By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
One of Nigeria’s eminent Corporate Communications gurus, Ichie Emeka Oparah, has been appointed the Vice President Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Africa Plc.
Prompt News reports that Oparah has resumed at his new office in Dubai, United Aran Emirates (UAE), where he will be overseeing the company’s affairs in 14 countries including Nigeria.
Imo State-born, Oparah announced his new appointment, which he christened “From Nigeria to Africa” on his Facebook page, maintaining that the “glory goes to The Great Architect Of The Universe!”.
The statement in the social media read in parts: “From Nigeria to Africa…!!! Today, after 19 and a half years in Airtel Nigeria, I formally resumed a new position in Dubai, UAE, as the Vice President Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Africa Plc, with responsibility for 14 countries.
“To all who supported me along the way as I journeyed in my career, I will forever be in debt of gratitude.
“All the glory goes to The Great Architect Of The Universe!”
Oparah, a graduate of Mass Communications from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has over 25 years of consistent Communications practice spanning Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, Events, Sponsorships and Corporate Social Responsibility.
He is one of Nigeria’s leading experts in Crisis Communication, Leadership Transition and Rebranding. He is reputed for managing the ownership and management crisis, seven leadership changes and six brand name changes in one of the leading telecommunications companies in Nigeria.
As Vice President, Corporate Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility, he led the team that developed the strategies and executed various activities in the management of Media Relations, Social Media Communications, Consumer Affairs, Internal Communications, Government Relations and Social Investments.
Oparah has deep, high-level knowledge of the working of the local and international media, government and regulatory agencies and also maintains a wide network of contacts and friends in the media, social media, various state governments and the Federal Government as well as the Nigerian Parliament (the National Assembly).
Aside pioneering and establishing the Corporate Communications function in the organization (which is now AIRTEL Nigeria), he also initiated and produced the first ever consumer magazine in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, led the team that managed the ownership crisis in the organization between 2004 and 2006, anchored the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards in 2008 in Abuja Nigeria as well as Idols West Africa in 2007.
