Airtel Africa has appointed Goriola Bakare as Home Broadband Experience Lead for the continent, effective 1 October 2026. The appointment follows his leadership of Airtel Nigeria’s home broadband business and a six-month secondment to Bharti Airtel in India.
The move comes as Airtel Africa seeks to grow its home broadband business in response to increasing demand for reliable household internet connectivity beyond traditional mobile data services.
According to Airtel Africa’s 2026 annual report, the company recorded 903,000 home broadband customers at the end of the 2025/26 financial year, representing an 86% increase year-on-year. Home broadband revenue rose by 119% in constant currency, while average monthly data usage reached 195GB per customer.
Airtel Africa said Bakare will help develop the group’s home broadband customer experience strategy in collaboration with its operating companies. His priorities will include strengthening customer acquisition, enhancing digital engagement, improving retention and developing commercial models that can support broadband expansion across its markets.
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The growth figures underscore the increasing importance of home broadband to Airtel Africa’s wider business strategy. The company is investing in fibre and 5G infrastructure, expanding sales channels and digitising customer onboarding and service delivery to attract new subscribers and improve customer retention.
In Nigeria, Airtel Africa also reported continued growth in its home broadband business during the 2025/26 financial year. Smartphone penetration in the country increased to 54.9%, up from 49.6% in the preceding year, highlighting the expanding digital market in which the company operates.
The appointment marks another stage in Bakare’s career with Airtel, where he has held senior positions covering commercial strategy, product development, digital innovation and business performance. In his new role, he is expected to identify successful commercial practices that can be adapted across operating companies, improve digital customer journeys and support a scalable home broadband operating framework.
Before his appointment, Bakare served as Acting Director of Home Broadband Business at Airtel Nigeria from October 2024 to March 2026. His responsibilities included revenue growth, product strategy, customer acquisition and retention, customer lifecycle management and strategic partnerships.
Between April and September 2026, he participated in Airtel’s Talent Exchange Programme through a secondment to Bharti Airtel in India. During this period, he worked with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to examine broadband strategies, operating models and customer experience practices, with the aim of applying relevant insights across Airtel Africa’s markets.
Bakare joined Airtel in 2009 after working in financial services, including positions at Skye Bank and Pacific Holdings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and an MBA in Strategic Management from Babcock University, Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of Airtel Africa’s inaugural India-Africa Global Accelerator Programme.
