MTN appoints Funso Aina as Senior Manager, External Relations

MTN Nigeria has appointed Mr. Funso Aina, as Senior Manager, External Relations.

Having joined MTN Nigeria in January 2009, Aina was, until his latest appointment, the company’s Public Relations Manager where he was in charge of MTN’s reputation/perception management; stakeholder management; media relations and PR leveraging for all activities; corporate sponsorships and events management.

Prior to joining MTN, Aina was the Communications Manager of British Council, UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

Also, he was at different times, Punch newspapers’ Chief Correspondent in Aso Rock (Presidential Villa), Abuja; Foreign Affairs Correspondent and a member of the newspaper’s Editorial Board.

He has previously held various positions such as Assistant Editor with The Nation newspapers and Senior Reporter with Independent Communications Network Limited, publishers of The News, Tempo magazines and PM newspapers.

Aina’s remarkable reportorial skill was recognized by the US State Department in 2003 when he was invited to the US under its prestigious International Visitors’ Programme.

Thereafter, he had also enjoyed The Commonwealth Press Union Fellowship in London in 2005. He once did job shadowing in British Council, India. He also had a stint as an intern in a UK newspaper, Portsmouth News.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Ilorin, (1992) and a Masters degree in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1998). He is currently an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

With over 22 years of excellent work experience spanning various sectors including journalism, cultural diplomacy and telecommunications, Funso Aina, is reputed to be a result-oriented professional with varied competencies and hands-on experience in public relations, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, perception/stakeholder/reputation/issues and crisis management.

A statement from the telecom giant said Aina, in his new role, will provide deep insight on strategy and drive targeted engagement with MTN’s critical stakeholders.

He is also expected to provide support in the business’ strategic approach towards enhancing its corporate reputation, particularly as regards engaging and managing critical stakeholders.