9mobile appoints Obafemi Banigbe as CEO as it prepares for ‘transformation’

Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), trading as 9mobile, announced the hiring of Obafemi Banigbe, a telecommunications expert and technology business leader, as its Chief Executive Officer.

The company said in a statement on Thursday evening that the appointment was part of “preparations for a new phase of business transformation.”

New CEO Banigboye takes over from Juergen Peschel, who the company said will remain as a consultant to support the business transformation process that has begun under his leadership.

According to a statement, the transition is in line with 9mobile’s tradition of business continuity and is intended to facilitate the launch of the company’s end-to-end business transformation.

His profile

Highlighting the career of the newly appointed helmsman, 9mobile said:

“Banigbe started his telecom career at Celtel, now known as Airtel Nigeria, as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Ericsson within the Sub-Saharan Africa market unit, culminating in the prestigious role of Network Support Group Manager for Access and Transport Networks.

“He was previously the Chief Operating Officer at Millicom Ghana, where he developed the operational strategy for the company in Ghana. His journey at Millicom Group includes key positions such as Interim CEO and previous responsibilities as Chief Technical Officer at Millicom Ghana and Millicom International Cellular Tanzania.

“Banigbe’s diverse international experience includes countries such as the United States and several African countries. He was previously the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Silver Rock Technology Services Ghana, a strategic consulting firm specializing in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors. He also served as a non-executive director of Amplitude Telecoms, a tower infrastructure provider in Nigeria.”

The company added that as a member of the Telecel Group Advisory Board, Banigbe played a key role in leading the group’s successful acquisition of Vodafone Ghana. He has enriched his advisory portfolio by contributing insights to Nsano Group, a leading Fintech platform operating across multiple African countries, and previously lent his experience to the Kirusa Group in New Jersey, USA, providing invaluable guidance on product development and go-to-market strategies.

Education

Banigbe holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria. He furthered his knowledge through Ericsson Management Development Program and Advanced Management Program at London Business School and completed his academic journey with an MBA from Manchester Business School, UK.

What did the 9mobile management say about the nomination?

According to a company statement, the management of 9mobile commented on the nomination as follows: “We are excited about the opportunities ahead and the positive impact Obafemi will have in shaping the future of 9mobile. He brings with him vision, passion and years of experience from diverse backgrounds that will align our priorities to deliver excellent customer experiences and consistent network quality.”

“Obafemi is expected to work closely with the Board of Directors and all stakeholders to define credible and achievable long-term business plans, by introducing solutions aimed at meeting the evolving needs of the Nigerian telecommunications market” added the Management Board.

Reacting to his appointment, the new CEO said:

“I am delighted to join the 9mobile family and look forward to leveraging my experience and unique value propositions to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey. The aim is to build on the company’s existing foundations to create value that will transform the Nigerian telecommunications sector.”

What you should know

• 9mobile is one of the four licensed mobile network operators in Nigeria and is currently ranked 4tht position in terms of number of subscribers.
• The telecommunications company, which was originally called Etisalat, changed its name to 9mobile in 2017 when Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat exited the industry.
• 9mobile, which once had over 20 million active subscribers, had 11.6 million connected lines in March 2024 as it saw a steady loss of customers over the years.