EMEKA Oparah has expressed gratitude to his well-wishers following his appointment as Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR, in Airtel Africa Plc.
Oparah who expressed his appreciation in a Facebook post yesterday has spent 19 and a half years working in Airtel Nigeria.
The new Airtel VP vowed to be an ambassador of Nigeria, promising not to let his countrydown.
His post reads:
“Overwhelmed cannot adequately describe my feelings about the massive outbreak of celebrations and doxologies over my appointment as Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Africa.
“When I say I’m short of words, I sincerely and absolutely mean it. And I must confess that I actually feel a double paroxysm of sadness and joy over the events in the past 48 hours.
“The joy is easily understandable, but you cannot imagine how sad I feel that my father, Ethelbert Ihetuge Oparah, is not alive to partake in the celebration of a milestone he predicted and actually set up. Oh well, who am I to question the Great Architect of the Universe??? I know there is another fellowship in Heaven and the old man is smiling down from there.
“From the deepest part of my heart, I want to express profound gratitude to all my friends here and elsewhere for their graciousness. I have never witnessed this sort and level of celebration over someone’s progress ever. The kind words are humbling; the good wishes overwhelming.
“In local parlance, God did Christmas for me. Yes, He did! I pray HE does same for you all who are happy for me. To all those who, one way or the other, contributed to my progress in life, I’ll forever remain in debt of gratitude-and God will never stop blessing you. You know yourselves and I will name you all one by one in my book.
“To my friends, colleagues, schoolmates, my people of Mbaise, Brethren of St. George’s and the DGLN and indeed Nigerians, I promise NOT to let you down. I’ll be an ambassador for all that is good about us.
“As an individual and a Widow’s Son, I pray that Prudence will direct me, Temperance Chasten me, Fortitude support me and Justice be the guide of all my actions!!! Above all, I will never forget why I came to the UAE, in the first place.
“Thank you so much Bharti-Airtel for this opportunity. #wemove!!!”.
Oparah joined Airtel Nigeria as director, corporate communications in 2002 and was appointed Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR for the telecommunication company in June 2011.
Before joining Airtel Nigeria, he worked at various times in the corporate affairs department of other telecoms – Econet Wireless, VMobile, Celtel Nigeria Limited, and Zain Nigeria.
Mr Oparah, a 1990 Mass Communication graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is a communications and public relations specialist whose name over the years has become synonymous with corporate communication in the telecom sector in Nigeria.
He holds a post-graduate Diploma in International Public Relations from The Management School, London.
He is a member of the International Public Relations Association, International Association of Business Communicators, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria.
