Airtel Nigeria CEO Calls for AI, Intelligent Technology Adoption to Drive Nigeria's Economic Growth

Airtel Nigeria CEO Calls for AI, Intelligent Technology Adoption to Drive Nigeria's Economic Growth

The Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, has urged business leaders to embrace intelligent technology platforms to accelerate Nigeria's digital transformation, improve productivity, and drive sustainable economic growth.

LAGOS – The Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, has called on business leaders across Nigeria to prioritise investments in intelligent technology platforms, saying the country's future economic competitiveness will depend on the adoption of digital solutions powered by artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced connectivity.

Speaking at the Lagos Business School Breakfast Club on the theme, "From Telco to TechCo," Balsingh said the telecommunications industry is rapidly evolving beyond providing connectivity to becoming a strategic technology partner for enterprises and government institutions.

According to him, businesses are no longer seeking internet access alone but are demanding technology solutions that enhance operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and accelerate digital transformation.

"The role of telecommunications has fundamentally changed. Businesses are no longer asking only for connectivity; they want solutions that improve productivity, strengthen security, and accelerate digital transformation," he said.

Balsingh explained that the next phase of digital growth will be driven by intelligent ecosystems built on artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), satellite connectivity, and integrated enterprise solutions.

He noted that the value of telecommunications is increasingly measured by the business outcomes technology delivers rather than the volume of data consumed, adding that investments are now focused on AI-powered customer protection, industry-specific digital platforms, IoT solutions, and hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks capable of extending reliable connectivity to underserved communities and remote business locations.

The Airtel Nigeria CEO said sectors including retail, healthcare, education, manufacturing, government, and the oil and gas industry require integrated digital infrastructure combining cloud services, intelligent networking, automation, surveillance, and data analytics to remain competitive.

He urged organisations to rethink their digital priorities, stressing that future business success would depend on becoming more connected, intelligent, secure, automated, and resilient.

"The organisations that will lead the next decade are those that invest today in intelligent digital infrastructure. Our customers are no longer buying connectivity alone. They are investing in productivity, intelligence, and digital transformation," he added.

The breakfast session also featured the Christian Ebeke, who joined business executives and industry leaders in discussing emerging trends shaping enterprise development and Nigeria's digital economy.

Airtel Nigeria said its participation at the event reflects the company's commitment to supporting Nigeria's digital transformation by providing innovative technologies that enhance business efficiency, strengthen resilience, and unlock new growth opportunities across the economy.