Goriola Bakare has been appointed Group Home Broadband Experience Lead at Airtel Africa, taking on a broader role in the company’s efforts to expand home connectivity across its African markets.
Effective October 2026, Bakare’s appointment follows his leadership of Airtel Nigeria’s home broadband business and a strategic secondment to Bharti Airtel in India, where he studied the commercial strategies, operating models and customer engagement practices supporting the Indian business.
In his new role, based in Dubai, Bakare will work with Airtel Africa’s operating companies to strengthen broadband customer acquisition, improve digital engagement, increase customer retention and develop scalable commercial models for the group’s home broadband business.
Finance to Telecommunications Strategy
Bakare’s career at Airtel reflects a progression through finance, business planning, product development, commercial strategy and broadband leadership.
Before joining Airtel, Bakare worked in financial services, including roles at Skye Bank and Pacific Holdings.
His early exposure to banking and finance, followed by years of experience in telecommunications, has given him a career spanning financial analysis, commercial planning, product innovation and business leadership.
He joined the telecommunications group in 2009, initially building experience in business analysis before moving into roles with increasing responsibility for product innovation and commercial performance.
Between September 2011 and October 2017, he served as a Business Analyst at Airtel Nigeria, a role that provided a foundation in business performance, planning and operational analysis.
He subsequently became Manager of Content and Innovation in October 2017, overseeing value-added services designed to support data revenue and content offerings.
In April 2019, Bakare moved into home broadband product leadership as Lead, Home Broadband Product, Pricing and Solutions. He held the position until May 2022, focusing on broadband propositions, pricing and solutions for the Nigerian market.
His next assignment was Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Commercial Project Management Office, a position he held from May 2022 to October 2023. The role broadened his exposure to commercial planning, partnerships and strategic execution.
In October 2023, he became Head of Products at Airtel Nigeria, overseeing product strategy and innovation across voice, data and broadband services.
Leading Airtel Nigeria’s Home Broadband Business
Bakare assumed the role of Acting Director of Home Broadband Business at Airtel Nigeria in October 2024, taking responsibility for the unit’s commercial performance and growth.
His responsibilities included revenue growth, product strategy, customer acquisition and retention, as well as initiatives aimed at improving the customer lifecycle and strengthening Airtel’s position in Nigeria’s home connectivity market.
The role gave him direct experience managing broadband growth in one of Airtel Africa’s major markets, where demand for reliable home internet connectivity continues to create opportunities for telecommunications operators.
His experience covered the development of broadband solutions, identification of commercial opportunities and formation of strategic partnerships to support business expansion.
Indian Experience
Between April and October 2026, Bakare participated in Airtel’s Talent Exchange Programme, undertaking a strategic assignment with Bharti Airtel in India.
During the secondment, he worked with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to examine the strategies and commercial practices underpinning Airtel India’s home broadband business.
His areas of focus included broadband expansion, digital customer journeys, customer experience and operational execution.
The assignment was designed to identify practices that could be adapted to the different operating environments across Airtel Africa’s markets.
His appointment as Group Home Broadband Experience Lead builds on that experience, placing him in a position to support the transfer of relevant practices across Airtel Africa’s operating companies.
Education
Bakare holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Babcock University in Ogun State, Nigeria.
He completed his MBA between 2017 and 2019, combining his financial background with formal training in strategic management.He is also an alumnus of Airtel Africa’s inaugural India-Africa Global Accelerator Programme, which complements his subsequent participation in the company’s Talent Exchange Programme.
