Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobility solutions, and Airtel Niger, Niger’s leading mobile operator have won West Africa Mobile Awards (WAMAS) 2017 for Airtel Money service in the “Social Impact” category. The awards were presented recently at the award ceremony that took place in Lagos, Nigeria.
Airtel Money is the largest mobile financial service in Niger. It is powered by Mahindra Comviva’s mobiquity® Money. Airtel Money creates a Stored Value Account (SVA) linked to customer’s mobile number. The service can be used by the customers for domestic person to person transfers, international remittances, bill payments, merchant payments, transit payments, banking transactions and financial aid disbursements. It has allowed the country to ‘leapfrog’ traditional infrastructural limitations, like lack of banking facilities, and has become the key driver to social and economic change.
Airtel Money has brought many unbanked Nigeriens into the mainstream of the economy. It has increased financial inclusion, as many of its customers were previously unbanked. It also solves the problem of small change during merchant payments, which stimulates even more purchase transactions. It enables businesses by making it easier to pay to creditors, suppliers, or employees with mobile money.
Christophe Erny, Vice President, Market Unit, Mahindra Comviva said, “The award validates Airtel Money’s ability to catalyse social change with life changing solutions and Mahindra Comviva’s expertise in powering such solutions. It further recognizes our efforts to innovate and make an impact towards the overall betterment of the society. We will continue to partner Airtel in delivering life transforming services that enriches the life of Africans.”
Abdelkader Babakodo, Marketing Director, Airtel Niger said, “96.5% of Niger’s adult population is financially excluded, limiting their participation in the economy. On the other hand mobile phone penetration is as high as 35%. Airtel Money fills this gap as it leverages the ubiquity of mobile phones and Airtel’s agent network to deliver quick, secure, affordable and convenient digital payment services to the unbanked and thus brings them into the formal economy. We are happy to say that in a short period of time, Airtel Money Niger has succeeded to bring in socio-economic transformation on a scale. We are proud of this win as it is a validation of our hard work in the country.”
The WAMAS recognize the leading women, men and organizations for their key contribution towards furthering the mobile industry in West Africa. The awards show how mobile connectivity is having a fundamental impact on almost every aspect of the region. The 2017 edition of WAMAS drew over 150 submissions from across 14 countries.
