By Amara Samura -15th August 2019
On Tuesday August 6th 2019, Africell Holding Limited reaffirmed its US$100M financing agreement with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) at a signing ceremony held at the American Embassy in Freetown. OPIC is a US government agency that finances and supports investment by American businesses in emerging markets.
Since Africell was established in 2001, it has made itself as the leading operator in the country, because of the quality leadership exhibited by the Chief Executive Officer Shadi Gerjawi and his dedicated team.
It must be emphasized that Africell is where they are today, because of team spirit, commitment, hard work and upholding the values of the company.
The announcement of the signing ceremony did not come as a surprise to the people of Sierra Leone because of the good work they have done since it was established.
Since the Company started operations in the country, it has stood the test of time to compete in the telecoms industry, beating rival service providers in almost every aspect including but not limited to the provision of quality and reliable network, fast internet service, low data tariff and expansion of coverage among others.
This development attracted thousands of subscribers to the company more than any other GSM operator. Africell has no doubt made name for itself over the years as a result of the dedication of staff lead by Shadi Gerjawi.
When he took over the Company, Shadi injected life, new innovations and motivations in their operations which have made it number one in telecoms in the country.
With its prudent financial management, the Company has been able to stand the test of time and supported government on all issues that affects the people. We saw Africell’s participation in the ‘Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, launched by the First Lady, the consultative conference on peace consolidation organized by government, the country’s independence anniversary, in addition to sympathizing and consoling the government and people during the Ebola outbreak and mudslide among several other national events.
As a company with several experts with reservoir of knowledge, they have indeed revolutionized the struggling telecoms industry in the country with unmatched fresh ideas and new innovations.
As a responsible Company under Shadi Gerjawi, Africell has created lots of jobs for Sierra Leoneans especially young people in different areas in line with the country’s Local Content Policy. This has eventually helped to elevate the status of these Sierra Leonean employees financially to enable them take care of their families.
In the area of their corporate social responsibility, it is on record that their contribution in that direction over the years speaks volume for itself. It is on record that they are on the lead and has received several commendations from the communities they are operating.
The Founder and Chairman of Africell, Ziad Dalloul has said it all that “The Company is indeed the leading telecommunications and data operator in Sierra Leone and they intend to sustain and enrich it with the support of the OPIC funding.”
The company has continued to promote education through the awarding of scholarships to deserving Sierra Leonean students at all levels from primary to tertiary.
Quite recently we saw the distribution of over ten thousand geometry sets to pupils who sat the 2019 NPSE across the country by the Company. The Company has also launched the Africell School Coding Camp that targeted one hundred and twenty pupils across the country. The objective is to train Secondary School pupils with computation culminating into skills that will lead them to the development of computer applications and Tech-Starts with the view to solve complex problems relating to health, traffic and environmental management among others.
The Chief of Human Resource, Abdul Aziz Gabisi once told me that Africell is not only operating to make profit, but also alleviating the economic situation of its numerous subscribers in the face of the prevailing circumstances.
In that regards, the company has launched several attractive products and promotions over the years as a way of giving back to its customers for which they have continued to express their appreciation.
It is no secret that Shadi Gerjawi will not have succeeded in moving Africell to this level without the tremendous support of the staff especially Mr. Abdul Aziz Gabisi, Joe Abass Bangura, Houssam Jaber and the Director of Marketing backed by the prudent media specialist John Conteh who has always being at the forefront propagating Africell work among several others.
It will interest you to know that 90% of the workers are Sierra Leoneans thereby adhering to the local content policy enacted by Parliament two years ago.
Africell is indeed not only a ‘Kombra’ company but also a ‘Talk and Do Company.’ They are leaders for others in the telecom sector to follow; and Africell is here to stay!
