his leadership.
Banigbe’s career in the telecoms industry began at Celtel (now Airtel Nigeria) as the Director of Operations. He has held significant roles at Ericsson within the Sub-Saharan Africa Market Unit and at Millicom in Ghana and Tanzania.
Notably, he was previously the Chief Operations Officer at Millicom Ghana and served as Interim CEO, as well as Chief Technical Officer for Millicom Ghana and Tanzania.
The Board of 9mobile believes Banigbe will play a crucial role in shaping the future of 9mobile by providing superior customer experience and sustaining network quality.
Banigbe added, “I am delighted to join the 9mobile family and I look forward to using my experience and unique value propositions to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey.”
