Leading telecoms company, MTN Nigeria, has noted that the Y’ello Street symbolises how Nigeria has transformed in voice and data connections over the past 25 years.
Speaking to journalists and well-wishers at the MTN Plaza on Monday, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, said the company’s celebration goes beyond its 25th anniversary. He said the milestone also reflects how long Nigerians have been connected through the brand.
“We are celebrating 25 years of believing in Nigeria, 25 years of connecting people, 25 years of investing, 25 years of innovation, 25 years of learning, sometimes stumbling, adapting and getting better, 25 years of being privileged to participate in one of the most remarkable transformations in modern Nigeria,” he said at the opening speech.
Since its launch on 19 May 2001, MTN Nigeria has helped Nigerians connect with loved ones separated by several kilometres, at a time when WhatsApp and TikTok did not exist.
To celebrate the shared moments over the past 25 years, the Y’ello Street served as a showcase of MTN Nigeria’s 25-year journey, technological evolution, and connection with customers. It is a memory-lane gallery that allows visitors to reflect on the past, view historical artefacts and relive key milestones.
“Y’ello Street is not simply a museum about the empty; it is in many ways a museum about Nigeria. It tells the story of what happens when technology meets human possibilities,” Kadri noted.
Items displayed in the Y’ello Street pictures history lane of MTN Nigeria CEO, Chairman and brand logo transitions. The gallery displayed old phones, paper, scratched recharge cards, products, campaigns, logos and technologies.
During the opening address, Kadri explained that the artefacts represent genuine connection at a time when Nigerians were discovering a new freedom to communicate.
“Behind every new generation of technology from 2G to 3G to 4G and now 5G were new businesses, new industries, new opportunities, new jobs and possibilities that did not previously exist. And behind every memorable campaign was something even more important: the Nigerian people themselves,” he added.
Y’ello Street, which opened today, August 10, at the MTN Plaza car park in Ikoyi, Lagos, will welcome Nigerians and visitors until August 17.
Also Read: For every ₦1 MTN Nigeria earns, only 24 kobo becomes profit – Modupe Kadri.
MTN Nigeria: Defining the next 25 years
With MTN Nigeria now serving 92 million subscribers, its next frontier of growth will depend on how it continues to serve the evolving needs of its customers over the next 25 years.
“If the transformation between 2001 and 2026 has been extraordinary, I believe what lies ahead can even be more profound,” the CFO said.
He added that the most important question is what the next 25 years will make possible, be it artificial intelligence, fintech, cloud, digital infrastructure, 5G and technologies that are yet to transform.
At a time when the internet is defining the pace of network growth and customer experience, MTN will be looking to bet more on network expansion and enhance innovations that speak to the growing demands of its subscriber base.
