EMTS in talks with Etisalat Nigeria to keep brand name

Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd (EMTS), trading as Etisalat Nigeria, has admitted that the Nigeria arm is still the soul of its business.

The company was reacting to news of Etisalat Group’s withdrawal of the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria by EMTS, stating that it “still has a valid and subsisting agreement with the Etisalat Group, which entitles EMTS to use the Etisalat brand, notwithstanding the recent changes within the Company”.

According to a statement by Etisalat Nigeria vice-president of corporate affairs, Ibrahim Dikko, “discussions are ongoing between EMTS and Etisalat Group pertaining to the continued use of the brand, and EMTS will issue a formal statement once discussions are concluded”.

“The final outcome on the use of the brand in no way affects the operations of the business as our full range of services remain available to our customers.

“EMTS launched in Nigeria in 2008 with ‘0809ja’ to affirm the ‘Nigerianness’ of our origin and sphere of influence. In our 9 years of operation, we have remained a prime driver and avid supporter of the Nigerian spirit of excellence, and we will continue to stay true to our ‘Naijacentric identity’.

“This notion is strongly reflected in our core messages and depicted in major projects and initiatives which we have been known to support. All these initiatives have their foundation embedded in supporting key aspects of the Nigerian fabric: building Nigerian businesses and empowering Nigerian’s with a focus on the youth.

“EMTS is here to stay and we wish to assure our esteemed customers that our core values of youthfulness, customer-centricity and innovation will remain the pillars on which we operate.

“We thank our esteemed customers for their abiding faith in us.”