MTN in partnership with PEP stores.

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited has partnered PEP Nigeria, a retail company, with a view to establishing a direct retail relationship with customers.

The partnership was formalized today at PEP branch on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. With this partnership, customers can access MTN airtime conveniently at any PEP store across the country.

Fehintola Mustapha, general manager, Lagos, southwest, MTN, said the essence of the partnership is to touch lives. “When you are talking about lifestyle, communication is also a part of lifestyle. We have lifestyle products and we want to better the lifestyle of our customers,” she said.

While disclosing why PEP went into the partnership, Kofo Awonuga, finance manager, PEP Nigeria, said the retail company has discovered that Nigerian customers need access to be able to purchase airtime conveniently, “and that’s why in July 2014,we started to retail airtime in our stores, using stand alone gadget called Flash Gadget, as we speak we are rolling out the ability to sell airtime directly through the teams and our customers we have the e-PINs, printed on their receipts.”

She added that PEP has a huge respect for MTN’s all encompassing mission to act as a catalyst for Nigerian economic growth and development. “MTN values also resonate with us. Those values of honesty, passion and integrity. Partnering up with MTN also allows us to fulfill our goal of delighting customers in new and innovative ways, and we will also assist MTN in fulfilling its mission of helping Nigeria grow,” she said.

In his speech at the event, Kolawole Oyeyemi, general manager, sales and distribution, MTN, Nigeria, said the strategic business relationship is another convenient way to, “get our product and services across to our customers. I believe PEP and MTN shares similar culture of being customer-focused, hence I believe that working with you, the future is bright.”

Speaking in the same vain, Deon Conradie, general manager, PEP Stores, Nigeria, expressed confidence that the new partnership will be highly beneficial to both companies and Nigerians in particular.

PEP Stores Nigeria which presently boasts of 28 stores across the country, opened its first branch in Festac, Lagos in June 2012