Nigeria’s telecommunications company, 9mobile, has officially rebranded to T2, marking what its leadership described as “the beginning of a bold new chapter” in the company’s history.
The unveiling took place on Friday at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, a year after LH Telecommunication Limited acquired a 95.5 percent stake in the network provider, gaining control of the business. This is the second time the company has undergone a name change, having been rebranded from Etisalat to 9mobile in 2017.
“This is not just a brand unveiling, it is the beginning of a bold new chapter in our history,”said Femi Banigbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), the operator of T2. “It is a declaration that we are no longer who we were, but we are becoming something greater. We are becoming something more ambitious.”
Banigbe explained that the rebrand goes beyond a new logo or tagline, representing a renewed mission and promise to customers. He said technology has become central to business, culture, and human connection, and Nigerians increasingly demand speed, access, and relevance.
“We see it in the rising tide of the youth, we see it in the entrepreneurs that are all over the place across our nation, in the boldness of our startup ecosystem, in the resilience of our SMEs, in the desires of our families to stay connected, to stay informed and to stay entertained anytime and anywhere,”he said.
The EMTS boss stressed that to remain relevant, the company must evolve radically and pragmatically, reimagining how it does business. “In the face of overwhelming odds, our people, the Nigerian people, we have shown a spirit of resilience and of tenacity that continues to inspire the world,”he said.
Banigbe noted that, like Nigeria itself, the company has weathered difficult times and setbacks but has always returned stronger. “We will always come back with renewed focus and determination to tackle the challenges of our market,”he added.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, commended mobile network operators for their role in transforming Nigeria’s digital landscape. He noted the industry’s growth from fewer than a million mobile lines in 2001 to over 220 million today, and broadband penetration rising from single digits to nearly 50 percent.
“The MNOs have invested boldly, spending more than 75 billion in towers, fibre, and now 5G, all without any government subsidy,”Tijani said. “The MNOs have powered our economy, contributing around 16 percent to our GDP, and creating millions of direct and indirect jobs.”
He described the T2 rebrand as a strong signal of the company’s readiness to compete, innovate, and contribute more to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a global digital powerhouse. “Let this rebrand be more than a change of colours or new logo. Let it be a renewed commitment to innovation, to service excellence, and to the millions of Nigerians whose lives and businesses depend on your network every single day,”the minister said.
Tijani assured that the government would continue to support operators like T2, “who are bold enough to invest, agile enough to adapt, and visionary enough to embrace change before it is forced upon them.”
The rebrand marks a major step in T2’s four-phase recovery roadmap — stabilisation, modernisation, transformation, and growth — launched after the acquisition of 9mobile by Lighthouse Telecoms, led by businessman and investor Thomas Etuh.
Since the takeover, the company has reconstituted its board, appointed new executive leadership, and signed a strategic infrastructure-sharing agreement with MTN Nigeria to expand network coverage.
“Today marks a new beginning for the 9mobile business,”** Etuh said. **“The march has been tedious. The journey has been exhausting. It was faith and love for country that prompted my foray into the acquisition of the 9mobile business. I knew it was a tough call.”
He thanked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and customers for standing by the company through trials, challenges, and multiple litigations. “This occasion represents the start of a new phase of life, a fresh start, rebirth, change or transformation, growth, reawakening, and a new order,” Etuh said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the T2 launch aligns with Lagos’ digital goals “Its focus on digital innovation aligns seamlessly with the Lagos State Government’s vision for a robust digital economy that empowers citizens, businesses, and communities,”he said. “We welcome partners like T2 who are committed to driving inclusive and transformative growth in our state.”
T2 said the transition will be rolled out in phases to ensure continuity for existing customers while introducing the market to the new identity. The brand will focus on four pillars — speed, smart living, digital lifestyle, and trust — with a vision to lead in innovation, customer experience, and digital lifestyle enablement.
Boluwatife Enome
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